The Mukiga Traveller receives her award certificate from Little Miss Uganda. Photo/Edgar R. Batte
From the windy roads of Bududa, to the picturesque falls of Sipi, Endiro Coffee traverses deep plains to bring the coffee lover the hidden treasure of a single origin blend that celebrates 90 percent female-grown coffee.
It symbolises coming together and community and there is no better way for this to happen than within a community of dedicated and passionate women who brave the harsh altitude and terrain to ensure that only the best quality beans make it to the coffee cup.
Established in 2011, it was no surprise that Endiro won the ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award’ accolade at the fifth edition of the annual Ekkula Pearl of Africa Tourism Awards.
The category seeks to recognise tourism businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences for everyone, particularly those with accessibility requirements, and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
Stakeholders in Uganda’s tourism sector were awarded accolades in 21 categories at a gala night hosted at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Thursday evening.
Matoke Tours bagged the ‘Sustainable Tour Operator’ award which seeks to recognise an inspirational tour operator who is successfully addressing community, cultural or environmental issues in tourism in a new and innovative way.
“We share our love for Africa by creating unforgettable travel experiences which reflect our care and respect for the destination and its people. With sustainability as a guiding principle at the core of our business, we will always strive to contribute to a more inclusive tourism industry, diverse low-impact tourism products and tours designed to create a positive impact for our destination. We thank everyone who voted for us, and are thankful to see our efforts recognised by colleagues in the tourism industry,” Matoke said in their acceptance speech.
This writer with the award from the event’s host, Godfrey Lule Ssemwanga. Photo/Courtesy
Precious Sheevon Gumisiriza, known by the alias Mukiga Traveller, took home the accolade for Young Tourism Personality of the Year. “Congratulations! Your passion for tourism is unmatched and very inspiring,” Uganda Tourism Board’s (UTB) chief executive Lilly Ajarova, applauded the winner.
“I am extremely happy to receive this award. Such recognition means a lot to me. It shows that good work never goes unnoticed. I love my country and I will continue to showcase its beauty to the world. I would like to dedicate this award to all Ugandan travel content creators who tirelessly and effortlessly put in their time and resources to market Uganda because I understand what it takes,” Gumisiriza told Daily Monitor, adding her appreciation to the organisers of Ekkula Tourism Awards for putting a platform that recognises key tourism stakeholders in this country.
Ekkula Pearl of Africa Tourism Awards, founded by media personality Moses Amumpaire, are a privately-funded initiative about increasing travel, honouring, and rewarding important tourism industry stakeholders.
This year’s edition run under the theme: Rethinking Tourism and Promotion of Green Initiatives, with particular focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Journey to 2030 and how the tourism industry can contribute to the implementation and achievement of the 17 SDGs.
Other winners
Innovative tourism award—Tubing the Nile
Travel photographer — Derrick Ssenyonyi
Cultural Tourism Award — Karatunga Tours
Best Eco Safari Lodge — Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Best Adventure Destination Of The Year — Mountain Rwenzori National Park
Pearl Of Africa Event Of The Year — Nyege Nyege Festival
Tourism Personality 2022 — Amos Wekesa
Exceptional Restaurant — Cafe Javas
rbatte@ug.nationmedia.com
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