Channel "Bonna Baggagawale" Cash Through AUSMETHO

By Baluku Geoffrey
Kampala – Uganda

Uganda by common consent of travelers continues to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The country not only has a great diversity and profusion of wildlife species but it has also had 22 years of dramatic tourism growth. It has been voted Number one birding destination in Africa, and is home to the highest number of the remaining world Mountain Gorillas.

The tourism industry is labour intensive and employs a high proportion of women and young people in the country side. Development of this industry is a challenge that needs to be addressed by effective private-public partnerships.

According to an Asian proverb; "tourism is like a fire, you can cook your meal with it or it can burn your house down".

At the official launch of the Association of Uganda Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Tourism and Hospitality (AUSMETHO); the Minister of state for Trade Hon Nelson Gagawala Wambuzi said that the creation of this association was indeed in synergy with governments quest to promote local and foreign investments in tourism so that this important sector would become a key means of poverty eradication.

AUSMETHO is a membership non governmental organization that was established to promote formation of public-private partnerships with key stake holders of the tourism industry in harmony with Small and Medium Enterprises challenges. This association not only brings together all the small and medium scale enterprises in tourism and hospitality in Uganda but also aims at promoting and setting standards of services among its members.

According to Hon Gagawala, the government of Uganda has continually demonstrated its support to revitalization of the tourism industry and empowerment of local governments and communities in a bid to manage and benefit from sustainable use of natural resources.

The Minster also noted that it was good to see AUSMETHO going ahead to bring together the small and medium enterprises that make up a big part of Uganda's tourism industry. The enterprises under consideration range from micro, small and medium scale business that include lodges, bars, pubs, restaurants , handicraft makers, curio shops , hotels publishers to mention but a few.

Tourism as we all know is built on natural and cultural resources which are usually among the few assets owned by the poor. Gaggawala further noted that the activities of village craft makers, small curio shops, restaurants, lodges, small bars and hotels are all areas for poverty eradication and ultimate development of our country.

AUSMETHO has come at an opportune time when the tourism industry demands standards, professional services at all levels of service, poverty eradication in our communities, domestic tourism development and sustainability coupled with entrepreneurial skills.

However, it should be noted that most SME's in tourism and hospitality face a number of challenges that include; high cost of finance and constrained access to credit, lack of start up business, poor entrepreneurship and inadequate skills, in adequate opportunities to support technological transfer and low lobbying and bargaining capacity.

Realising that the firms in this segment face the afore mentioned challenges coupled with a high death rate, there is need for government to channel the "Bonna Baggagawale" funds through AUSMETHO.

With over 85% of the workforce in Uganda's tourism sector being employed by the Small and Medium Enterprises characterized by the emerging competitive tourism products, such as tree climbing, butterfly watching, cultural tourism, bird watching, water related activities, the Fund will be envisaged for success in poverty eradication.