Partnership: Many people will tell you that business partnerships have a short life span, because along the way ideas and goals tend to differ, but for John Paul Tumwine and Francis Singura, theirs has stood the test of time and today they are counting three years in business together.
What is the name of your business?
We named it Tuann Safaris and it is registered under Tuann Investments Limited.
What does Tuann stand for?
It is just a combination of our names. We chose that name to be different from other tour agents and then also involve our families.
Tourism seems like a risky business.
We are very passionate about tourism in Uganda and Africa as a whole. And for the experience, we believe we have enough knowledge about tourism because we have been involved in the industry for close to five years, dealing directly with both local and foreign tourists.
When did you start up your own company?
We started it in 2013, doing local transport by canoe and local guiding at Lake Bunyonyi.
Where did you get the funds to start this business?
We saved a lot and also got support from friends.
How much did you invest?
We invested Shs2m. And this was used to register the company, do consultations and marketing.
Which destinations do you take your clients?
In all East African countries, depending on the interests of our clients.
How much do you charges?
Our charges are negotiable, depending on the client’s interests and the season of travel. We charge according to the packages, which are determined by the interests and number of clients. But for a three-day wildlife itinerary for three people, we charge about Shs2.4m.
Tell us about your packages.
We do adventures, birding, wildlife, research, leisure, honeymoon, sports, religion, and filming.
How safe is this business for someone who wants to start up the same?
It’s very safe, only that the industry needs trustworthy and committed people.
What challenges have you faced so far?
Negative publicity about any destination and insecurity discourages the tourists.
Where are you located
We are located on Kampala Road, opposite-B plus, Kampala Plaza level 3, Room 04.
