| | | | | the example of Israel in the Middle East. Although |
| It’s a pity Uganda has a not yet figured out a | | | | the country has been in covered with insecurity |
| way to make this religious given situation as a | | | | since its inception the number of pilgrims that die |
| tourist potential capable of eclipsing all other | | | | in the hajji in Mecca every year has not stopped |
| amazing, the level of reverence Uganda martyrs | | | | Muslims from going for the same activity. |
| command globally. In the US alone there over 100 | | | | |
| institutions named after the Uganda martyrs. | | | | Therefore traffic jams; the bad roads, bad food, |
| Thirteen year old Kizito and Charles Lwanga seem | | | | poor accommodation facilities, the stuffy air and |
| to have a special appeal in the western world; | | | | noise around the Namugongo shrine on every 3rd |
| many schools, churches and youth Associations | | | | of June only make the pilgrims feel the worthiness |
| are named after them. | | | | of pilgrimage, Some pilgrims spend weeks walking; |
| Spiritual tourism is rated amongst the fastest | | | | others sleep under trees all this in the name of |
| growing businesses in the world. Just take a look | | | | attending Uganda martyrs day. The declaration |
| at Saudi Arabia; Holy land to the Muslim faith, | | | | Uganda martyrs both catholic and protestants and |
| whereby the total number of pilgrims visiting the | | | | even a number of Muslims murdered by Mwanga |
| country every year is estimated to be 82,000 in | | | | in 1886 and Mutesa 1 respectively by the church |
| the 1990 s to over 2million in 2007. | | | | has already gone along way in promoting the |
| To facilitate the pilgrims on their Hajj, traders | | | | attraction. The government of Uganda needs to |
| from all over the world, go to the holy land to do | | | | double its efforts in marketing and promoting the |
| business; generating billion of dollars from Mecca | | | | attraction in the outside world thereby increasing |
| and medina. However in 1980s the Saudi | | | | on the visitor numbers especially on Martyrs day. |
| Authority imposed quotas to limit the number of | | | | Besides Namugongo, Uganda has other shrine in |
| pilgrims to around two million. This created a black | | | | places like Munyonyo, Mityana, old Kampala, |
| market for places in the waiting lists established | | | | Nakivubo and Kyamula. Plans are in place to |
| by Muslim government. | | | | construct Mucuni Acholi Land, where Bishop Janan |
| The wait in Iran, for example, could take 12 | | | | Luwumu was buried. Another place of worship |
| years. Some people would register as candidates | | | | worth being mentioned is the Bahai Temple on |
| for the pilgrimages and they sell there torn to | | | | kikayi hill in Kampala. These are all potential |
| others, for up to $ 10,000. Several countries like | | | | tourists sites, where all sorts of business can be |
| Israel and the Italy have also for years reaped big | | | | set up especially to cater for the need of spiritual |
| from the increasingly growing lucrative spiritual | | | | tourists. |
| tourism sector. | | | | The only way of developing Uganda’s tourist |
| Uganda has always been a popular tourist | | | | potentials an be through embarking on aggressive |
| destination for all sorts of tourism, cultural, wildlife | | | | world wide marketing strategy by stakeholders |
| especially for gorilla trekking. This could explain | | | | especially tour companies operating in Uganda like |
| why spiritual sub-sectors have not been in the | | | | Africa Adventure safaris, Primate Adventure |
| spotlight, in spite of its huge potential. | | | | company being one of the leading Uganda gorilla |
| The market for spiritual tourism is considerably | | | | safari provider and other safaris like Chimpanzee, |
| small in the western world yet at the same time | | | | rafting, wildlife and many more. |
| some of the potential attractions like the Uganda | | | | Its from this that the government of Uganda and |
| Martyrs are gaining ground. For Example many | | | | church has tried to market the martyrs by |
| Black Americans in their campaign to get back | | | | declaring June 3rd a public Holiday thus giving the |
| their roots are adopting Uganda Martyrs as their | | | | local population time to participate. Still there is a |
| patron saints. For years a number of them have | | | | lot more that these institutions can do, for |
| been making annual pilgrimage to Namugingo to | | | | instance the government marketing the martyrs |
| torch base with spiritual and racial roots. | | | | through the Ministry of tourism and the church in |
| Spiritual tourists are not easily turned away by | | | | the pulpit and the pilgrims who go abroad for their |
| things like poor weather. They are more tolerant, | | | | various pilgrimages. |
| accommodative, dependable and generous. Take | | | | |