Marketing the last King of Scotland
Shortly before I left for Uganda last December I received an email from a twitter buddy asking if I could help with getting the word out amongst the UK based Ugandan Diaspora about an event that was being organised by the Uganda investment authority.
The event was titled HOME IS BEST SUMMIT, a show case of investment opportunities available in Uganda. It transpired that I would still be in Uganda during the summit I signed up as a participant.
The two day summit was a mix of feedback and information especially investment opportunities for the Diaspora. The Diaspora remitted $780 million dollars in 2008 and the Investment authority is very keen to channel this sort of money into structured development programmes to help the country out of poverty.
Amongst the investment opportunities presented was the Tourism sector. “You can bring your associates and colleagues to Uganda to see the birth country of Idi Amin” the director of the Uganda Investment Authority told us. We laughed so hard that our sides hurt! But she was dead serious she continued “if those Americans won an oscar for their film the Last King of Scotland, you too can make industry out of this as you know more about Idi Amin than they do, you could bring visitors on an Idi Amin trail”
At this stage we looked at each other and then her just to ensure that she hadn’t lost the plot altogether and she hadn’t, she was putting Idi Amin forward as a potential tourist attraction to Uganda.
We wondered how many people that would especially travel to Uganda just to learn about Idi Amin.
I must say I have not personally come across any and frankly Idi Amin’s era is one that most Ugandan’s would prefer to put behind us. Are we wrong? Could we increase tourism to Uganda and tap into the tourist dollar by marketing/selling Idi Amin? Would people come?
Did the film THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND increase tourism to Uganda? I wonder how many people have travelled to Uganda as a result of the film?
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About IdaHornerFounder of Ethnic Supplies a social enterprise working to alleviate poverty amongst East African women involved in textile and handicraft production. Managing Editor of Africa on the blog
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Frankly I can't think of anything that would put me off visiting Uganda faster than the thought of revisiting the footsteps of Idi Amin. Those people who suggested it should ask themselves how many people take holidays in Germany to follow the Adolf Hitler trail….
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It is a dreadful thought. I would not not want to go on such a trail let alone take anyone on it. something are best left in the past!
Sadly it seems like they have yet to think of reasons why people would visit Uganda aside from the film. What other attractions or areas of natural beauty could they use to encourage people?
There is plenty to see and do in Uganda Sarah. There is the source of the River Nile, white water rafting, quad biking, Mountain Gorillas, sunken forests in the rift valley, the usual safaris without the queues, you get in Kenya, snow capped mountains, lakes and rivers, chimp treks etc
The source of the Nile, how wonderful
for me personally, that's worth going for. And when I am fitter, the white water rafting.
So why would ANYONE want to create some kind of Idi Amin trail?! Mind you, my white South African friend would no doubt want some kind of Apartheid History Trail for South Africa! Some people need to learn to move on from the past.
It simply doesn't make sense. I think an Apartheid trail of sorts exists for instance you can visit the house from which Mandela was arrested in Soweto, and there is a museum dedicated to riots that resulted from the opposition of the blacks to replacing English with Afrikaans as a language of instruction in school and of course Robben island where Mandela and others were imprisoned
I should write a blog on what to see when in Uganda
Whilst I wouldn't market Uganda with an Idi Amin trail, it is part of Uganda's history and the fact that the people of Uganda were finally rid of him shows that not all regimes last forever and with that there is hope. The way I would market Uganda is easy- it is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited.There is much to see and do.Others have mentioned the source of the Nile, the Rift Valley, mountain gorillas etc.The people are wonderfully hospitable and I felt so welcomed there. I would love to go back.
Thank you for comments, it is good to hear from someone who has actually been to Uganda and is able to see beyond Idi Amin. Great to hear too that you loved the country and you would visit again, if you are ever looking for a volunteer holiday in SW Uganda please let me know