Cycads Safaris News

20 PEOPLE REPORTED DEAD AFTER CAPSIZE OF KENYAN FERRY

A Kenyan ferry with more than 80 passengers aboard capsized on New Year’s Day.  The passenger ferry reportedly collided with a cargo boat off the popular tourist island of Lamu. Survivors say the collision that happened at about 9:00pm must have been a result of overloading.  The ferry that normally takes a capacity of 50 people was carrying 82 people with their baggage. The overcrowding of the boat was due to the festive season as thousands of Kenyans flock the Indian Ocean cost for holiday merry making. According to the rescue team led by Kenya Red Cross regional head Abdalla Miraj, of the 82 passengers, seven were confirmed dead as of Sunday night, 25 had been rescued and 23 managed to swim to shore, 15 pulled from the water were admitted to hospital and 16 people were reported missing.

A police officer is said to have barred the ferry from leaving the island due to overloading. According to a survivor Ali Bakari whose wife and 3 children were luckily saved the operator of the ferry managed to convince the officer. Both vessels had no lights another likely cause of the collision. This follows another ferry disaster that occurred in Tanzania last September as when the MV Spice Islander sank as it sailed from Zanzibar to Pemba Island as a result of overloading killing over 200 people.

Compiled by olive

UWA CONDEMNS LOCALS ON KILLING TREE CLIMBING LIONESS

The news of the heartless murder of an adult lioness by Kazinga residents near Queen Elizabeth national park has been condemned by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Residents killed the lioness on account that it had for long been responsible for the disappearance of their livestock.

UWA expressed its sympathy to the villagers who had lost their goats but at the same time remarked that spearing the lioness to death was unnecessary. In cases like this the villagers were encouraged to alert the   park authorities to devise means of driving the lion away from the village into the park.

The tree climbing lion in Ishasha Queen Elizabeth is one of the chief attractions in the park. The park management on retrieval of the carcass of the lion for burial briefed the local; community on the importance of conservation. UWA promised to work on compensating the individuals that had lost their livestock to wildlife to maintain the good relationship they have shared with the protected area management over the years.

Compiled by olive

Effective 1^st July 2011Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) decided to revise its tourism tariffs for tourists visiting the National Parks.

According, to the new tariffs prices for both category A and category B national park entry fees and some tourist activities have been increased.

Foreign residents refer to people living and working in Uganda especially diplomats and expatriates.

Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Mgahinga Gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale forest, Rwenzori Mountains and Kidepo Valley national parks; all fall in Category A.

Category B National Parks comprises of Mt Elgon National Park, Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Semliki National Park.

Tourists visiting category A national parks will have to pay US$35 a change from the original $30 per day for foreign non-residents, US$ 25 a change from the original $20 per day for foreign residents and Ugshs. 10,000 a change from the original 5,000 per day for East Africans. Entry fees for children aged between 5 & 15 years have increased from $15 to $20 for foreign non residents. $10 for children of resident foreigners will be charged a change from the original $5 and 5,000/-will be charged for East African children a change from the original 2500/-.

In the same way Category B National Parks will require an entry fee of $25 per day for adult foreign non residents instead of the original $20, $15 per day for foreign residents instead of $10 and 5,000/- per day for East Africans from 2500/-.

Fees for tracking the chimpanzees in Kibale forest have increased from US$90 to US$150 for foreign non-residents and residents, while East Africans will now pay   Ugshs 100,000/- up from the previous Ush60, 000.

Some tariffs have however remained unchanged with a gorilla permit sold out at $500 for foreign non residents and 250,000/- for East Africans.

Fees for vehicle and boat entry into the Park remained unchanged for Ugandan registered vehicles at Ush 30,000 for minibuses, pickups and tour company vehicles.

Penalties for offending UWA park regulations will invite fines according to the new tariff. Off-track driving (US$150 per vehicle), illegal entry into the National Parks (US$50), accidents resulting in animal kills (US$500) and over speeding (Ush 100,000 per vehicle)

Compiled by Olive

.LIGHT SENTENCE GIVEN TO THE BWINDI GORILLA MURDERERS

Three male suspects, who were arrested in June 2011 for allegedly killing a mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park were sentenced to a fine of Ush50,000 (US$19) on each count. Begumisa Fideli, Kazongo Amos and Byamugisha Ronald were in June 2011 arrested from Karambi Trading Centre with the assistance of the Police Dog Unit a day after a black back was discovered dead in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with a spear protruding from its neck.

On 17th June 2011, poachers in the company of hunting dogs entered Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and leaving it with a severe spear wound which led to its death. The mountain gorilla was called Mizano from the Habinyanja family. His death left a gaping hole in the family since he was the heir apparent to the only silverback in the family.

This sentence has however proved unsatisfactory to the Uganda Wildlife Authority which argues that the sentence is so light in comparison to the gravity of the crime committed by the 3 men. A source from the Uganda wildlife Authority said when asked to comment about the sentence given to the 3 suspects, “Although we will not appeal the sentence, we express our shock in the strongest terms and we will be bringing up this issue with the Office of the Chief Justice. Conservation in Uganda continues to face the challenge of having judiciary officials that do not fully appreciate the value of wildlife to the country, and are therefore ready to hand down light sentences to suspects. ” Mountain gorilla tourism is the highest contributor to tourism revenues in this country while tourism is the second highest foreign exchange earner.

A post mortem report on the dead gorilla revealed that the black back had suffered a brutal death from a spear wound that went through its right shoulder. The spear dug right into the gorilla’s lungs which caused it to suffocate to death.

On discovery of the dead gorilla, police dogs visited the murder scene leading the investigation team of police personnel and UWA rangers to the neighboring communities which resulted into the identification and arrest of the three male suspects. Three of the culprits were arrested the following day, while the rest escaped.

The presiding magistrate in her ruling gave the light sentence on grounds that prosecution had failed to produce enough evidence that the three actually killed the gorilla. The magistrate also confirmed that no DNA test was carried out to link the blood samples found on the panga and spear picked from one of the suspects’ house to the blood sample of the dead gorilla.  Another weakness in evidence on the prosecution lay in the fact that the doctors who carried out the post mortem were never invited to give their testimony in court. The magistrate also noted that neither of the accused was found at the scene of crime.

Following her observations, the magistrate convicted Begumisa Fideri of two counts including entering a protected area without authority and possession of illegal devices capable of killing wildlife species. He was convicted and given a fine of Ush50, 000 on each count.

Kazongo Amos and Byamugisha Ronald were each convicted on one count of trying to escape arrest after running away on seeing police. They were each given a fine of Uhs50, 000.

Mountain gorillas are classified under Schedule 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), categorizing them among the highly endangered wildlife species. They are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC with a population of slightly fewer than 800.

Following the murder of the gorilla, the UWA law enforcement department in Bwindi teamed up with the police dog unit in Kabale and looked for the culprits.

Compiled by Olive

NKURINGO FEMALE GORILLA KILLED BY TWO MALES

After undergoing a series of treatments and medication, a 20 year old female, Samehe, from the Nkuringo group in Bwindi impenetrable national park has died. She had on several occasions had her skull examined and her skin stitched. This was following an attack from two males who ripped open her skull in the scuffle. Samehe refused to show interest in the two males despite their constant efforts to hang around her. This in turn aroused anger from the two males who beat her up profusely according to sources from the park. These males spent several days jumping, rolling and tearing vegetation in their way as they attacked Samehe. The veterinary doctors intervened on realization that Samehe could no longer keep up with the 20 member group, a sign that she was unwell. Samehe’s head was cleaned and treated with antibiotics but after a few days she passed away. This is a great loss to the Bwindi gorilla families.

Compiled by Olive

Rwanda safaris- Uganda safaris

Adrift Uganda last November 2010 opened the new Wild Waters Lodge in Kangulumira town. This lodge i s a must visit for all those top end clients that require a serene getaway for a number of days. The lodge i s currently under the management of Riaan and Winnie Van Der Watt. Boat crossings to the lodge last about 3 minutes and are totally safe with the use of life jackets for every client. This is a perfect base for all those that are interested in white water rafting, jet boat rides , bungee jumping and other adrift activities. The staff are very friendly and are a combination of Ugandan ad foreign expatriates. The Eco friendly lodge is located on the beautiful Kalaggala falls on a big Island. Wireless internet is available in the main lounge area.

The Cuisine is both local and International with carefully selected with the expertise of an Australian and Ugandan Chef.

This is an opportunity to forget the outside world and relax in a comfortable environment.  Choose to relax in your private Jacuzzi or the natural Swimming pool.  My weekend get away to the lodge confirmed that the Wild waters lodge is a must go area in Jinja for all luxury clients.

Compiled by Olive

Uganda safari lodges

A couple of reports have been given as regards the political unrest in Uganda’s  Central Capital Kampala. This news has been covered internationally. This of course causes panic to all potential visitors to the country. The country for long under the leadership of Yoweri Kaguta Musueveni has been famed as one of the safest tourism destinations and politically stable governments. This reputation has undoubtedly been tarnished by the constant demonstrations resulting from walk to work schemes fueled by the high cost of living generated by increase in gasoline or fuel prices. These demonstrations have pulled a lot of public attention with the participation of IPC president Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye who has despite being constantly blocked by police and government forces, walked to work on every Monday and Thursday. Unrest always breaks out as the police constantly block protesters with batoons, tear gas and pepper spray.  In turn the rioters fight back with stones and any potential weapons. However, this has happened in the city suburbs occasionally. The most serious situation or riots was arose by the brutal arrest of IPC president Dr. Kizza Besigye. This arose unrest in most of the city suburbs last Friday 29th of April, 2011. With rioters being calmed down with teargas, arrests and live bullets.

This brings us back to the question, IS UGANDA A SAFE TOURIST DESTINATION?

In my view, yes it is. As a travel agent, I have successfully been  receiving and  seeing off clients this season.  Every one of them has not complained about being caught up in an ambush.  Fortunately Entebbe the location of the nation’s international airport is relatively undisturbed.  Most of the parks are far away from the occasional havoc .  With all my clients and potential clients best interests at heart……YES UGANDA IS VERY SAFE…COME VISIT THE PEARL OF AFRICA AND EXPLORE ITS DEPTHS WITH CYCADS SAFARIS.

Compiled By Olive

A stray elephant from Queen Elizabeth national park has killed a local farmer in Rutokye village, Muhokya sub county, Kasese district. The deceased 38 year old William Agaba is survived by two wives and nine children.  One of his wives who was with him during the incident narrowly escaped unhurt.  Agaba was struck as he was trying to prepare a fire to scare away stray elephants from destroying his crops.  Locals should always keep away from potential hang outs for wildlife. Locals should also heed to all warnings and follow precautions set by the park authorities to curb potential tragedies.