Mark Muhumuza

Ugandan Tourism may not reap from the benefits of the World Cup being hosted by Africa according to agents and operators in Kampala. Unlike its neighbour Rwanda that has embarked on marketing tourism in the country at the World Cup, Uganda will watch as its neighbour reaps from the benefits of the lucrative tournament that kicks off  in South Africa in June.

"We would love to be part of the World Cup and showcase Uganda's tourism potential but we don't have the resources," Mr Edwin Muzahura the Marketing and Public Relations manager of Tourism Uganda.

A stall to showcase at the World Cup costs about $750,000 an amount that Tourism Uganda says it can't raise. Tourism Uganda largely gets most of its funding from the Government and annually it receives about Shs1b ($500,000). This wouldn't be enough money for them to market Ugandan Tourism before and during the World Cup.

"This is a once in lifetime opportunity but since the priorities from our source of funding is not tourism then it will have to pass," another official from Tourism Uganda told East African Business Week. The official says the priority of the government will be funding the elections.

Tour operators under their umbrella organisation Uganda Tours Operators (AUTO) told East African Business Week that they had all provided their proposals to the government so that  Uganda would benefit from the World Cup.  "The proposals are good and unfortunately we will not be able use them at the World Cup," Edwin said.

He added that Uganda has also missed a chance of appearing in the World Cup magazine that would provide detailed information about the countries on the continent.  Despite missing out on the World Cup, Tourism Uganda remains optimistic as the government has started realising the potential the industry has. But the optimism comes at a time that the biggest tournament in the world has eluded Uganda.

In the Countries across the southern region there have been huge investments in the hope that large numbers of fans travelling to watch the World Cup will decide to visit them too. In the meantime Rwanda has been given a place to put the 'Rwanda village' where the tourism, crafts, talents will be showcased and information on investment potential will be easily obtained by people who will come from all over the world.

Rwanda is a country whose National parks cannot be compared to Uganda but the country has managed to build its international portfolio through tourism. Meanwhile Rwanda is to host the World Environment Day on 5th of June 2010. The day will be used for the traditional naming of the Gorilla.