JINJA AS A GATEWAY TOURISM CITY.
Plans to develop jinja city as a tourism gateway has been concluded by Uganda Tourism Board and Jinja Authority in the eastern part of Uganda.
During the meeting between UTB, private sectors and jinja city council officials in jinja city Hall, the theme was about ‘the tourism potential for jinja city.’
John Gulooba Choli the Jinja Town Clerk, and UTB delegation led by UTB Chairman, Daudi Migereko, Vice Chairperson, Susan Muhwezi, directors, management of the board and other participants chaired the meeting.
While in the meeting, the stakeholders, challenges and strategies have been highlighted in order to mitigate the hurdles ahead of recovery of the tourism industry. To identify potential tourism sites in these cities, discover tourism opportunities therein, and potential investment areas and promote them as potential tourist destinations , the meeting came in the right time when UTB was profiling Entebbe-Kampala-Jinja City in Eastern part of Uganda.
“The tourism sector in Jinja and Busoga region face numerous challenges including limited government funding towards tourism activities, inadequate tourism infrastructure and awareness of the tourism products.” The jinja town clerk Gulooba said.
“There is an urgent need to develop a sound maintenance program for key access roads to tourism hotspots such as Bridge Street and the Source of the Nile. He also said, there is a need to curate, authenticate and standardize the information shared by tour guides at these attractions for an exceptional tourism experience by travellers.” UTB Chairman, Daudi Migereko
In the financial Year 2022/23, UTB’s Tourism City Development Plans have earmarked the development of Jinja as a gateway tourism city. To promote Entebbe –Kampala- jinja as a tourism cities, UTB had to spend 510m Uganda shillings.
What to do in Jinja city?
Quad Biking
This activity is more adventurous through spotting areas through the forests, villages, farms and the banks of the river Nile by the end of the activity. It is such unforgettable moments because if at all you don’t know how to ride it, during the briefing you will be taught how to riding which is free of charge and you will be told not to be speedy and not to overtake during the quad biking.
River Tubing.
River Tubing is one of the amazing adventurous activity a visitor don’t wish to visit jinja without experiencing it. Tubing involves drifting along the river Nile on an inflatable tube while sun bathing, marveling at the birds, beautiful islands, green forests and local people washing by the river banks. The activity involves singles or groups which are more fun experiencing it in person. During tubing, flowing water Nile is spotted with beautiful scenery around it.
Water rafting.
This activity is the top things to do in pearl of Africa particularly in jinja. Just like bungee jumping, this water rafting needs courage however exciting and thrilling. Water rafting can either take half day or full day because it not only involves navigating through the rapids but also making stops at some of the islands where monkeys, birds and green vegetation will be spotted. Worry not about falling in water because you will be with the most experienced crews that will be getting you out incase in fall in. the theft of visitors is taken seriously so that’s why the people in charge know how to handle the beginners and experts.
Birding.
Due to the fact that jinja is a known for having a source of river Nile, it is well known for birding paradise. It is the best destination for birding which some of them are endemic birds , water birds like Egyptian birds ,owls, kingfishers, spurful, however more of the birds are spotted during boat cruise at the source either during morning hours or evening hours.
Bungee jumping.
Do you want to try the craziest activity in jinja? Bungee jumping is 44mm high where a visitor is tied on his or her ankles or waste depending on how you would like to enjoy the swing. The bungee jumping is common in the rest of the world but not with the River Nile. This activity is not for the cowards or faint heated visitors but since the experience is 2minutes, the experience you will get will last for the lifetime. The activity is done during day or night but it’s more interesting during day where birds and other beautiful sceneries are spotted. After the jumping, you will experience the hiking from the river Nile until the top which requires the flexibility but worth the memorable experience.
Boat cruise.
Due to the fact that jinja city has the source of the Nile that flows through several countries like South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and finally Egypt from Mediterranean Sea. Boat cruise is the best activity on the Nile where birds are spotted, primates like monkeys with green vegetation around the Nile. While at the boat cruise, bujagali falls dam is spotted however this activity can be done either during day or night depending on the choice you want as a client. For visitors who want night cruise and them love fishing, it’s the best time to relax and fish the large Nile perch type unlike the lunch cruise.
Source of the Nile and Bujagali falls.
The great water falls on the river Nile course and were situated in jinja district about 8 kilometers from the main town is called Bujagali falls. The local communities call bujagali falls “the spirit of Bujagali” where locals perform rituals from. Uganda as a whole has been luckily enough to take advantage of the falls by generating electricity what have not only improved on the Ugandan Revenue as well as improving on people’s standards of living.
Source of the Nile flows from Mediterranean sea passing Uganda, sudan , south sudan, Ethiopia to Eygpt. A lot of activities in jinja are taking place on the Nile that is bungee jumping, boat cruise, fishing, water rafting and water sliding.
How to access jinja city.
Jinja city can be accessed either by road or by flight. By road the route will take 3-4 hours to reach the city while on the road trip the visitors will view beautiful sceneries like sugar crane plantation, mabira forest, Jinja Bridge, river Nile and jinja city. By flight, visitors also spot amazing sceneries but not so adventurous than the road trip.
