eets all IOSA standards and confirms its commitment to safety.

Flight News from East Africa and Zambia by Prof. Wolfgang Thome
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HOT NEWS FROM EAST AFRICA BY PROF. WOLFGANG THOME

NEW AVIATION VENTURE FOR UGANDA
Skyjet, a new airline licensed earlier in the year, has finally secured an AOC according to reliable sources from the Civil Aviation Authority in Entebbe. They reportedly intend to begin operations with an ancient B737-200, not the most credible of options for a start up airline in this day and age. The new airline has sought permission to also fly on the Entebbe &endash; Juba route before expanding to other regional destinations. No other details on their future plans are presently available.

MORE FLIGHT NEWS , More Hotnews .

By Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome

Second edition November 2008

QUEEN ELIZABETH LIONS UNDER THREAT

The population of lions, which stood at nearly 250 a decade ago, according to census figures on file from those days, has now literally halved due to revenge killings by illegal herders driving their cattle into the park in search of pasture. Only now are reports emerging in the local media that another two lions were found poisoned recently. Other predators too are said to be under threat by herdsmen such as hyenas and leopards, all of which consider cattle in the park as prey and follow their instincts of hunting when hungry.

Tree climbing lions within the Southern or Ishasha sector of the park have been a major attraction, as there are few places in Eastern Africa where lions can be seen on trees (only at Kidepo Valley National Park in North Eastern Uganda and the Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania) and a further reduction in the lion population would put this priceless resource at major risk of extinction. Watch this space.

AGREEMENT ON NILE WATERS STILL DISTANT

News have emerged in Kampala of fundamental disagreements over the use of the Nile waters by Sudan and Egypt, with the objections being raised by primarily Uganda and Kenya. Both governments demand that the 1929 and 1954 treaties, imposed on the East African countries by former colonial power Britain, be scrapped and the water be treated as a natural resource of the source countries, rather than having Sudan and Egypt carry literal veto powers over any and all developments in Eastern Africa using contributory river waters, lake waters and Nile waters. It was also learned that the Egyptian monitors based in Jinja as the main power plant have been stopped from accessing water flow data for the time being, probably a pressure measure to compel the lower Nile countries concede major points in the ongoing negotiations.

A meeting on these issues between the Nile Basin countries presidents did reportedly not take place. The latest development also puts to rest allegations from other East African countries that Uganda had struck a one-on-one deal with Egypt following a brief stopover by Egyptian President Mubarak in Entebbe a few weeks ago.

KLM ADDS 5TH FLIGHT TO ENTEBBE

In a welcome development for Ugandan exporters and travellers the Dutch airline has now announced the addition of another non-stop flight between Entebbe and Amsterdam, operating every Monday on A330-200 equipment. The flights will commence in early December, in time for the busy holiday season and arrival and departure times at both Amsterdam and Entebbe will remain the same. The airline also announced extra flights to New York and Washington, making connections to and from the US even easier.

MORE COURT ACTION ON 'KAMPALA HILTON'

(07th November 2008)

The High Court in Kampala, on repeat application, stayed an earlier order for the immediate sale of the property when it issued an interim stay until the main issue will be decided in court on November 11th, according to local media reports. Earlier court decisions way back in May 2008 in related matters saw Aya's previous lawyers being awarded nearly 2.5 million US Dollars in fees and VAT, arising from services rendered when securing a loan. Watch this space as the saga continues, none of which is doing the reputation of the project any good.

Meanwhile, another AYA company has reportedly also ran into financial trouble, when the High Court in Kampala ordered the attachment and sale of assets of Pan Africa Commodities Ltd., a subsidiary of Aya Investments. Again at the heart of the issue are unpaid legal fees, in this case worth over 250.000 US Dollars. It is expected that more full mouthed denials will be peddled in public by representatives of the 'Aya' brothers, and again such denials will largely be removed from reality. Appeals in higher courts are not ruled out but this latest case against the brothers companies simply speaks for itself.

AIR UGANDA MAKES 1 YEAR

The Ugandan private airline has now marked its first anniversary since taking to the skies a year ago. The past 12 months were dominated by a global aviation crisis over exploding fuel prices and an economic downturn with reduced passenger numbers, making the survival of upstart airlines in this environment even more remarkable.

KENYA AVIATION UPDATE

This column is publishing a hard hitting piece from the regular 'Aero Club of Kenya' newsletter, in which the (predicted) fallout of the hastily introduced new air services regulations is highlighted:

KENYA  CIVIL  AVIATION REGULATIONS BEGIN TO BITE

Three months after the new Kenya Civil Aviation Regulations were bulldozed

over the objections of the Stakeholders, the first cracks appear in their

implementation. Stakeholders' fears are being vindicated as hapless KCAA

staff are overwhelmed trying to enforce the overly detailed and

disorganized KCARS. Formerly routine paperwork is now being subjected to in

depth scrutiny and unnecessary red tape as overburdened inspectors and

employees are trying to adhere to performance contracts and make no

mistakes. As warned by the stakeholders, the micro-control mechanisms that

have been imposed on Kenyan aviation with 1400 pages of rules and penalties

are leading to a paperknot. All aspects of aviation in Kenya have been

criminalized, from failure to renew a licence, to forgetting to advise a

change of address, to not fencing even the smallest bush airstrip.......

Many components of aviation have been regulated with a 'one-size-fits-all'

system whilst others that should have been regulated have not been

addressed at all.

KCAA staff who are burdened with implementing the regulations have resorted

to the "CYA principle" and are interpreting every rule and definition to

the letter, avoiding any semblance of lateral thinking. As a result, even

the most routine applications for any sort of licence, permit or unusual

aviation activity are being shunted around from department to department

since now several sections of KCAA must give their OK before a piece of

paper is granted. The wheel is being re-invented on routine matters that

had been in force in Kenya for many years. Operators and pilots are

unanimous that the bureaucracy created by KCAA is not only unnecessary, but

fundamentally fallacious and counter-productive. And that in a day and age

where many formal organizations like FAA and the EASA are offering rewards

to those who point out ways to reduce paperwork. Unfortunately, the Kenyans

fell into the same trap that slowed down economic growth of countries like

India and Egypt for a hundred years, before leaders from those countries

realized that "micro-control" of all human activities is counter-productive

and hinders development. India, China, Egypt, Russia  and many other

countries in which centralized control was practiced before, have all

relaxed their systems and are now experiencing above average economic

growth. Kenya is "on the other bus" as their bureaucrats think they are

smart enough to be able to foresee all eventualities and have a rule in

place for everything.

Kenyan aviation stakeholders have gone to the High Court over the KCARS,

pointing out that operators and pilots are not "against Regulations per se"

but that the regulations must be reasonable and not damage their livelihood

and injure the economy. KCAA , in its defence, keeps pointing to the ICAO

as a culprit, saying that Kenya must adhere to international regulations.

Stakeholders have pointed out many times that  ICAO Regulations are

intended to guide primarily international commercial aviation, and

domestic operations for commercial aircraft weighing more than 5700 kg AUW.

Yet, KCAA applies the stringent regulations intended for airliners to even

the smallest airplane or airfield.

For the last three years, air operators had objected to the KCAR

proposals, pointing out that they will lead to bureaucratic "Gridlock".

KCAA staff are blaming their current difficulties on "teething problems".

Further, in a bout of chauvinism, some KCAA seniors are also quoted as

saying that "only the (expletive deleted)  from the Aero Club are

complaining". Talk about being out of touch. Stakeholders maintain that to

enforce the new Regulations as written, an army of KCAA inspectors will

have to be engaged and  trained. They contend that these inspectors will

have to be paid by the stakeholders who did not ask for the KCARS and on

whom they were imposed with only 'token' consultation. (See next story).

KCAA EXPLORES NEW SYSTEM OF CHARGING NAVIGATION FEES

In view of the story above, it is perhaps not a coincidence that KCAA on 28

October unveiled a proposal to revise the system of charging Air Navigation

Fees. KCAA needs money, that is clear, and it needs it because it is

operated on a so-called `cost recovery  basis`, without an upper limit or

any accountability to those who have to pay. This was not new as the KCAA

had already attempted to introduce more fees in 2002 and again in 2007. The

new ANS system, derived from the ICAO method of charging in accordance with

a complex formula  based on aircraft weight and distance flown by the

aircraft in the FIR, is considered more fair than the present method of

collection in which only those who fly into or out of an airport with a

control tower and AIS office are charged.  Aircraft flying into or out of

unmanned aerodromes essentially pay no Nav Fees because there is no way for

KCAA to collect. Of course, this also brings up the issue of "Navigation

Fees" for aircraft flying in accordance with VFR. The vexing question is:

`Who is doing the navigating - the pilot or KCAA?`

The KCAA proposal unveiled at the Workshop contains a special `Deal` for

aircraft weighing less than 2500 kg. Such smaller, mostly "private"

aircraft would be subjected to a yearly fee of KShs. 50,000 rather than the

weight-distance formula. The annual fee is to be paid by all aircraft at C

of A renewal time. Whilst in principle this would simplify things for a lot

for private operators who do not have staff to run around and do flight

planning and pay ad hoc fees for them, the Aero Club of East Africa

questioned the amount. At present rates of Shs. 1200 (approx.) per flight

plan, a pilot would have to undertake some 40 + cross-country flights a

year to reach a figure of 50000 shillings. Most pilots of small aircraft

fly much less than that. The ACEA has requested the KCAA to lower the

figure from 50,000 to what KCAA proposed a year ago: KShs. 30,000. In many

countries, Navigation Fes are either not charged at all (e.g. USA) or small

aircraft are not charged. This is part of an effort by those Governments to

promote aviation and protect the grassroots of flying, without which

aviation would be dead. KCAA has yet to learn that.

Tanzania introduced the weight and distance formula in July 2007, but in a

discriminatory fashion:  it only applies to `foreign-registered aircraft`.

That, of course, is contrary to ICAO SARPS. It also led to countless

arguments at the fee collection points as TCAA attendants, not well-versed

in algebra (the formula requires derivation of a square root. Remember how

to do that by hand?) tried to calculate the applicable fee. Hopefully this

scenario will be avoided in Kenya where KCAA stations are now computerized.

In that context it is also hoped that the collection of KCAA fees will soon

be taken away from the Kenya Revenue Authority and located where it

belongs - the KCAA. The savings in staff and hassle would be immeasurable.

Under the new KCAA proposals, aircraft above an AUW of 2500 kg would be

charged in accordance with the weight-distance formula and it is not clear

how payment would be enforced on aircraft flying between unmanned airports

where collection points are not in position, unless of course KCAA or KRA

places an employee at every one of 650 airfields in Kenya. That it has

promised to do in its new KCAR Security Regulations which stipulate that

ALL airfields must have a Manager, Security Manager, etc.

Those who require a copy of the KCAA Proposals (as a pdf file), please contact the Chairman of the Aero Club of East Africa at harro@trumpetnose.com or trumpetnose@gmail.com

Adds this correspondent that there are similar complaints from other parts of Eastern Africa, including from Uganda, about what more outspoken aviators castigate their regulators for 'institutional arrogance, incompetence and incomprehension' … Oooops! And much blame must go to the FAA consultants who were pushing for the revision of the former regulatory framework, but who could obviously not understand one thing the East African aviators told them time and again during the consultative stages in regard of light aircraft operations under VFR rules and how their input would potentially shut this element of aviation down. Oooops again!

'OBAMANIA' KEEPS DOMINATING THE REGIONAL MEDIA

Following the election victory of Barack Obama in the US presidential elections, the regional media keeps the story on the front and inside pages of all publications, a trend expected to reduce only marginally as time goes on, at least until the date of Obama taking office in late January.

Much expectation is also being expressed on what Obama will do for Kenya, Eastern Africa and the continent at large, often leaving reality out of the equation when writing up wish lists, which the readership is happily gobbling up.

AIR TANZANIA WOES CONTINUE

Only weeks after having several of their aircraft out of service due to a failed engine and a cracked cockpit window, this time round it seems to be the absence of tyres for their Airbus A320, which caused the airline to cancel some of their flights. Comments were also sought from reliable sources within and near the airline about the governmental subsidy, which appears not to have been paid for a while now, hampering the restructuring of Air Tanzania to the benefit of other airlines in the country.

Meanwhile, former managing partner South African Airways has taken the Tanzanian flag carrier to court over alleged outstanding loans advanced to the airline during the period of cooperation. This is again casting doubts over government's commitment to put the airline on a sound financial footing by meeting, as agreed under the separation between the two carriers, all related cost and obligations. There are fears now that the Air Tanzania aircraft may be impounded at some stage in the future when landing in Johannesburg, if the debt worth over 4 million US Dollars is not settled soon. Watch this space.

PRECISION AIR CEMENTS MARKET POSITION

Further to the previous report on Air Tanzania, news have also been received that Tanzania's leading private airline (Kenya Airways holds 49 percent of the shares in this company) has now formally launched the second of their ordered seven brand new ATR 72-500 fleet. The fast turboprop aircraft is offering greater flight economics, very important at this day and age of volatile fuel prices. The first new aircraft joined Precision already in March this year as reported in this column and five more ATR's will be delivered in coming months to support route and capacity expansion. Precision Air's investment in the new fleet is valued at nearly 130 million US Dollars, a firm commitment to the future of the airline in difficult times for the global aviation industry.

With the arrival of the new aircraft Precision will in early December begin to offer twice daily Mwanza flights and expand their Nairobi schedule too to meet the extra demand for seats.

RWANDA MERGES ORTPN INTO 'RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD'

The Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks was recently merged together with several other governmental bodies and authorities into the new 'Rwanda Development Board', which will under one combined governmental budget oversee several functions, including that of tourism promotion and wildlife management and conservation.

The Director General of the former ORTPN, Mrs. Rosette Rugamba, is now holding the position of Deputy CEO in charge of tourism and conservation at the new organization. New email and web contacts will be availed in due course. Congratulations to Rosette and all the best in the future within the new organization.

ONLY IN AMERICA

The election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America is a clear sign that many things are indeed changing in that country and have changed already. Unthinkable some 40 years ago, when the civil rights movement made their stand in the 60's and demanded, and grudgingly and slowly got the recognition it sought for US citizens of colour, the election of Obama was as much a result of the African American communities standing together as it was reaching into the voter pool of other minorities &endash; but most important getting a substantial white vote. This is proof that the race barrier has at last been bridged and a person can be elected because of his or her qualities, personality and capabilities and no longer being subject to the question of race, gender or religion.

Had he remained in Kenya with his African father, instead of growing up with his white mother in Hawaii, would he have had the same opportunities and chances? Not likely. First, being of mixed race would have been a serious obstacle for getting into politics, although several non African MP's were elected and some even appointed to cabinet positions in both the Kenyatta and the Moi eras. But his biggest obstacle would have been the tribe of his father.

With the Luo tribe largely shut out of national politics since the Kenyatta presidency, but also under the Moi government, especially after the August 01st 1982 coup attempt, he would have had a near impossible task entering politics, unless as a regime sycophant, something almost impossible to imagine for a man of his calibre. This too has changed somewhat in Kenya after the December 2007 elections, but as memory serves right at a high cost to the country considering the post election violence from which a power sharing deal emerged only after months of wrangles.

Yet, in America, the long in the tooth song of equal opportunities and equal rights has at last come true, and in what a way considering that Hillary Clinton was the forerunner for the Democratic Party nomination way into 2007 and Obama literally unheard of on the national scene until his convention speech in 2004, and even less known on the international scene.

Who or what prompted him to seek the highest office in America will be for him to reveal in his memoires but that day's decision rocked America's establishment, relegated Hillary to an albeit close runner up in the nomination process and pitched a 'novelty' against the Republicans, who had worn out the goodwill of the American electorate. A deepening economic and financial crisis and the blatant deception before going to war with Iraq, had after nearly 8 years of the Bush presidency disillusioned the voters in America and long term allies of America around the world had been alienated in those years. Obama will be a welcome breath of fresh air and hopefully bring a 'wind of change' to American politics, although I am under no illusion that he will be first and foremost having America's interests at heart, but hopefully leaving enough sentiment to give Africa some more attention.

He has come a long way since the Rev. Jesse Jackson tried his luck so many years ago, and he now inherits some of the greatest challenges America had to face since the great depression and after the second world war or the Cuban missile crisis. Then a young Kennedy faced down the Soviets and his youthful enthusiasm set America on the way to the moon, while sending the Peace Corps across the developing world to make friends for America. Maybe Obama can rekindle that 'Camelot' spirit, which then carried right through America and across the world.

Time will tell, but for now he has our prayers and our best wishes to do the right things, for America, for Africa and for the rest of the world.

CONGO UPDATE

The information received last week from usually well informed sources in Rwanda, that Zimbabwean troops were fighting alongside Kinshasa regime units and their allied militias, has now been amended. It has been confirmed in both Kinshasa and by UN sources in Eastern Congo, that Angolan army units were indeed flown into the Congo and have been deployed. Angola in an earlier Congo conflict was fighting on the side of Kabila senior (who had welshed on earlier commitments made to his erstwhile supporters Rwanda and Uganda), alongside Zimbabwe, which could have been the cause of the erroneous naming of the outside country now involved again in the struggle.

Meanwhile calls have been emerging to break up the Congo into more manageable and cohesive regional units of government so that peace could return to those self-governed areas, but Kinshasa is likely to resist any moves to have parts of the country like the mineral rich Katanga region secede and taking the revenues accrued and so far largely kept in Kinshasa with them.

The presence of foreign, non UN or AU troops in the Congo may also draw the other protagonists back into action, as the political lines continue to be drawn as sharply as they were back in the 90's.

The peace summit in Nairobi last week also failed to reach a lasting conclusions and negotiations and discussions on how to best solve the problems of Eastern Congo are said to be ongoing at regional, continental and international levels. Also, contrary to reports in some select international media, there is no evidence of any direct involvement in the fighting from either Rwanda or Uganda and both governments have issued strongly worded denials to the allegations, which were likely peddled by the Kinshasa regime trying to deflect international attention from their own sorry situation.

Meanwhile, the provocative and irresponsible arrest by German border police of Rwanda's Chief of Protocol upon arrival in Frankfurt, where she arrived to prepare for the visit of President Kagame a day later, was condemned by both Rwanda and Uganda in the strongest possible terms. It is understood, that 23 French nationals, leading politicians and military personnel, will be indicted soon by Rwandese prosecutors, while another 10 cases are nearing the completion of investigations. This is for their alleged complicity in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, where France played &endash; to put it mildly &endash; a most dubious role. Relations between France and Rwanda have now again hit rock bottom and the German Ambassador in Kigali has also been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. The African Union is in full support of Rwanda's position and has equally lodged protests with the European Union. This 'side show' will obviously not be helpful for a swift and comprehensive solution of the conflict in Eastern Congo, so watch this space as future news break.

VOLCANIC ERUPTION REPORTED FROM ETHIOPIA

News have been received from Addis Ababa about a recent volcanic eruption in the North Eastern region of Afar. According to additional information some 30 square kilometres have been covered by lava from the eruption, which also registered as a minor earthquake. News from

'Uganda &endash; Gifted by Nature'

By Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome

First edition November 2008

KLM HITS MARKET WITH UNBELIEVABLE USA FARE

The Dutch national airline has advertised, for a very few select dates only, a return fare from Entebbe to the US starting from US Dollars 660. Needless to say, in the newspaper advertisement a rider was added in the very smallest print possible '*terms and conditions apply' &endash; for which inspite of using regular reading glasses this correspondent required a magnifying glass to even read the text. When calling the airline's Kampala office to find out what extras would be applicable on the fare and which US airport could be reached on which dates, the sales agent then suggested that one best comes to their offices in the city to discuss it as giving the information by phone may be 'complicated'. Oooops!!!

Consumer watchdogs in the EU have now banned misleading advertising by airlines, some of which promoted a 1 Euro fare but then loaded huge amounts on to it for all sorts of charges, leaving honest consumers befuzzed over what to believe. Calls have been getting louder in Eastern Africa too to ban such types of advertising and compel airline companies to only give the rate which a traveller then has to pay, inclusive of taxes, fuel surcharges and other add on's created by the airlines, airports and regulators.

EMIRATES TO COMPLETE MOVE TO TERMINAL 3

The Kampala office of Dubai's award winning airline has now confirmed that commencing on November 11th the fourth and final phase of their move to the new terminal will begin. The remaining flights to India, Asia and Australia will move arrivals and departures to link with all other flights already operating out of the new terminal. The move so far has been without hick ups and problems, a vote of confidence for the excellent planning and preparation, unlike the bodged Terminal 5 situation of BAA and BA earlier in the year in Heathrow.

Travellers from Uganda and the rest of Eastern Africa will then enjoy unprecedented short ways, increased comfort in the new departure lounges and state of the art shopping while in transit when flying with Emirates.

FUEL SHORTAGE HITS AGAIN

(Sunday, 02nd November 2008)

While over 100 fuel tankers are reportedly 'stuck' at the border as a result of a driver's strike and the alleged snail's pace clearance by customs, Kampala and other urban centres have run short of fuel and the international airport too is said to be affected with no new deliveries for the past two days. This however could not be independently confirmed by the time of going to press.

The fuel companies predictably blame delayed clearances at the border for fuel coming from the main end-of-pipeline depot in Eldoret / Kenya and the wildcat strike of drivers protesting against the appalling conditions of the customs parking yard at Malaba of course has added further woes to the supply situation in the country and beyond.

As a result of the shortage, said to last several more days at least, prices have gone up again and fuel stations began to ration their remaining stocks selling only small quantities to customers or even closing for the day.

Safari operators normally have sufficient stock at their depots to operate booked safaris without running out of fuel but visitors arriving imminently in Uganda are advised to consult their agents in case of any doubts.

Meanwhile, President Museveni demanded an immediate report on the border cargo clearance situation from the Uganda Revenue Authority, having summoned earlier in the week several cabinet ministers to Malaba to investigate the terrible state of the parking yards, after hearing complaints from the drivers when driving to Nairobi for the IGAD Summit.

SITUATION UPDATE ALONG THE UGANDA / RWANDA / CONGO BORDER

In view of the present situation in Eastern Congo, and the increased flow of refugees from that area to the borders with Uganda and Rwanda in search of safe haven, the travelling public can be reassured that tight security is in place along the Uganda / Congo border to prevent any transgression by Congolese soldiers or their allied militias. Refugees reaching official border posts are being processed in an orderly fashion as present resources on site permit.

There is no danger for tourist visitors to the gorilla national parks of Bwindi, Mgahinga nor for visitors to the Rwandan gorilla national park, where sufficient security measures are in place already to ensure the safety of visiting tourists.

The Rwandan and Ugandan government are closely monitoring the situation across the border in the Congo to ensure that no harm comes to their own citizens or visitors to the two countries travelling at present to or from the national parks in the area.

It is however recommended to use only duly licensed tour and safari operators when travelling to the national parks in the border areas as they are kept fully informed of developments and can react swiftly in case of any changes in the situation.

KINGS SELECTION DELAYED BY COURT

(Thursday, 30th October 2008)

The court action brought by a minority of the Busoga Kingdom's chiefs has resulted in an interim order to halt the selection of a new king, initially due for the end of October, until the merit of the case itself has been heard and decided by the Constitutional Court in Kampala. This may mean a lengthy delay in selecting a new king from amongst the qualified chiefdoms and is likely to anger the kingdom's subjects to no end.

However, the majority section of the kingdom, and in particular officials organizing the selection process claimed not to have been served with any court order and would go ahead with the process unless formally receiving the court papers. This column will continue to update readers on the situation.

CHIEF'S ASSEMBLY SELECTS NEW 'KYABAZINGA'

(Friday, 31st October 2008)

The assembled chiefs, three of them inexplicably missing, went ahead on 31st October and selected a new 'Kyabazinga' or King for the Busoga Kingdom. They gave their vote of support to Prince Edward Columbus Wambuzi Muloki, a son of the late king, who formally accepted to serve his subjects and assume the throne.

One of the contestants walked out of the assembly in obvious protest, complaining about the strong presence of security personnel around the venue, but he could not change the outcome of the selection process.

The newly anointed king was then driven to Busoga's main township of Jinja and given a rousing welcome by the population there. This column will inform readers when the formal coronation ceremony will take place.

No comments could be received in regard of an earlier Constitutional Court ruling from Kampala, as intimated in an earlier column item and there is some speculation that the chief's assembly had not been formally served with the injunction before embarking on the selection of their new king.

MTN KAMPALA MARATHON 'FULLY BOOKED'

The 2008 edition of the annual Kampala marathon had a brief registration extension, which has since closed to allow for processing of the data and production of tags for the participants. The race will take place on Sunday 23rd November and several key traffic arteries as well as parts of the city centre will be fully or partly closed for ordinary traffic to allow the race take place without danger for the participants. Over 10.000 runners are expected in what has become one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the country.

TELECOM COMPANIES TO SHARE MASTS

The ongoing telecom's boom in Uganda had a visual effect across the country, with urban neighbourhoods and many hills around the city and elsewhere now dotted with transmission masts. The Uganda Communications Commission has now concluded that this is no longer desirable and issued a statement last week that in the future the telecom companies will be compelled to share masts to minimise fresh building to parts of the country still in need of coverage. A commendable initiative says this correspondent which was long overdue and which is likely to keep expansion cost down for the benefit of many Ugandans in particular in rural areas.

KENYA AIRWAYS PROFITS DROP SHARPLY

Faced with the fall out of the political post election violence earlier in the year and subsequent near collapse of tourism, and passenger numbers, the Kenyan national airline is now faced with sharply lower profits, down by nearly two third for the first half of their financial year compared to 12 months ago, when all pointed to another record breaking year. Besides the loss of revenue, following the situation in the country, fuel bills escalated by over 70 percent inspite of sensible fuel hedging.

The airline however is committed to modernize its fleet and is set to exchange their ageing B767 fleet with the modern B787 'Dreamliner', as and when this plane eventually becomes available. This column has in the past extensively reported on the Boeing Corporation's production problems with this aircraft and the additional strain put on them through the recent strikes. The Kenya Airways management also made reference in their recent annual general meeting to the likely delays of the B787 but pointed out that alternatives are being sought and explored to, if necessary lease more fuel efficient aircraft as a stop gap measure, while waiting for their turn to take delivery of the ordered aircraft. It was also learned that at least two new B737-800 will now join their fleet late, due to the nearly two month long strike at Boeing.

Meanwhile, and in stark contrast &endash; a tell tale of what Kenya Airways could have achieved without the political violence &endash; Ethiopian Airlines has just announced a sharp rise by over one third of their year on year profits, adding evidence that well managed African airlines can indeed make a success as other global giants struggle. Watch this space.

KENYA CELEBRATES OBAMA WIN WITH PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The US election victory of Barack Obama, now due to become the 44th President of the United States in late January, has also spurned celebrations across Kenya. The Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki promptly announced a public holiday for Thursday this week to allow the Kenyan people celebrate the success of one (half) of their own. Obama was born to a Kenyan father and a US citizen and brought up by his mother and later his maternal grandmother, while the father's family continues to live in Nyanza province in Western Kenya.

Global media were camped at the home village of Kogelo, near the city of Kisumu, and once the victory became clear a bull was slaughtered for the entire family, friends, clan and other well wishers attending the live broadcasts on satellite television. Pictures from the outburst of joyous ululations by the entire village went around the world, just as soon as Obama's election victory became evident, as he rapidly accumulated the required number of votes in the Electoral College.

His election victory is also thought to attract many more visitors to Western Kenya in particular in coming years, not only from the US but from across the world, probably making it a place of near pilgrimage for the global Obama fan club. Good news for Kenya and hopefully also a reminder that a proper democratic process simply cannot be beaten when it comes to elections.

LAMU FESTIVAL FOR NOVEMBER 28TH TO 30TH

The ancient town of Lamu is getting ready for their annual Swahili Cultural Festival at the end of November. The UNESCO World Heritage Site township will celebrate age old customs and give a platform for performing arts of music and handicrafts. Both local and regional artists are expected to perform and show their skills while open air restaurants will prepare the traditional coastal foods for visitors. Scheduled flights to Lamu from Nairobi are available on Kenya Airways, Fly540, Air Kenya and Safari Link and air charters can also be arranged from Mombasa and Malindi.

TANZANIA GETS NEW WILDLIFE LAW

News were received that the Tanzanian parliament was discussing a new wildlife bill with very substantial changes compared to the present status. One of the major changes will be the formation of a professional anti poaching 'Wildlife Protection Unit', which will be better equipped and better trained to meet the challenges of today's often commercial type of poaching. Also contained in the new bill are stronger enforcement measures for encroachers of wetlands and cattle herders entering national parks and game reserves. The new bill is expected to be presented to parliament soon after ongoing stakeholder consultations have been concluded.

RWANDA AVIATION TRAINS TO ICAO STANDARDS

A four day training course last week educated staff of Rwandair, other airlines and from the Civil Aviation Authority on the latest procedures and standards as prescribed by IATA and ICAO, in order to improve aviation safety and security. High ranking sources from Rwandair commended the effort and vowed to continue upgrading skills and staff capabilities until they reach the highest standards and attain IOSA certification for the airline.

RWANDA TO PLANT 40 MILLION TREES

During the forthcoming national tree planting week Rwandan society is expected to plant as many as 40 million tree seedlings to boost environmental protection and replant forest areas where an excess of trees were cut in the past. Tree cover extends presently to about 20 percent but governmental policy expects to raise this to about 30 percent in 2020, a tall target but achievable.

RWANDA &endash; TANZANIA RAILWAY WORKS TO START NEXT YEAR

A study financed by the African Development Bank has underscored the political intent of the countries involved to begin construction work for the planned railway between Tanzania's inland port of Ishaka to Rwanda's capital Kigali and then on to Burundi. The project, said to be costing in excess of 4 billion US Dollars at current prices, would take at least 5 years to complete. Once ready the cost element of transportation in goods will fall from the present whopping 40 percent to just 5 percent, making imported items more affordable for the land locked countries of Rwanda and Burundi. Presently, besides air cargo, all goods for import and export have to be transported by road, mostly via Uganda, and the railway to the alternative Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam would create a second viable transit axis.

UGANDA GETS BIG VOTE FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT

As intimated some weeks ago, Uganda &endash; on behalf of Africa &endash; was standing for elections to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the next two years. During the vote late last week Uganda gathered 181 votes out of a total of 192, a very sound, if not outright overwhelming vote of confidence about the standing this East African nation nowadays enjoys in the international arena.

Uganda's term will commence on 01st January 2009 and run until 31st December 2010. I congratulate and salute the nation for attaining this great honour.

KAMPALA HOSTS ANOTHER MAJOR CONTINENTAL MEETING

The heads of state and government of SADC, COMESA and the EAC have met in Kampala during the week to strategize over future cooperation, aimed at making economic relations, trading, joint infrastructural developments and investments across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa easier and forming a formidable joint global force for negotiating trade deals and international agreements.

It was agreed that the three existing trading blocks would sign a harmonization and integration agreement within six months, also aimed at cushioning the effects of the global financial and economic crisis. COMESA, the East African Community and SADC would form an economic powerhouse block in the continent and the massive domestic market alone would encourage trading within, as exports to the EU and America are expected to stagnate or even fall, until their economies are getting into gear again. Population in the three blocks presently comprises nearly 530 million people and the combined GDP of the 26 member states last year reached over 600 billion US Dollars.

The meetings took place not far from this correspondent's residence at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort and the Speke Resort and Conference Centre Munyonyo, also venue of the Commonwealth Summit a year ago.

'NDEGE JUU' TAKES TO THE AIR

'Up with the bird' is the plain translation from Kiswahili into English and also the name of Uganda's latest domestic airline, now based at the fully refurbished 'Old Terminal' at the Kajjansi airfield. The small airline is specialising in banner advertising, but is also offering sightseeing flights and even charters. The principal promoters of the new airline &endash; licensed in March and recently awarded an AOC under the sharply tightened new CAA rules &endash; are Capt. Emma Carter, who used to fly several years for the Kampala Aero Club and Flight Training Centre, and Tim Cooper, who is the co-owner of Bulago Island.

The young airline is presently operating a Fuji FA-200 but planning to add more aircraft in due course. Visit their website at www.ndegejuu.com for more information.

KAMPALA HILTON' DEVELOPMENT IN 'A BIG MESS'

More and more questions are being asked why the notorious Hamid brothers of 'Aya' fame were initially chosen to develop a major hotel at one of the best sites in the city, on top of Nakasero Hill, for which the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation had to hurriedly shift to other premises.

The project, which the brothers promised would be completed within a year after breaking ground in 2006, never took off and was bodged with financial, planning and other problems. Instead of 'building a floor a week' the project is stuck at fourth floor level and no visible activity is taking place on the site. Started nearly three years ago, CHOGM has come and gone and other major summits have since then taken place in Uganda, leaving the place as a miserly building site moving at snail's pace or standing still. The latest set back, reported in the local media, is a claim of nearly 2.5 million US Dollars by the project's lawyers, apparently already confirmed in court, leaving the brothers again reeling, yet more discredited in the public eye and as always resorting to more full mouthed statements bare of reality. The High Court in Kampala has in the meantime ordered the sale of the property, a decision likely to be appealed in higher courts, but also indicative that time for the brothers may finally run out.

Sources from within the hotel industry openly question the capacity of the brothers to complete the project and suggestions have been made for government to take over the project and seek a more capably and competent party to complete it under a joint venture. Watch this space.

HITS TELECOM NOW TEAMS UP WITH 'ORANGE'

The long silence from HITS Telecom was at last broken during the week, when news were released that the company had been entering a joint venture with Orange, the mobile brand of France Telecom. The new company will reportedly be called 'Orange Uganda' and the French telecoms giant will under the new arrangement own 53 percent of the company. Orange recently also entered the Kenyan telecoms market when acquiring 51 percent of Telkom and further regional expansion cannot be ruled out. HITS was licensed well ahead of Warid, the latest entrant in the profitable telecoms market in Uganda, made their test calls first but then left the field for over a year to Warid to roll out and go operational, while pondering their options and reportedly seeking a strongly branded partner.

It was also learned that the Uganda Communications Commission has granted HITS / Orange a little more time to go operational, after the initial grace period had expired some weeks ago, leading to speculations over the future of the company in Uganda. The Uganda Investment Authority's CEO Prof. Dr. Maggie Kigozi also hailed the development, expressing her hope that once Orange starts operations tariffs would come down further, making telecommunications affordable for a broad range of new users mainly from the rural areas. Watch this space.

FOREST REPLANTING UNDERWAY

Following alarming reports in the local media over shrinking forest cover across the country, some good news were received from areas surrounding Kibaale national park. Information availed to this column indicates that some 150.000 indigenous tree seedlings were planted in recent months with the support of the National Forest Authority. NFA sources also say that over the past three years nearly a million indigenous tree seedlings were planted countrywide in an effort to restore forests.

HERITAGE OIL ANNOUNCES ANOTHER BIG FIND

Recent test drilling in different but equally promising area has produced yet more confirmed crude oil reserves, bringing commercial production nearer to reality. Tullow Oil has already signed a production agreement with government and the latest find by Heritage may now also pave the way for a similar contract to be signed with the Ugandan government.

Meanwhile, Tullow Oil has take out double page adverts in the local media advertising employment opportunities for Ugandans, bringing the first major job bonanza for qualified young people.

SHILLING PLUMMETS

The global financial fall out has now also reached Eastern Africa, where the currencies have taken a hit. In Uganda alone the value of the shilling versus the dollar has plummeted in an unprecedented way from the mid 1600 range some weeks ago to nearly 2000, as remittances from Ugandans living and working abroad are reducing and orders for exports like flowers, fruits, vegetables and fish are slackening from the main consumer markets in Europe. The trend is thought to benefit tourist visitors however, who will get more value for their dollars. At the same time however the value of the Euro and the UK Pound has equally dropped, reflecting the global trend in currency markets.

FUEL PRICES REMAIN HIGH

Frustration is setting in with motorists in Uganda as fuel prices remain high inspite of a sustained fall of the price of a barrel of crude oil on the international market, now down over 60 percent since nearly touching 150 US Dollars a few months ago. Fuel companies however have not passed on the savings to consumers, while they were swift in raising prices at the pumps when the crude oil price went rocketing.

KENYA NEARS NEW POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK K

The Kenyan Tourism Minister last week announced plans to look into the establishment of a tourism business council, which would be expected to advise government from time to time on matters concerning the sector's development as well as current affairs and matters arising. The promise was made during a tourism policy consultative workshop, which was aimed at advancing the new Kenyan tourism policy towards its completion. The workshop also discussed the status of the tourism draft legislation, which would bring the Kenyan tourism sector's legislative framework into the 21st century.

During the proceedings the minister also intimated that the pending new telecommunications bill would also cater for e-transactions, which would allow credit card payments for bookings and tourist services in Kenya in a regulated and secure way.

Uganda published her tourism policy in 2003 and finally passed the new tourism bill earlier this year, after it was inexplicably kept pending since 2005 without much progress in between. The tourism industry in Uganda is now also awaiting the new regulations to be promulgated by the minister, which should have happened shortly after the bill was signed into law by President Museveni. No sound reasons could be established however why the regulations are not published yet and what is again holding up a crucial component governing the sector's development.

KENYA OPENS ABASUBA CULTURAL MUSEUM

Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria is the location of a recently opened cultural museum, celebrating the Abasuba traditions in a formal setting. The effort is part of Kenya's drive to diversify tourism and open up new circuits and attractions for the expected visitor boom resuming after the post election violence early in the year. Should Senator Obama win the US presidential elections on November 03, the area &endash; Nyanza Province &endash; is expected to rake in tourist Dollars and Euros from curious visitors, as Obama's father hailed from the area and part of his 'Kenyan' family still live there, making it a unique 'tourist attraction' for Obama's global 'fan club'.

AIR ARABIA TO START NAIROBI FLIGHTS

This weekend will see Air Arabia, a UAE based low cost carrier, starting their long awaited flights between Sharjah and Nairobi, adding pressure on fares on the lucrative route to the heart of the Gulf. Presently Kenya Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways are flying to various destinations in the Gulf region from Nairobi, but with Sharjah only a few kilometres from Dubai, the new flights are thought to become an instant success with money conscious travellers.

KENYA TO BENEFIT FROM EXPEDIA CONTRACT

Vintage Africa has now signed an agreement with global e-marketing giant Expedia to market products from Kenya and the wider East African region. Hotels like the Nairobi Hilton and the hotels and lodges of Fairmont Kenya can now be accessed via Expedia, which increases global exposure and helps selling the East African region around the world.

FLY 540 EXPANSION TO TANZANIA ON HOLD

Politics are suspected to be preventing Fly540 to bring low fares and reliable services into the Tanzanian market, for the time being at least. Issues arising from restrictions placed through the bilateral air services agreement seem to suggest that all available slots from Kenya are taken up already, and Tanzania being rather notorious in erecting non tariff barriers for airlines from the region appears to stick to their guns not allowing Fly540 on the route. The airline however seems to have also lodged an application in Tanzania to obtain an air services license and commence operations from there, as they have successfully done in Uganda already.

That all said, the intransigence of regional aviation regulators, as often mentioned in this column before, is legendary and their approach to integration is largely one of holding on to their little fiefdoms instead of opening up the regulatory regime across the East African Community. The Yamoussoukro Agreement on aviation, but also the respective clauses of COMESA (Tanzania is a member of SADC and therefore not bound by COMESA rules) should dictate a more proactive regulatory regime, but at least for the time being the bureaucrats seem to think otherwise.

AIR TANZANIA PLANES FUTURE UNCERTAIN

Reports have surfaced in Tanzania that the two leased B737 aircraft are due for heavy maintenance any time soon, putting the schedules of the airline in doubt unless they can secure replacements in good time. Information from usually well informed aviation sources in Dar es Salaam also indicates that the two aircraft's leases are due for renewal too or else the Boeings may have to be returned to the lessors abroad.

EMBATTLED 'TAZARA' RAILWAY BOARD SEEKS CULPRIT

The company's board of directors has now put much of the blame for the company's precarious financial and operational position on the CEO (since suspended), accusing him during the week of misappropriation of up to 10 billion Tanzania Shillings. The company has been in the news of late over a series of misfortunes, overshadowed by the developments over the Rift Valley Railway Corporation at the time, which meanwhile seems back on the straight and narrow after a total overhaul of management, board and shareholders, which included a substantial reduction of former lead investor's Sheltam of South Africa's overall shareholding.

The Tanzania &endash; Zambia Railway however is now reeling from the impact of the financial losses and the board, also presently seeking a strategic investor, is now seemingly hell bent to blame someone. A strike also reportedly erupted last week but was quelled when the board gave in to worker's demands and re-instated the Acting CEO whom they also sought to get rid of.

The Railway was built by the Chinese government in the late 1960's and assumed operations in the mid 1970's.

ZANZIBAR TOURISM TURNS TO INDIGENOUS INVESTORS

Information was received last week that over 250 Zanzibaris have been registered as significant investors in the tourism industry, putting more local interest into the sector. No data on the type of these investments or the value of the investments could be obtained at the time of going to press but it is evident that more and more local investors have of late committed themselves to the tourism industry, reducing the reliance on foreign investments.

PLANS FOR NEW RWANDA CONVENTION CENTRE READY

The architectural drawings for the new Kigali International Convention Centre have been completed, it was revealed earlier in the week in Kigali. Construction for the centre, which will also include a hotel, shopping arcades and an office park, is due to kick on in February 2009 and expected to take two years towards completion. The centre will be able to cater for meetings, conferences, conventions and events with up to 2.500 participants at a time.

Meanwhile it was also learned, that Rwanda will only pass a half year budget for the period of January until June 2009, whereafter they will move their annual financial year, in line with other East African Community countries, to the July &endash; June period.

RWANDAIR RESUMES JOHANNESBURG FLIGHTS

As indicated in this column some weeks ago, Rwandair has indeed now commenced flights again from Kigali to Johannesburg, operating three times a week at present. Sources from within the airline however did confirm that more flights could be added in coming months, subject to traffic growth on the route. Rwandair had to book their passengers to South Africa over the past six months on other airlines, often connecting through other airports. The same source did however not comment on the date for the announcement of the airline's partnership with Fly540 Aviation, which is according to unconfirmed information nearly ready to sign. Follow this column for regular updates on aviation news from the entire region.

SOUTHERN SUDAN SET FOR NEW TOURISM LAW AND REGULATIONS

The Ministry for Wildlife Conservation and Tourism has now formally signed a contract to develop their new tourism legislation and subsequent regulations, aimed to provide a comprehensive framework based on which development partners and donors can then assist in institutional capacity building to put the re-emerging sector on a sound growth path.

The ministry has already, with internally generated resources, started to document some of the main attractions on DVD to eventually prepare a marketing tool for the promotion of tourism, first in the region and then further abroad.

Presently however there is no tourism marketing body in place and wildlife management is still part of the ministry itself, rather than operating in an autonomous or semi-autonomous setting as most counterparts in the region now do.

JUBA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION STALLS

After the initial contractor for the new terminal building in Juba at the international airport was 'sacked' &endash; other sources allege they simply disappeared after obtaining some substantial payments, a new search is going on to find a new contractor. Work meanwhile has come to a standstill on the new passenger terminal located right next to the present terminal, which is now overcrowded whenever more than one flight arrive and depart at the same time.

JUBA BRIDGE ACROSS THE NILE FIXED

The much utilised bridge across the river Nile in Juba, one section of which had collapsed over two years ago when an heavily overloaded truck brought part of the structure down, has now been re-opened for traffic in both directions. During the period of repair traffic was strictly one way regulated, slowing down entry into the city as well as traffic leaving Juba. The main road across the bridge leads to Nimule, before crossing into Uganda, thus forming a major supply route for Juba and the rest of the Southern Sudan.

TARMAC FOR ROAD TO PARK

During a visit to the Rukungiri district in Western Uganda as part of his nationwide poverty alleviation tour, has President Museveni announced that the recently completed magnificent road to the area will be extended towards Kanungu (where traffic branches off to the Bwindi Gorilla National Park), Kihihi and the Congo DR border point at Ishasha. This will allow for faster and easier access of tourists to the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park but equally important provide farmers in the area an outlet to reach the urban markets across the country via the new road. Driving time to the Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth parks may reduce, once the road extension is completed, by more than an hour, giving tourist visitors more time inside the parks or allowing for visits to cultural attractions en route to the park, making best use of the time gained. The park road between Katunguru and Ishasha however, which crosses the Queen Elizabeth National Park from one end to the other and traverses the Maramagambo Forest, is still in great need of repairs and upgrades.

POWER PLANT DEVELOPER PULLS OUT, GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER

The second new hydro electric power plant developer, NORPAK, has just announced that they are pulling out of the project following disagreements with the World Bank, without giving more specific reasons however. The project was in an on / off mode since the first proposals were floated over a decade ago. Government however was swift in stepping into the breach and announced it would acquire the plans, designs and intellectual property from NORPAK to ensure the project would be developed within the expected time frame. It is likely that a restricted bidding process might unfold soon towards finding a new developer, but it is equally likely that government may go it alone. It was also learned that the designs of NORPAK, which wanted to build a 'tunnel' version as opposed to the highly contentious dam type, would be re-examined with the aim to raising the output of power from the projected 200 MW to as much as 600 MW. It is not clear at present how this is to be achieved however, so watch this space.

FORESTS KEEP SHRINKING

The latest in a series of reports on the status of forests in Uganda has again underscored an alarming trend of fast reduction in tree cover across the country. The State Minister for Environment was quoted having said in parliament that: 'the situation is getting serious and worrying. We have so far lost forest cover equivalent to 28 percent'.

No comparative time frame could however be obtained, during which this reduction is said to have taken place.

The situation appears particularly bad in Northern Uganda, where formerly displaced people, returning to their home areas, are reportedly cutting trees rather indiscriminately for firewood, charcoal burning and construction timber. The National Forest Authority has apparently been given a budget equivalent to 2 million US Dollars for replanting of trees in 'central forest reserves', which are managed by the national body, but clearly more has to be done to prevent a further de-forestation and subsequent desertification of the country, which once was green from one end to the other.

Meanwhile, the National Forest Authority has called upon companies with unutilised concessions to either start planting trees in accordance with the agreements or else have their contracts cancelled. Under a joint forest management scheme several applicants had been awarded 49 year long agreements, covering some 600 acres.

TANZANIA'S POWER OUTPUT TO REDUCE &endash; BY LAW

The effects of what appears now to be an ill thought out law, signed into effect in June this year, are now likely to further cut the available power in Tanzania, where only two weeks ago the country was struggling with extensive power cuts, when one of the key power plants developed serious technical problems.

The new law prohibits any and all companies with current contracts as 'independent power producers' to re-apply for fresh contracts or have existing contracts renewed for 5 years, leading to the Aggreko plant to be shut down shortly. With it goes a capacity of at least 40 MW, as the company has to terminate operations. The new law came into effect over a scandal in the private power generation sector, which cost several government ministers their jobs at the time. However, the intent of the law overshot its aim and objective and the real effect, already pointed out by independent observers and the power industry at the time now seems set to inflict serious electricity shortages in the country. Business leaders and associations are now leading the battle to suspend the law or urgently amend it to avoid the un-intended side effects hit the economy at this time of global financial market turmoil and recessionary tendencies around the globe. Watch this space.

NEXT LEON SULLIVAN SUMMIT GOES TO KIGALI

During the week the formal MoU was signed between the summit organizers and the Rwandan government to host the next Leon Sullivan Summit in 2010 in Kigali. The most recent event was held earlier in the year in Arusha, Tanzania and was judged an overwhelming success of the summit's objectives. No specific dates were available however at the time of going to press.

RWANDA OPTS FOR ENGLISH

In yet another step to put their past firmly behind, Rwanda's cabinet has now decided to accelerate and increase the teaching of English in schools across the country. English will now be the sole medium of instruction from nursery schools to university. Previously, that is until the 1994 Hutu perpetrated genocide, French and Kinyarwanda were the only two official languages in the country but this has changed over the past nearly 15 years with English substituting French more and more.

The joining of Rwanda of the East African Community and her application to join the Commonwealth have undoubtedly played a role in this significant decision, but rubbing the French nose a little &endash; in view of the strained relations &endash; may be a welcome added 'benefit' for the Rwandan leadership.

SOUTHERN SUDAN TOURISM POLICY NEARLY THERE

The long awaited tourism policy for the government of Southern Sudan in Juba is now on its final stretch with ongoing intense consultations amongst public and private sector stakeholders, civil society organizations, NGO's and development partners leading up towards a final consultative workshop, where the new policy final draft document is due to be presented and adopted. Immediately after that final workshop, which will be held in Juba during the last week of October, the new policy document is then expected to be formally handed over to the Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism for processing and presentation to the Council of Ministers, Government of Southern Sudan. It was also learned that work on a new draft tourism legislation and draft tourism regulations would commence soon afterwards to complete the task of establishing a new policy, legal and regulatory framework for the tourism sector in Southern Sudan.

Meanwhile, the environment portfolio has been taken out of the tourism ministry, leaving it as 'Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism' within the Government of Southern Sudan. The environment department is now part of the Ministry of Housing and the Director General for Environment, Mr. Victor Lotombe also moved to his new ministry in the same position.

FRAGILE CONGO PEACE AT THE BRINK

Fighting has spread again in Eastern Congo during the past week, now also involving areas around Bunia / Ituri. 'Government' or better regime forces are coming under pressure there, as they have been in the Goma area, where the Tutsi self protection units of General Nkunda have gone on the offensive, after the regime troops openly sided with the former Hutu militias, which committed the Rwanda genocide in 1994. General Nkunda in fact sent a stark message to the Kinshasa regime that he would take the fight to them, if their attitude and behaviour would not change fundamentally in coming weeks, starting with containing and disarming the Hutu militias. The intransigence and alleged deceit of the Kabila led regime in Kinshasa seems to have brought things to a head, and their open alliance with the killer militias, with the tacit support of the UN MONUC 'peace keeping' force is possible now leading to a renewed larger conflict in the torn jungle nation.

Rwanda has in the meantime categorically refuted reports from Kinshasa that Rwandese troops had allegedly entered the DR Congo, a denial supported incidentally by UN observers in the area who found not evidence to that effect.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Uganda was celebrating her 46th Independence Day on 09th October, commemorating the day when it attained full independence from the former colonial master Great Britain. As always, the nation took a day off to join the party with many extending the Thursday holiday into a very long weekend, visiting their upcountry homes or retreating for some R&R to the national parks and game reserves, where lodges and camps reported brisk business from Ugandans and expatriate residents. Security across the city was stepped up to ensure the revellers could enjoy a safe celebration environment.

Since taking power in January 1986, when the National Resistance Army led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni drove the last of the former dictators out of Kampala, the country under the NRM government has undergone a well near miraculous revival and the steadfast economic policies have aided political stability, reconstruction of infrastructure and sustained growth ever since. We proudly celebrate 'Uganda &endash; Gifted by Nature'. Visit the Ugandan exhibition stand at the forthcoming WTM to learn more about this outstanding ecotourism destination or look up the following important and useful websites: www.visituganda.com, www.uwa.or.ug, www.theeye.co.ug, www.africa-ata.org and www.traveluganda.co.ug

FLY540 UGANDA BRINGS IN AIRCRAFT

Having been granted an AOC by the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority &endash; an expensive duplication of a process already in place in Kenya but required by stubborn regulators still unwilling or unable to delegate part of their oversight and control functions to another East African Community member state CAA &endash; Fly540 has now acquired and put on the Ugandan registry initially two converted F27 freighters, which will operate out of Entebbe into the region and provide sufficient capacity to cater for transit air cargo destined beyond Entebbe. Often times in the past cargo reached Uganda by air through European or Middle Eastern airlines on pallets, but then had to be delivered by truck to its final destination in Eastern Congo or Southern Sudan due to lack of adequate palletized or loose cargo capacity on onwards flights. This problem has now finally been solved to the relief of air cargo agents in Entebbe.

News are also expected on passenger operations originating from Uganda's main aviation gateway, so watch this space for breaking news on Fly540's plans.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES EXTENDS ETIHAD CODESHARE

Information was received from SN sources that the main Belgian airline, of late the newest member in the Lufthansa family, has extended their codeshare arrangements with Abu Dhabi's flag carrier Etihad. The Gulf airline can now offer 'through' tickets for their four weekly flights to Brussels to connect their passengers to the Scandinavian capital cities of Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki. All connecting flights will be operated on Brussels Airlines equipment.

Brussels Airlines also confirmed that their tie up with Lufthansa and eventual entry to Star Alliance, the world's leading global airline alliance, will have no affect on their present contracts and long term cooperation plans with Jet Airways. For the coming winter season around 20 European destinations connect Jet Airways passengers within two hours of landing in Brussels through SN flights, a substantial increase from the previous schedule. The cooperation is expected to initially feed some 6.000 passengers a month to Brussels Airlines flights and these numbers are expected to increase further by 2009.

AIR UGANDA NOW GOES DAILY TO JUBA

Information was received that Air Uganda has upped their frequencies from 5 per week to daily flights between Entebbe and Southern Sudan's capital Juba. Load factors on this particular route show the best performance within their route network, justifying the extra flights.

Royal Daisy Airlines in the meantime is still without their Embraer 120, which also plied the route with daily flights but is now undergoing heavy maintenance with no replacement aircraft in sight as of going to press. Third contender on the route, Eagle Air Uganda, reduced their scheduled flights to three times a week via the Southern Sudanese town of Yei, basically leaving the profitable Juba route without serious competition at this time. Eagle Air however has commenced scheduled operations to Bunia in Eastern Congo using Beechcraft 1900B and LET 410 aircraft. Brussels Airlines has also recently signed an agreement with Air Uganda to cater for connecting passengers in Entebbe to and from Juba.

ETHIOPIAN OFFERS OUAGADOUGOU

Information received from the ET offices in Kampala indicates that from end October onwards they will fly six times a week from Addis to the West African destination, using a B757 aircraft. The flights will be routed via Accra and Abuja, although Lome is also still a possibility for a stopover.

Ethiopian Airlines, together with Kenya Airways, offer the most comprehensive inter African networks and are largely responsible to not only connect Africa within but also connect Africa to the rest of the world.

DATES SET FOR MARATHON

The annual 'MTN Kampala Marathon' will this year take place on 23rd of November. Participants from abroad can register online via www.mtnkampalamarathon.co.ug or send an email for more details to mtnmarathon@mtn.co.ug. Registration is open until 31st of October and the cost for individual entries and teams can be obtained on the official website. The Kampala Marathon is one of the annual 'must see' sporting events and has established itself over past years in Eastern Africa as a premier event. Much of the proceeds this year will go towards supporting formerly displaced people in the North of the country, who have now returned to their home areas and are beginning to rebuild their lives which were disrupted by the LRA terror gangs.

SSISSA CLUB TO HOST 'WOODSTOCK MEMORIAL'

The Ssissa Club, located not far out of the city along Entebbe road, will be hosting on 26th and 27th October a weekend music festival, featuring the music which marked the initial 'Woodstock' festival of the late 60's. The fete will start mid day on Saturday the 26th and last through the night until mid day Sunday. Admission is for ticket holders only due to limited space and the accommodation at the club is reportedly already sold out, although camping sites are available for those bringing their own tents. For more information write to Nari Patel at nari@cell2cell.co.ug or call +256 772 777727.

MORE EFFORTS TO UNITE EAST AFRICA

Negotiations between the 5 EAC memberstates went on during the week in Kampala aimed to reach agreement on the next protocols governing the common market, freedom of movement of capital, labour and people and common transportation policies. In a commendable development Tanzania had a week earlier consented to remove restrictions place on other EAC citizens wishing to work or live in Tanzania, seen as an important step towards eventually lifting all existing internal boundaries and making East Africa truly one common area for citizens and visitors alike. The East African 'domestic market' is to come into effect by 2010 and will include over 120 million people.

KENYA AIRWAYS BREAKS NEW GROUND &endash; AGAIN

In a ground breaking investment for Eastern Africa the Kenyan flag carrier has now ordered for the installation of a B737 flight simulator at its Embakasi base, where it has also put up a state of the art training academy and centre, as they strive to meet the highest global standards in piloting, maintenance, in flight service and ground handling operations. The investment is thought to safe the airline substantial amounts of money in coming years as they further expand both fleet and network and training of pilots and other staff has to increase.

KENYA DEPORTS OBAMA CRITIC

If you intend to speak out against Senator Obama, best don't consider doing it in Kenya! Jerome Corsi, the American author of the book 'The Obama Nation', apparently highly critical of Obama, was ejected from the country ahead of the formal launch of the book at the Grand Regency Hotel in downtown Nairobi. In doing so the Kenyan authorities not only showed a remarkable intolerance to the freedom of expression but also in fact unwittingly played into the hands of the author and his publishers, by giving global exposure to the hitherto little known book by creating headline news around the world. The author's handlers in Kenya reaffirmed that all legal requirement for the visit were fulfilled, i.e. Visa, passport and return ticket were all at hand and in good order, but apparently government apparatchiks thought the book launch event was a possible 'embarrassment' to the Kenyan government, which through the hasty expulsion it indeed has now become. Question remains, are any US Republicans welcome in Kenya ahead of their elections and will keeping their mouth's shut be a condition of obtaining a Visa? Oooops.

COLONIAL 'MASTER' ATTITUDE MAKES UNWANTED RETURN

Kenyans were left bewildered last weekend to learn that several Western countries had allegedly threatened members of the Electoral Commission of Kenya with travel bans, should they not resign their offices forthwith. Kenya's foreign ministry was swift to call the nearly unprecedented attempt on the sovereignty of a Kenyan institution 'a blatant breach of diplomatic protocol', reminiscent of true colonial 'master / servant' practice and the worst neo-colonial behaviour witnessed for quite some time now.

The Kenyan Electoral Commission has indeed been under public scrutiny and pressure following the aftermath of the end 2007 elections and publication of results, but it must be stressed that this is entirely for the Kenyan government and people to resolve without overt or covert interference by certain Western powers, who have their own agenda with Kenya and are trying to use this domestic issue to re-assert themselves and carve out concessions over the use of harbours, airports, airspace and related matters, where the Kenyan government in the past has stood firm and promoted their own interests first and foremost.

The 'bullies' are notably some EU memberstates but also the US and it is understood that a formal protest note was sent to those countries diplomatic missions in Nairobi. Allegations had earlier surfaced in Nairobi that some 'diplomats' had visited the Chairman of the ECK's office and demanded he and his fellow commissioners resign or else have their Visa clearances withdrawn, prompting accusations of blackmail not befitting for accredited diplomatic staff.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA 2009 DATES PUBLISHED

The 'Sounds of Wisdom' or Sauti za Busara annual music festival in Zanzibar will take place next year from February 12th to 17th. The annual event has gained global attention and some 400 performers and groups have so far performed in past years to the delight of thousands of visitors who come to Zanzibar every year.

The festival will start of with a 'carnival' parade and street events on the 12th February next year and will then be followed by performances of about 10 groups each day at the 'Stone Town's' 'Old Fort'. Local food delicacies, handicrafts and curio items will be on sale at the venue throughout. Entrance is free from up to sunset every day but passes or tickets will be required in the evenings.

The final event will take place on 17th February at 'Kendwa Rocks' on one of Zanzibar's best beach locations and an all night party will then conclude the celebrations.

The Sauti za Busara festival this year will be preceded by workshops in art, journalism and music and specially tailored sound engineering and lighting courses, aimed at building greater capacity amongst East Africans.

Sponsors for some of the events are still invited and the festival organizers can be reached via www.busaramusic.org or email Busara@zanlink.com

Meanwhile, the Busara organizers have also confirmed their participation in 'WOMEX 2008', arguably the world's biggest showcase event for international music and folk. Meet them at the showground in Sevilla, Spain between 29th October and 02nd November.

BAGAMOYO FESTIVAL KICKS OF NEXT WEEK

A cultural feast of traditional music will take place in Bagamoyo, north of Dar es Salaam, from 13th until 18th October. Details are available via www.sanaabagamoyo.com.

Other upcoming performing art and related events include the 'Diani Beach Music Festival' (South of Mombasa) on 18th October at the 'Forty Thieves Beach Bar', 'Visa 2 Dance' contemporary dance festival from 22nd until 24th October in Dar es Salaam's Jubilee VIP Hall, the 'Makutano Arts and Craft Fair' at the same venue from 21st to 22nd November and the Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya from 28th until 30th November (www.tourism.go.ke). The growing number of regional arts and cultural events underscore the diversification of tourism related activities in a region rich in tradition and culture.

MORE BAD NEWS FOR TATA'S SODA ASH PLANT

The plans of India's TATA Corporation, in conjunction with a local Tanzanian partner, to build a soda ash extraction and processing plant at or near Lake Natron (northern Tanzania), have been dealt another blow by environmentalists, as the latest studies and projections came to light. Participants in the globally attended 'Pan African Ornithological Congress' recently held in South Africa, were presented with a gloomy outlook for East African bird populations, in particular the 'lesser flamingo', which is using the Lake Natron shores for breeding, the only such breeding ground in the entire region. Birdlife International expects more pressure to be piled upon the Tanzanian government to halt the project permanently as any unilateral decision would contravene the mechanism of consultations and agreement under the Ramsar Convention, to which Tanzania is also a signatory.

The more than a million strong flamingo populations are major tourist attractions along the lakes in the Kenyan rift valley, notably of course Lake Nakuru, but also lakes Elementaita and Bogoria, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year, but the birds must return every year to Lake Natron for breeding. Any disruption of this cycle would likely result in a rapid reduction in numbers and the birds could be extinct within a decade, should their breeding environment be irreversibly changed.

Meanwhile, East African cooperation has extended to certification of 'eco friendliness', where Kenya has in recent years developed an acknowledged scheme of accreditation and certifications. News reports from Tanzania now indicate that the industry there may well adopt the functioning system from Kenya instead of 're-inventing the wheel', which would of course strengthen the objectives of eco certification.

In Uganda, efforts were made by this correspondent some years ago in a week long series of workshops and seminars, presided over by Hugh Cresser, a US based expert, to elaborate on eco friendly behaviour and explain the global benefits of such schemes, but alas, being again ahead of the times little interest was shown at the time by most hospitality businesses, other than a few sworn core supporters of 'going green and remaining green'. Maybe the Tanzanian initiative is belatedly going to change this for the benefit of the tourism industry, where globally claims to be 'green' or 'eco-friendly' are coming under ever greater scrutiny to ascertain the facts.

RWANDA INAUGURATES NEW PARLIAMENT

Following the peaceful and yet decisive elections recently, won by President Kagame's RPF, the new parliamentarians were sworn in earlier in the week and parliament then officially opened by the President. In a remarkable development some 55 percent of all seats are now held by women, making Rwanda a global leader in this regard. In fact a lady parliamentarian was elected as Speaker during the inaugural session and this equality is also expected to feature in the new cabinet.

In another development it was learned that the planned railway connection from Dar es Salaam to Kigali was to be extended into Eastern Congo with support from the African Development Bank, which together with other agencies was also funding the feasibility study.

CHINESE INVESTORS TO BUILD NEW HOTEL IN KIGALI

An investment consortium from Hong Kong and China has now unveiled plans for their new 5star hotel in Kigali, on the site of the former Jali Club. This column reported about the negotiations some weeks ago and the grand design presented to the public has stirred the hospitality sector in Rwanda into a new phase of activities. Construction of the new hotel is due to start early in 2009 and is expected to take two years towards completion of the project. The 200 room and suite hotel will also feature a major conference facility, building yet more capacity for Rwanda in the tourism industry. The initial investment is said to be worth about 40 million US Dollars.

Other new projects in the hospitality sector are underway by Dubai World with a US Dollars 250 million investment package for a luxury hotel cum golf course, two new safari lodges and the refurbishment of the main lodge in the Akagera National Park, and a multi million dollar rehabilitation of the Hotel Mille Collines.

PIRACY &endash; ANOTHER EVIL ALONG THE HORN OF AFRICA

Not much more needs to be said about the political situation in Somalia, where since the overthrow of the former dictator Siad Barre in 1991 no real central government existed. Radical Islamists, allegedly in the employ of Al Qaida and its sympathiser groups, had for a time taken over the reigns in the country but were then kicked out of the capital Mogadishu by an Ethiopian intervention force, aimed to create some sort of stability along their common borders and keep the country from turning into another safe haven for terror groups and their training camps. While Ethiopian troops are still in country, the African Union eventually sent a peace keeping force comprised of largely Ugandan army units to keep law and order.

The Islamists who were driven out of the main towns in the early stage of the intervention, have since regrouped and are constantly engaging the AU force and transitional government troops in hit and run attacks, a situation which is a potential cinderbox for the entire region, as these problems could easily spill over into Ethiopia and Kenya and the wider region.

But what has come into the main focus of international attention in recent months is the increasing problem of piracy emerging from the lawless harbours and hideaways along the Indian Ocean cost and the growing threat to global shipping traffic from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the ports of Eastern and Southern Africa, and vice versa.

Coalition forces have for several years now established a forward base in Djibouti, where naval and air force units from a number of countries are based to prevent Islamic militants and Al Qaida supporters from travelling freely across the narrow strip of ocean between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. In fact French forces (thought to be based in Djibouti) have on several occasions freed French citizen kept hostage by the pirates but no forceful policy has yet been presented by the UN or coalition force member governments to patrol, police and if necessary by force prevent more acts of piracy along the sea lanes around the Horn of Africa.

The latest developments, where pirates are holding a Kenya bound ship with military hardware for the Kenyan army &endash; maybe to be used for strengthening and re-enforcing Kenya's defences along the land border with Somalia to prevent Islamic militant groups from entering or maybe not, going by speculations in the international media &endash; have only served to hasten the inevitable. International navy forces are surrounding the pirated ship &endash; while other vessels are held in hideaways and natural harbours, while the global community is still pondering their action plans.

It is time now to grant a UN mandate to coalition forces based in Djibouti to go into hot pursuit of pirates and use airborne rapid intervention units to find, target and eliminate the pirate's nests along this stretch of the East African coastline and around the Horn of Africa to make and keep the sea lanes safe, not only for cargo traffic but also to once again attract what used to be substantial leisure traffic by cruiseliners and private yachts, wanting to explore the Eastern African coastlines enroute from or to the Suez Canal.

More Hotnews .

UGANDA TAKES WORLD TOURISM DAY CELEBRATIONS TO THE RWENZORIS

The annual World Tourism Day celebrations took place this year in Kasese, a township on both the doorsteps of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the foothills of the 'Mountains of the Moon' or Rwenzori Mountains. Emphasis this year was on climate change, a matter often addressed in this column in past years. One of the main elements of the Millennium Development Goals is environmental sustainability and the largely nature based tourism industry in Uganda, and the entire region for that matter, depends overwhelmingly on intact biodiversity, the protection of the region's wildlife and conservation and preservation efforts. The official position in Uganda has been both hot and cold in this respect, as ongoing arguments over the future of the Mabira Forest, the Cycad Forest outside Queen Elizabeth National Park, open quarry mining for limestone inside Queen Elizabeth National Park and other controversial projects show. Encroachment on duly gazetted protected areas like national parks, game reserves and forest reserves alike, due to human pressures has fuelled a political debate to find a balanced way forward, taking human needs into account while at the same time maintaining wetlands, maintaining the country's rich biodiversity and entering global best practise in all aspects of commerce, industry and human lifestyle in general. Commitments made by governmental representatives during the WTD celebrations will undoubtedly be measured in coming months on the reality on the ground to see if lip-service to these high aspiration goals can indeed be transformed into concrete action on the ground.

MWEYA REFURBISHMENT ON COURSE

The premier safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, strategically located on a peninsula protruding into Lake Edward and lined by the Kazinga Channel, is now finalising their refurbishment of furniture and soft furnishings at the lodge, aimed to retain their 5-star rating when the grading of hospitality businesses will eventually unfold. Marasa Limited, the tourism and hospitality subsidiary of the Madhvani Group, expects the exercise to be concluded ahead of the upcoming high season.

It is also understood that the sister lodge in Murchisons Falls National Park, the Paraa Safari Lodge, will be refurbished too once the work at Mweya is complete. From usually well informed sources this column also learned that the group has developed an interest in both Rwanda and Zanzibar and that formal announcements could be made sometime soon. Watch this space

RULING ON LIMESTONE MINING DUE TODAY

October 03rd will see the long awaited ruling delivered, whether Hima Cement, a subsidiary of French conglomerate Lafarge, can indeed commence open quarry mining inside the Queen Elizabeth National Park &endash; with all its environmental side effects &endash; or if conservationists carry the day and have the company prevented from despoiling a national park area for which immense sums of money have been spent over the past two decades to restore it to its former glory. The court case was brought by NAPE, the national association of professional environmentalists on behalf of a number of conservation watchdog groups and is generally considered a land mark case, determining the approach for other related cases presently under public scrutiny. Watch out for details of court's decision next week.

BUSOGA KING SELECTION PUSHED TO END OCTOBER

News have emerged from the Busoga Kingdom's administration that the much awaited selection of a new 'Kyabazinga' has been pushed from 03rd October to 31st October, as 'the chiefs were not yet ready' for the exercise. The monarchy in Busoga is not hereditary and has traditionally rotated between the chiefdoms in the past, aimed at promoting unity and allowing opportunity for leadership. The position of 'chief' however is hereditary allowing for a succession by the first born son. The Ugandan traditional kingdoms form a major part of the country's heritage and allows for unique culture tourism opportunities. Watch this space for emerging news.

UGANDA CONFIRMS WTM PARTICIPATION

The Uganda Tourist Board, aka Tourism Uganda, has confirmed their participation in the forthcoming World Travel Market in London, after they secured a strategic partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority, which is co-underwriting the exhibition cost. A new 'double decker' stand is to be constructed for the event portraying the country's tourism attractions from the very best perspective. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has also already confirmed their participation in the trade fair. Make early appointments with the stand management via utb@starcom.co.ug and visit www.visituganda.com or www.uwa.or.ug for their latest updates from 'Uganda - Gifted by Nature'.

TREMOR RATTLES KAMPALA

On Wednesday late afternoon, some 20 minutes past 5 p.m., a noticeable earth tremor rattled the city and its suburbs and caused consternation, and a little unfounded panic in some quarters. The 15 second long earthquake is thought to have its epicentre some distance away from the capital, and similar rumbles in the past were found to have emerged from the Rwenzori region or Eastern Congo, where near Goma a volcano is active and has erupted only a few years ago. However, no reports from these areas were available when going to press. The quake was estimated to have been in the 4+ on the open ended Richter Scale.

WANTING COMPETITORS NOW TRY POLITICAL MEANS

The parliamentary committee on tourism, trade and industry was told last week, that 'exclusion zones' around existing lodges 'must go', walking the slippery road of breaking existing contracts signed in good faith by investors in the tourism industry. When the first concessions were offered in the mid 90's by the then Uganda National Parks &endash; now the Uganda Wildlife Authority &endash; arrival numbers of tourists were ridiculously low and marketing of the country nearly absent. Investors at the time took a considerable risk pouring money into a sector, which was soon afterwards then hit by a series of negative events, impacting on tourism performance right till the end of the last century.

In fact, tourism only started picking up again from 2000 onwards, causing those early investors substantial financial losses during the first half of the concession period to sustain and often heavily subsidise their operations. The far from conducive business environment, as it unfolded then forced at least one major company from Kenya out of their Ugandan business, when the court appointed 'receivers' moved in and took over the Paraa Safari Lodge, before selling it some time later to the tourism subsidiary of the Madhvani family. The Madhvani Group however, inspite of their deeper pockets, too had to absorb substantial losses in their early years of ownership and yet kept the lodge open when most of the park was under 'anti travel advisory' due to rebel activities. It is understood that this was done as a well near 'public service' and in support of governmental policies, to see the tourism sector through a most difficult period. Occupancies, now conveniently forgotten by the proponents to break the contracts, lingered for long in the single and low double percentage margins before starting to recover only by the middle of this decade.

The financial losses carried forward are only now being fully absorbed by gradually evolving profits, some 10 &endash; 15 years after the initial concessions were signed for a 30 year period. One of the conditions offered at the time by UNP was an exclusion zone around these early lodges, to not only protect the investors from someone else building within the lines of sight but also out of environmental concerns, that accommodation 'clusters' in the parks should be avoided. The latter school of thought then led to a number of other investments just outside several park boundaries, some of which however poorly regulated and causing fresh concerns over environmental impacts of such developments.

Some companies, intent of building in the vicinity of the existing lodges in the face of environmental concerns and changing global practise [to build outside parks] had been trying to overturn those contracts through the back door, using the political avenue, after the initial investors rightly pointed out that the contracts they entered into must run its course or else massive claims could be made in court. It is understood from usually well informed sources, that governmental legal advisors have pointed out that the existing concessions are legally 'watertight' and need to be upheld for their duration.

Meanwhile, the re-building of the Chobi Safari Lodge in the upper &endash; above the falls &endash; part of Murchisons Falls National Park is well on course and opening is anticipated to be around Easter of 2009. Besides the main Chobi Lodge there will also be an upmarket safari camp nearby, dedicated to fishing aficionados. In the 'old' days of Ugandan tourism glory Chobi was a focal point for fishing competitions with participants coming regularly from all over Eastern Africa and in fact from many parts of the world to exhibit and try their fishing skills.

These developments will add further beds inside this particular park, where incidentally the derelict 'Pakuba Safari Lodge' also still awaits an investor to restore it. That option however was reportedly dismissed as 'unsuitable' by some of those trying to now get into the fray elsewhere in the park. Much ado therefore for what….

The River Nile from the Chobi Lodge (re)construction site at Murchisons Falls National Park

B787 DELIVERIES FOR AFRICAN AIRLINES TAKE FURTHER KNOCK

The latest news coming out of Boeing in regard of their planned B787 'Dreamliner' production is all gloom now, as the ongoing strike action has pushed an already late schedule into the unknown territory. East African airlines like Kenya Airways and Ethiopian will both be scratching their heads before engaging in fresh talks with Boeing over delivery dates and compensation, since both airlines had ordered the B787 to increase their fleets and replace their ageing B767 aircraft. Watch this space

E-TOURISM CONFERENCE SET FOR NAIROBI

The first conference of its kind in Eastern Africa for e- and online tourism experts is now set for Nairobi starting on October 13th, bringing together a range of African and international experts in the field of e-marketing, e-commerce and the use of the latest technologies.

Meanwhile, the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi has launched its first edition of what is to become a regular e-newsletter, sent out by email to a wide range of recipients. Interested parties not yet receiving it can visit the website at www.kicc.co.ke and request to be included in the mailing list for the present and future editions or write to them at: "KICC"KICC@mail.vresp.com

CONTROVERSIAL HOTEL SALE UPDATE

'I was betrayed' claimed the former Kenyan Minister of Finance when he handed in his statement before the Commission of Enquiry, looking into the circumstances of a deal which enraged the Kenyan public and split friends and foes in parliament and government right down the middle across party lines. The former Minister also accused cabinet colleagues of having had a hand in the affair, trying to bring him down, as he was generally perceived as a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki.

Mr. Kimunya himself did not testify in person, as his lawyer had successfully argued that no adverse evidence had been produced against his client, compelling the Commission to forego a personal appearance and accepting a 6 page written statement in turn. The judicial commission of enquiry also had its term extended once again by another month to allow for completion of investigations. Watch this space for the outcome of both the parliamentary and judicial commissions' findings.

MORE POWERCUTS FOR TANZANIA

The breakdown late last week of turbines in a major power station brought immediate consequences for industrial and domestic users of electricity, when parts of the country were loadshedded both during the day as well as in the evening. Even the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was not spared and reportedly hit by prolonged power outages. The station normally produces some 110 MW of power, almost 20 percent of the overall power generation. Hotels and restaurants in particular suffered from the development and had to use their stand by generators to keep their clientele and patrons happy, but at substantial additional expense. The Tanzanian economy is reported to loose billions of Tanzania Shillings each day the power crisis continues.

TANZANIA LIFTS SOME OBJECTIONS ON EAC INTEGRATION

News have reached from Tanzania that during recent EAC meetings they at last dropped their previous objections on nationals from the four other East African Community memberstates to move and settle freely under the forthcoming protocol of freedom of movement of people. For the time being however Tanzania is said to limit this to investors and business people from the region, before the wider rights to all citizens of the EAC are being granted. This has been a contentious issue on the domestic political front while it is understood amongst experts that eventually all the internal borders will have to come down to permit a situation as existed in the 'old' East African Community, which fell apart in 1977, when Tanzania closed her borders with Kenya and subsequently went into steep economic decline.

RWANDAIR LEASES AIR NAMIBIA B737

It was now learned that Rwandair has finally settled their search for a replacement of their previously leased Air Malawi B737-500. The Rwandan flag carrier has acquired a similar model on a long term ACMI lease (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) from Air Namibia and flight operations are due to commence in October. This means that the airline can at last resume direct flights from Kigali to Johannesburg, initially three times a week, which had to be suspended when the Air Malawi plane was returned over technical issues earlier in the year. The Boeing will offer 20 business class seats and 88 economy class seats, giving an overall capacity of 108 seats on the aircraft.

An announcement is also expected from the airline in early October over their negotiations with Fly540 / Lonrho Aviation for their purchase of 49 percent of the shares of the Rwandan national airline, after previous bidders Brussels Airlines and Meridiana from Italy had withdrawn from the privatisation process. 51 percent of the shares will remain in Rwandan hands, both government and institutional investors, to meet the nationality requirements for bilateral air services agreements, which govern routes between countries.

MULTI MILLION DOLLAR UPGRADE FOR HOTEL MILLE COLLINES

The 'grand old dame' of Rwandan hotel keeping, the 'Mille Collines' in Kigali, is now due for a massive upgrading and refurbishment exercise, due to commence shortly. Owners 'Miko Investments', which purchased the hotel from the former Sabena Belgian airline, will be using funds secured under a special scheme from the International Finance Corporation, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank. The hotel will close for much of October, when most of the heavy duty work will be carried out, before then embarking on replacing furnishings and fabrics. The exercise is expected to last until middle of 2009, when the 115 rooms and suites hotel will then shine in its former glory once again. Tourism and business visitors to Rwanda have grown by leaps and bounds in recent years and have encouraged a range of new investors to come to 'the land of a thousand hills' as Rwanda is fondly known amongst her many friends.

And some more tourism titbits from Gill Staden in Livingstone / Zambia, plus the first part of another safari report, this time to Lake Kariba &endash; enjoy.

A Trip to Lake Kariba

It was the road that did it for me. I almost gave up the journey &endash; my back ached, my kidneys were scrambled and my brain could no longer concentrate on potholes. Of course, it is September and is hot, so tempers don't survive too long.

Venice, a friend, and I were taking a couple of days off to go to Lake Kariba to visit Peter, my son, who is managing The Guest House at Sinasowe. The journey took us over 6 hours from Livingstone - a journey of 340 km. It must have been the 80 km from Livingstone to Zimba which started the pain in my body and brain. One of Zambia's main trunk roads is in pieces &endash; on the road one faces potholes in tar which suddenly appear and are there just to break any vehicle that lands in them. I spent most of my time on the verge of the road which did not have potholes but was corrugated and … not always there. So it was on road, off road for the whole time … a time of 2 hours.

Zimba to Batoka is good tar &endash; not a pothole in sight, so that was OK. Then we turned off to the lake and the road again was bad … not as bad as the Zimba Road but bad enough just to take me to suicide corner.

Let me tell you about my car. It is a 20-year-old Toyota Hilux. It will take me wherever I want to go, just about. But the suspension is the hardest suspension I have ever known. None of the bumps are smoothed out so they end up jarring through the body like a power drill.

I had wanted to admire the scenes along the road … but didn't get much chance with the roads so bad. The road to the lake is pretty in places as it travels through the escarpment. The hills are beautiful, or should have been, but many of them were on fire; and those that weren't had already been burned.

Finally, though, we did arrive. And found an oasis on the side of the Lake. The Jordaan family have owned this place for many years &endash; they came here to do kapenta fishing. They then started the crocodile farm and then came the guest facilities. So now it is like its own village right by the lake. They have several self-contained units for visitors who want to do their own thing &endash; there are all the cooking pots, plates … absolutely everything your own house would have.

Just a short walk through the enormous trees you find a swimming pool, bar and volleyball court. Here also are the offices and workshops. Of course, our first port of call was the bar and a cold Mosi. After a few of those I felt a bit better although my back would still not straighten up without huge pain.

We chatted as the sun went down over the lake. The sun dipped behind the haze and went all wishy-washy. That evening we had a very good meal served up from the kitchen and then my eyes could no longer keep open and I went to bed.

In the morning I felt a lot better and admired the view in front of the lodge - one of calm water with heaps of islands sticking out. We took a boat out onto the Lake to see some of the islands … but I will tell you about that next week

Livingstone Holiday Home

This week I went to investigate The Livingstone Holiday Home. This Guest House is owned by Nick and Annie Katanekwa. It has been open since 2005 and has 11 rooms. Three of the rooms are air-conditioned; all have TVs, tea/coffee facilities. There are 4 double rooms, 6 twin rooms and 1 family room.

The cost of a room (around K180,000) includes bed and breakfast. Other meals can be ordered. Most of the guests at the guesthouse are Zambians who come to Livingstone for conferences. Nick says that it is very popular with church groups. They even have a group of Australians who come every year. They are also popular with school groups who come to Livingstone on trips to see the Falls and other sights in Livingstone.

Annie, I know, loves her garden. And it is plain to see that it is Annie's work that has gone into the gardens around the guesthouse. The plot is quite small but every spot is planted with pretty flowers.

To find Livingstone Holiday Home, is a bit tricky … I got lost … Take the road as signposted on Mushili Way (into Elaine Brittell). You come to a crossroads and take a right (you will see a new church being built) and from that road you take a left onto Sinazongwe Street.

To contact Livingstone Holiday Home:

Email: holidayhomelivingstone@yahoo.com

Livingstone Tourism Association

Nick is Chairman of the Livingstone Tourism Association. So, after we had talked about his guesthouse, the conversation obviously turned to tourism matters in general.

Nick commented that from now until at least November, there are few Zambian visitors to Livingstone because the Victoria Falls is dry on the Zambian side. He said that discussions had been going on between ZESCO and the Tourism Association about reducing the intake of water at the Falls for electricity generation. However, since the onset of power-shedding, this had become impossible. Interestingly, there has been another development - the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Zambia and Zimbabwe that the Falls are a shared resource. We already accept that boats can move on the Zambezi without worrying about the border line. We know, also, that helicopters can move in the airspace freely above the Falls. So, why do we not do the same with the land space? Well, apparently this was discussed at length last year and it was agreed that this should happen. The only problem now is the implementation.

If visitors to the Falls are to move freely from the Zambian to the Zimbabwean side and vice versa, there is a need for Immigration officials to accept this (and forgo any income they may have received on visa fees …). The way forward, according to Nick is to put gates into the National Parks on either side from 'no man's land', ie before people reach the Immigration check point. These gates would have to be manned, of course, so that only legitimate visitors to the Falls are allowed through … can you imagine the great joy that marketeers would view a new gate through which to smuggle their wares?! But why should this not happen … we need to push this agreement into reality.

From the Zambian Ornithological Society

Herewith is a plan for the next few months.

Some of these activities require making a advanced booking. Please do this for yourselves, and it would be useful if you could let me know and then I have an idea of numbers involved.

18th and 19th October - Zambian (Chaplin's) Barbet weekend at the Bruce-Miller's farm in Choma. A wonderful opportunity to see the Zambian Barbet - the only endemic species here, so not to be missed. The options here are camping or self catering chalets at Nansai Farm - booking essential - phone Emma 0977766260 or email nansaibm@zamtel.zm  

or staying at Masuku Lodge run by Bill and Sue Somerset phone 0977532650 or e-mail masuku@zamnet.zm

On the Saturday night we will have a joint braai at the campsite so please remember to bring your own supplies for that.

November 15th and 16th - birding weekend on the Kafue River near Lubungu Pontoon.

The options are camping call Guida 0977485446 or e-mail prohunt@iconnect.zm or staying at a self catering camp called Kashikoto e-mail Darryll buffgrass@yahoo.com Booking essential. Please mention that you re from ZOS and please copy the e-mail to me.

December 7th - Combined WECSZ and ZOS birdwalk on a farm near Lechwe Lodge in Kafue - details to be given nearer to the time

December 13th and 14th - African Pitta weekend at Tamarind Lodge on the Zambezi. The Pitta is around at this time of the year and this is a good opportunity to see it. Booking essential e-mail Paddy and Corrie Lawton tamarindtree@zamnet.zm This is a lodge on the Zambezi River near Luangwa Town (Feira). It is well priced but not very large, so book early and mention that it you are a member of ZOS. www.tamarindtree-lodge.com

January 18th 2009 - birdcount at Huntley Dam - details to follow closer tot he time

February 13th to 16th and February 20th to 22nd - 2 birding weekends with Robin Pope Safaris. This year the February trip was enjoyed by all, so two weekends have been set aside for the outing next year. Booking essential e-mail gerald@robinpopesafaris.net and mention that you are from ZOS (see enclosed leaflet)

We also have 2 upcoming talks - one by Bennie Van Der Brink on the results of the barn swallow survey he did in Zambia last year and one by Fainess Lumbwe on North Swaka - details will be sent out in due course.

I'll send out individual reminders of the outings ahead but please do your bookings in advance for any out of town events.

If you need any further information please give me a call 0977 485446

"Birds of the Luangwa Valley" by Fil Hide hot off the print line! This ZOS publication is a wonderful checklist of birds in the eastern side of Zambia. The book has useful descriptions of the birds of the Valley as well as pen and ink drawings by Pete Leonard.

A must if you are travelling to Luangwa and it will make a perfect stocking filler for someone in the family.

Available from Patricia Bingham at Kachelo on the Leopard's Hill Road for K50,000, Moondogs Cafe in Luangwa or Planet Books at Archades.

'TWENDE & TN' MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE

For well over a decade TN, formerly also known as Travel News & Lifestyle, made a name for itself as East Africa's premier travel magazine. Two months ago the news broke that TN was merging with 'Twende', an equally appealing magazine with a large readership across the entire region.

September saw the first joint edition hit the market with a bumper issue of over 100 pages. Key former TN staff like publisher Tony Clegg-Butt and editor Lucy McLean remained on board and are part of a larger team now, tasked to capture an even wider audience and attract more subscribers and readers to the magazine with the usual excellent editorial content and mouth watering pictures, making one want to get away that instant. And that's what 'Twende & TN' is all about!

RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS BACK ON COURSE

The 'new boys' at Rift Valley Railways, led by long time friend and well respected businessman Brown Ondego as Executive Chairman, moved swiftly since their installation to show both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments that they not only mean business but have the capacity to transform the two railway companies into a viable entity. The former South African majority shareholders have now also reduced their stake at RVR allowing the new partners to not only take up a significantly higher percentage but also to allow for subsequent capital injection. Loans from German Development Bank KfW and the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector lending arm, also seem back on course to the tune of over 50 million US Dollars for the acquisition of new locomotives and rolling stock. These loans were withheld for the former management team as increasing doubts over their ability to delivery the objectives of the business plan arose and when one set of bad figures and bad news seems to have chased the next.

The new management has earlier in the week presented a phased plan for the company to improve the quality of the rail line and installations, rehabilitation of existing locomotives and wagons and key upgrades of the existing railway line. The capacity of the railway for goods transport from the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa to Kampala is presently not enough to cater for the increased traffic volumes and average train speed is also a multiple below industry average, with trains taking up to two weeks to reach Kampala from the Kenyan coast.

The plans are now due to be examined by the two governments but are expected to be approved, putting to rest speculations that the RVR contract may be cancelled. Ugandan business magnate Charles Mbire has meanwhile been appointed to the RVR Board of Directors, increasing the Ugandan representation at senior level within the company. The Board of the company also visited the Nalukolongo railway workshops, which were rehabilitated some years ago under a German funded assistance package and where the rehabilitation and upgrades of locomotives and wagons is likely to take place in coming months. It was learned that under the former South African led management this key asset was being neglected and underutilised, a situation likely to fundamentally change from now on.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES JOINS LUFTHANSA FAMILY

Excitement swept across the travel industry in Uganda, when news broke over the acquisition of initially 45 percent of Belgian's flag carrier Brussels Airlines by German aviation group Lufthansa. SN is presently flying 4 times a week with an Airbus A330-200 from Brussels via Nairobi to Entebbe and has also established its regional crew base in Uganda. The possibility of SN eventually joining the Lufthansa led 'Star Alliance' would bring new options to Ugandan travellers, as far as earning air miles and the use of Star Alliance' lounges is concerned but more importantly could lead to a substantially greater range of code shared flights, originating in Uganda on Brussels Airlines and then connecting to the Star Alliance partner services across the globe from Brussels.

With bookings to Entebbe then also channelled to SN and more seats being booked by alliance partners to the hitherto less frequented destination Entebbe &endash; only South African Airways and Egypt Air are presently flying the Star Alliance banners into Uganda &endash; there may also be an increase in flights on the drawing board some time down the line, to initially 5 per week before hopefully going daily at some point in the future.

In a related development Lufthansa has also made headway with their plans to acquire SAS, after the Norwegian government withdrew their objections to the deal. The German airline group has also lodged a bid for Austrian Airlines, where it is competing with 6 other airlines for the right to buy majority shares, while their interest in seemingly doomed Alitalia has apparently waned over the intransigence of the Italian labour unions towards cuts in staff and sale of 'unproductive' units.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS FIND ALLIES IN NORWAY

The Norwegian government, with an offer of logistical and advisory support on the table for the country's nascent oil industry, has now qualified the offer to the delight of the environmental and green lobby. The Norwegian Minister for International Development and Environment has reportedly asked the Ugandan government to ensure international best practise when permitting the oil companies to drill near or inside the country's protected areas, and also transparently deal with oil issues, i.e. open files for public scrutiny to the opposition in parliament, the media and the public at large. It would 'otherwise be hard for Norway to support oil drilling against environmental concerns' the minister was quoted in the local papers.

Uganda had requested for bilateral support from Norway some time ago, when oil deposits were initially discovered. Environmental and conservation groups demanding strictest standards when it comes to protected areas have taken heart in their struggle to reach sustainable and lasting agreements over their concerns and the Norwegian support has reportedly re-invigorated the green lobby in their activities.

NEW KING TO BE SELECTED ON OCTOBER 3RD

Following the passing of the Kyabazinga &endash; or King &endash; of Busoga, the 11 clan chiefs were now given notice to assemble in early October. The constitution of the kingdom requires that a new king is elected by the chiefs within 90 days after the passing, as the kingship in Busoga is not hereditary but changes over time from clan to clan, a clear effort to promote harmony within the kingdom. While some wrangles amongst the clan leaders have already been reported in the local media, the elective process however is expected to follow the laid down rules and regulations and a new 'Kyabazinga' is due to be announced soon after the clan chief meeting.

QATAR AIRWAYS EYEING ENTEBBE

Information was given by a staff of Qatar Airways from Nairobi during a recent visit to Uganda that the airline was considering to add Entebbe to their African destinations in late 2009 or early 2010, as the '5 star airline' was seeking new markets. Presently Emirates flies daily from Dubai to Entebbe and should indeed Qatar Airways commence operations in a year's time, this would add not only further choices and destinations for travellers but also cargo capacity for Ugandan exports like fresh fish, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Qatar Airways presently flies daily from Doha to Nairobi and passengers need to use connecting flights to reach Entebbe, making the journey more expensive and cumbersome. The choice of Entebbe would be a sound vote of confidence in the recent re-developments at the airport and the growing economic strength of the country, now that oil has been discovered. Watch this space.

ARGUMENTS PERSIST OVER FORESTS

Earlier in the week a committee of parliamentarians visited the Mt. Elgon National Park to get first hand information over the resettlement of squatters, who were found inside the park and evicted while others were still to be forced out from the park. Earlier in the year this particular park was a hot topic over park boundaries adjustment, which some of the residents sought, but as the boundaries were only set a few years ago, this was neither judged politically opportune and the president himself then denied a request by a minister travelling with him to the area, as this column had reported at the time.

Meanwhile, the minister responsible for forests has called for the degazetting of at least two forest reserves, due to 'population pressures in the Rakai area after being confronted by a group of people about to be evicted for living in the forests illegally. Talk of contradictions.

FUEL COST REMAIN HIGH

Inspite of the recent fall in the cost of crude oil on the world market, little if any movement of petrol, diesel and kerosene prices was seen across Uganda. The oil companies are now being blamed for profiteering, as they were swift to raise price levels to new record heights, when the global crude oil prices went upwards, but since the global price for a barrel of oil has reduced by over 50 US Dollars since reaching its peak, fuel has still remained at peak levels. No comments could be received from selected petrol companies approached in Kampala and Nairobi at the time of going to press. Inflation has meanwhile come to a halt at just over 17 percent with food prices now stabilising again and once fuel cost reduces inflation is also expected to drop back into the single digit range.

This will also reduce pressure on the power companies using heavy fuel oil and diesel propelled plants to ask for higher tariffs and there may even be some hope that power tariffs may in the medium term reduce again, before the new hydro electric power plant near Bujagali goes on line.

EMIRATES WEST COAST SERVICES NEWS

News have emerged in Kampala, confirmed by a leading travel agent, that the planned introduction of the Emirates flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco later in the year will be 'staggered' and might not be daily flights as initially planned. Flights to LAX and SFO were to commence in late October and December respectively. Airline sources not wishing to be named indicated upon raising the issue with them, that the flights might only operate three times a week during the launch period, as apparently Boeing's present strike has delayed the delivery of B777 long range models to Emirates, impacting on the route launch and related plans. Emirates has earlier this month taken their first A380 out of their New York service and going daily may also take a little longer, as their second A380 delivery has reportedly been delayed by Airbus Industries by several weeks.

In a related development travellers from Entebbe via Dubai to Houston were also advised earlier in the week that owing to the storm damage done by Hurricane Ike to wide areas of Texas, flights would be suspended until the weekend.

ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY STEPPED UP

It was learned earlier in the week that the 'joint anti terrorism squad' has now joined the present security arrangements at the Entebbe airport, including control of the access gates. The development is a result of having reviewed security measures at the airport and is aimed to strengthen the overall effectiveness at Uganda's main aviation gateway. Security in the entire Entebbe municipality area has also been stepped up since President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni moved to the rebuilt and refurbished State House in Entebbe and presidential security is now in place, a move welcomed by many.

KENYA AIRWAYS ADDS MADAGASCAR

From the beginning of the coming 'winter season' three flights per week will be added by KQ from Nairobi to Tananarive / Madagascar. The flights will leave Nairobi at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and the return flights will allow passengers from Madagascar convenient connections into most of the KQ network. The airline has not ruled out to increase the number of flights once the service has taken hold and passenger numbers have increased.

FLY540 ADDS ZANZIBAR

The regional low cost airline has now added a daily flight between Nairobi, via Mombasa to Zanzibar following growing demand for affordable air travel on the route. The flight links directly to the morning departure of the airline from Entebbe, allowing for a through connection to either Mombasa or Zanzibar. The cost of a one way ticket from Nairobi is said to be 99 US Dollars, plus regulatory charges but no fares were available at the time of going to press for the Mombasa to Zanzibar sector.

NEW FERRIES FOR MOMBASA

Following the report a few weeks ago, that three out of four ferries had gone unserviceable in one day, causing tourists to miss flights and commuters to miss work and other appointments, the ferry company has now released information that they expect delivery of two new ferries early next year. The new vessels were ordered already in 2004 and the ferry company blamed the delay on court action by an unsuccessful bidder at the time, which caused construction to commence late. The two new vessels are being built in Germany and should hopefully live up to expectations on 'Made in Germany' in regard to reliability and durability.

FLY540 NOW IN TANZANIA

As indicated several times in the past in this column, Fly540, East Africa's first true low cost carrier, has now formally established a Tanzanian operation after concluding the legal pre-requisites for the company formation. It is understood that an application has also been launched already with the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority obtain an air services licence, to be followed by the formal steps towards obtaining an air operators certificate &endash; AOC before going into operation. This column maintains that under the spirit of the East African Community this process however is an expensive, and with due respect unnecessary duplication of the entire licensing process which Fly540 has already undergone in Kenya &endash; and in Uganda for that matter and runs contrary to political expressions of intent by the political leadership across the EAC. It is therefore high time that the regional, and still independent aviation regulators cede individual oversight rights to a joint EAC aviation body, as they have done already with the administration of the upper airspace for overflights across the region.

Fly540 has started their Tanzanian recruitment process recently, seeking qualified pilots for their ATR fleet but also managerial and administrative staff to fill open positions at their offices in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Interested parties may apply to jackie.arkle@Fly540.com before the 25th of September and should include relevant details of previous experience and positions.

However, as East Africa grows further together, licensing processes should be uniform and recognized across the present national borders within the East African Community, as it will lead to lower cost for the companies involved, not only in air transport but across the board, and result in lower fares and prices for the consumers, without compromising ICAO licensing requirements for designated scheduled and non scheduled airlines.

The recent formation of a joint East African Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency is a first step in the right direction and shows in fact that it is possible to cooperate across the national borders in the aviation field. This column did report that a joint re-certification exercise is being undertaken for the core members of the EAC, i.e. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda [Rwanda and Burundi are having a grace period to harmonize their legal and regulatory framework first] and once the results are out, all airlines registered within the EAC and complying with nationality clauses, i.e. national ownership of at least 51 percent of the shares, should then be able to operate across the entire region and enjoy full traffic and cabotage rights without any further restrictions and red tape. It is high time that non-tariff barriers in the aviation sector are brought to an end.

AIR TANZANIA TO GET GOVERNMENT BACKING FOR LOANS

The funds required for the ongoing fleet renewal will be guaranteed by the Tanzanian government to allow the national airline proceed with the additional aircraft acquisitions, it was learned earlier in the week. The grounding of some aircraft last week due to technical problems seems to have triggered the response, in particular as some sources from within the airline blamed government to have reneged on some promises made in regard of financial support. All of ATCL's aircraft are meanwhile back in the air after spare parts arrived and the required repairs were carried out.

Meanwhile the airline has formally launched their Dar es Salaam &endash; Tabora &endash; Kigoma flights earlier in the week, making good of their promise some months ago &endash; which was reported in this column &endash; that with the arrival of their new Bombardier Q 300 aircraft domestic air services would be stepped up again and formerly suspended routes be resumed. ATCL's CEO used the opportunity to call upon government to make further efforts to rehabilitate and expand domestic airports. Flights will initially operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

LION KILLED IN DAR ES SALAAM SUBURB

Reports have reached that a village on the outskirts of Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam was recently attacked by a lioness, which in the process then injured several people. Wildlife authority staff and police officers were called to the scene by the terrified village people and eventually had to kill the lioness as trapping or darting the raging animal proved impossible.

RWANDA'S ELECTIONS PEACEFUL AND DECISIVE

Rwanda held parliamentary elections early this week, after the month long campaign, held in an overwhelmingly peaceful and transparent environment, concluded the previous weekend. The EU observer team however was reportedly fighting amongst themselves, with some unnamed observer mission officials from certain countries trying to peddle complaints about the RPF's election campaign, something however rejected by the delegation leader and other observers. The spat seems to suggest that a hidden agenda was at work by some 'observers', trying to smear President Kagame's ruling RPF party and casting doubt over their overwhelming election win, which presently stands at 42 out of 53 elective seats for the RPF. The results will ensure that Rwanda will remain firmly on course for further economic growth and predictable domestic policies aimed at further reconciliation. A record number of women were elected to parliament, marking another milestone for equal opportunities development, when the 'fairer sex' took over half of all seats. The turn out in Rwanda greatly exceeded 90 percent of registered voters, and Rwandans abroad, including those in Uganda, were also allowed to participate in the elections. Participation by Rwandese in Uganda was reported to be near 100 percent, showing the keen interest in Rwanda national affairs. No interruptions for tourists were encountered during the election period anywhere across the country. Congratulations to the RPF for their extraordinary achievement.

CALTEX WITHDRAWS FROM KIGALI AIRPORT

Bakri, a Saudi Arabian fuel company, has now taken over aviation fuel supplies at the International Airport in Kigali, after Caltex has ended their contract. Air operators gave a warm welcome to the company and said the supply situation had immediately improved and fuel was now readily available at a moment's notice.

ZAIN'S ONE NETWORK EXPANDS TO ZAMBIA

What used to be Celtel Africa's continental network, allowing calls to 16 African countries at local call charges and free of charge roaming, has now been extended by renamed Zain to include Zambia and also Zain's Middle Eastern home markets of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as well as Jordan and Iraq. It is expected to eventually cover most of Africa, in particular new markets, where Zain is said to be interested in either new licences or acquisitions.

BRANSON'S VIRGIN NIGERIA NIGHTMARE

Reports have reached from acquaintances in Nigeria about the latest developments over Sir Richard Branson's Nigerian aviation (mis)adventure. Virgin Nigeria, which started operations a few years ago and was seen to restore sanity to a scandal and accident ridden industry, was then greeted almost like a saviour and given the proverbial 'red carpet' from the political leadership in Nigeria. Much has changed since then as the airline has been under immense pressure to move its domestic operation to a new terminal. The problem with this move however is, that passenger links from the international arrivals terminal are virtually absent and take reportedly some 15 or more minutes driving in the best of circumstances. More sinister however was the finding that one of the terminal's owners appears to be the legal advisor to the Nigerian president, immediately entering a political dimension to the case and suggesting top level influence peddling and potentially another case of prominent corrupt practices.

Probably to 'strengthen' their case for Branson's Virgin Nigeria to reconsider their move to the new terminal, a gang of thugs then trashed the Virgin lounge, with airport security and other security organs conspicuously absent until the posh business class lounge was laid to ruin and the criminals had escaped into thin air again.

Virgin Nigeria claims to have a valid annex to their Memorandum of Mutual Understanding, under which the airline was formed some years ago and in which Branson's Virgin Atlantic holds 49 percent shares to comply with Nigerian aviation laws on ownership, under which they were granted both international and domestic operations from the same terminal.

The Nigerian government, now with egg all over their faces, subsequently hastened to form a governmental committee comprising the transport and justice ministers amongst others, and claimed that the annex to the MoMU was 'not valid' and 'only stamped' by the aviation authorities but not mutually signed and therefore invalid and insists that Virgin Nigeria has to move its domestic operations to the new terminal.

Branson has in recent weeks already made it clear that he would wish to sell his stake in the Nigerian airline offspring, probably then also withdrawing his brand from the carrier. The latest violent attack on the lounge has undoubtedly worsened situation and will do little to persuade him to stay on.

Nigeria has long been perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in Africa and in fact globally, and while much detail has emerged since the end of the military dictatorships over the massive personal enrichment of the former military rulers, little if anything seems to have changed since the country returned to civilian rule.

There is however a silver lining in this whole story. Virgin is also flying to East Africa, namely Nairobi, on a daily basis from London and should the Nigerian (ad)venture collapse Branson has the option to shift his attention to Eastern Africa. Since starting operations to Kenya last year, the airline has stuck to the destination inspite of the political wobbles earlier in the year and subsequent drop in passenger numbers but this has since stabilised and the route is again on course to become a profitable destination. Sir Richard Branson visited Kenya repeatedly in the past and has engaged in conservation support on a significant scale. It is therefore not entirely out of question that Virgin Atlantic may at some stage in the future consider forming a 'Virgin East Africa' once the aviation industry has stabilised again from the current global turmoil. Nigeria's loss would without doubt be a potential gain for East Africa.

POWERSHARING FOR ZIMBABWE

After months of political wrangling and at least from Mugabe's ZANU-PF's side more violence and intimidation, a deal has finally been struck between the true election winners in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC and the former ruling party. Presidents, Prime Ministers and dignitaries from across Africa arrived in Harare to witness the historic agreement being formally signed on Monday, under which Mugabe will remain nominal head of state with sharply reduced powers while Morgan Tsvangirai will become Prime Minister. The cabinet composition will also reflect the MDC majority in parliament, taking 16 seats including key ministries, while ZANU-PF will be left with 15 seats. The cabinet sessions will still be formally chaired by Mugabe, but the power sharing arrangement nevertheless strips him of this absolute dictatorial powers, which he misused in recent years to hunt down his political opponents and in the process economically ruin the formerly rich and prosperous nation.

Notably absent today for the event are sections of the international media, banned by Mugabe's regime in the past, and it is hoped that those global media organizations will now be allowed to return to the country to watch and report back, what will begin to unfold in Harare and the rest of the country under the new government.

The international community will undoubtedly monitor the situation for a while to establish that true change is now underway in Zimbabwe and see that the arrangements, like in Kenya, are actually beginning to work, before considering the lifting of the massive sanctions imposed on Mugabe, his cronies and the country at large. That will to no little reason be due also to the ranting, raving and spats by Mugabe in his speech where he exposed himself again as a relic of the past &endash; standing firmly glued in what has been and offering not one glimpse into the future of Zimbabwe. This stands in stark contrast to Morgan Tsvangirai's address, which was statesman like and offered hope for reconciliation to the torn nation, as he put the future of Zimbabwe before his own suffering. He was clearly showing that he was indeed ready to lead his nation, for now as Prime Minister and sooner rather than later hopefully as President.

However, a ray of hope has indeed crept across the horizon, much of it credited to the unwavering pressure by the international community, not the least of which was brought to bear on SADC and its key 'negotiator', South African outgoing President Tsabo Mbeki, who was in a tight corner over his hands off approach prior to the Zimbabwe elections and in the immediate aftermath, when he even denied that there was a crisis. Particular mention is due here to the late President Mwanawasa of Zambia, Rwanda's President Kagame, Kenya's President Kibaki and a handful of other African leaders, who minced no words as they condemned Mugabe's tactics and regime for the ills they inflicted upon their own population.

There is now hope for the millions of Zimbabweans who were forced into exile, either for political reasons or for economic reasons, that they will one day soon be able to come back home and help re-build their ruined country.

For this reason the agreement is also potentially good news for Zimbabwe's tourism industry, which had suffered as much as the whole Zimbabwean economy from a near total collapse, but with a new government coming into effect today, the global tourism fraternity sending business to the rest of the African continent is now also called upon to review their plans and re-integrate Zimbabwe into their African itineraries, after normality and sanity returns in coming weeks and supplies stabilise.

And once again more tourism news from further down South, this time the first part of her safari to the Kafue National Park from Gill Staden in Livingstone / Zambia. I found her narrative of an effective Tsetse fly defence particularly intriguing:

Kafue National Park

8-11 September 2008

As usual, we were late starting out for our trip into Kafue National Park. We eventually left Livingstone at 10.30am laden with meat pies and cans of Coke and finally took off for the trek into the bush. Although we had only a drive of about 270km to go the roads were reported to be not of the best and the trip was to take us until dusk.

The first stretch of the journey was along the Zimba Road towards Lusaka. The road is very badly broken up in places and it took us 2 hours for the 80km journey. Not a happy start to a trip to the wilds, but we made it. However the next 50km to Kalomo was on good tar and we managed to make up some time and overcome the frustration of driving on bad Zambian roads, which unfortunately is quite commonplace.

At Kalomo we took a left through the village and the main market, then over a narrow bridge and onto the bad dirt road north through the Kalomo Hills to Dundumwezi Gate at the south of Kafue National Park. We noticed a number of signs at

Kalomo for the Administrators House, which is marked as a National Monument. We followed the signs but found ourselves in the middle of township with no more signs to follow … so we gave up and backtracked onto the Dundumwezi Road.

The road to the Park passes through many villages. It is stony in places and at one spot there was a tricky bridge crossing. If there is no maintenance on this road before the next tourist season, the chances are that it will become impassable. This leg of the trip took us about 2 hours.

Finally we arrived at the Gate and were met by Mudenda, the Game Scout, who was to hit us for about K490,000 for the privilege of being in the park for 4 days. It is US$15 per person per day and K15,900 for the vehicle for the day. Mudenda took about 20 minutes to write the receipt, which was a bit frustrating as it was now 4.30 and we still had a long drive to Nanzhila Plains Camp. I did, however, manage to bite my tongue and say nothing about the slowness of his receipt-writing. Admittedly, Mudenda doesn't get much practice writing receipts &endash; the previous entrants into the Park at Dundumwezi had been three days ago and there had only been a handful of tourists coming through the gate in the last couple of months. I suppose it is not a surprise when one considers the state of the road and the cost of going in there.

Finally we were on our way into the park and we felt that the 'holiday' was finally started. A few kilometres from the park gate there is a fork in the road. The one that goes left takes you onto the cordon road which can be used all year round. The one that we took was a dry-season road which goes through the Nanzhila floodplain, which we were reliably informed was dry.

In the past the south of Kafue National Park has been hit badly by poaching and the animal population was decimated. We had heard reports that there was nothing left. I had, in the past, travelled through the park myself and seen nothing. So, on this trip, we were not anticipating to see much game so were excited when we saw a mongoose fleeing across the road. However, there were plenty of game trails through the bush and a lot of spoor including elephant poo. Finally, though, just as the sun was going down we saw some magnificent kudu bulls.

The road through the park was fine. The only marginally difficult place was going through the Nanzhila riverbed which was now dry. The rest of it was good and, as we neared the camp, the road had been graded.

We arrived at the Nanzhila Plains Camp and were welcomed by Andre and Lara, the managers. They had not been told that we were coming but said that we were welcome and that they would soon have a room organised for us. We were handed a welcome beer to wash down all the dust from our trip and were soon shown to our tent.

Nanzhila Plains Camp is the only functioning lodge in the southern section of Kafue National Park. It has three thatched chalets and three new tents. All are ensuite and face onto a perennial waterhole. The boma area where we ate and lounged around was very comfy and tastefully decorated. It is a large thatched area under a huge jackalberry tree and two Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn) trees. The dining area is open to the stars, and the lounge area is furnished with huge sofas and armchairs (just right for a snooze), a shelf full of reference books and finally an area where a campfire was lit in the evenings.

There were four other guests expected that evening. Bob the Birdman had brought in three Spanish guests and were on a special birding trip. Quite a bit after dark we heard the sound of a land rover approaching &endash; this was Bob and his clients. They had had a tremendous day of bird watching and were full of tales of what they had seen.

One of the highlights of this area of Kafue National Park is the black-cheeked lovebird. Some years ago this bird was considered to be endangered so a huge search was carried out to find out if, and where, they still lived. It was found that there are still quite a few black-cheeked lovebirds in Zambia but they are localised &endash; and one of the places that you can see them is here, by Nanzhila Plains Camp.

After an interesting evening chatting over a great meal, I collapsed in a heap on the bed, tired from all the driving and fresh air. We had two full days of touring this area of the park and I was looking forward to it.

The following day we were woken up for early coffee and then bundled into the camp touring vehicle. Andre did the driving and Aaron, a game guide in training, the game spotting. Aaron, after a spell in anti-poaching, had started at Nanzhila as a waiter but when the managers noticed that he spent a lot of his time with his head in the bird books, they decided to encourage his enthusiasm. Now, he accompanies Andre into the bush to help spot and identify the birds and animals.

The vehicle was equipped with the all-essential fire bucket. This bucket is half-filled with sand and a lump of elephant poo placed on top, which is then set alight and smoulders in the back of the vehicle. This is tsetse defence. We went through a few areas where the tsetse fly lived but they were put off by the smoke and did not bother us too much.

We travelled north and stopped at several waterholes along the Nanzhila River and the Kasha River. We saw the black-cheeked lovebirds and loads of other birds. At one waterhole, there must have been at least 50 hammerkops all digging about in the shallow water for frogs and small fish. I had never seen so many hammerkops all in one place before.

Again, there were not huge herds of game to see, but we saw quite a variety - kudu, impala, warthog, hartebeest, baboons, monkeys, reedbuck, waterbuck … and the odd mongoose running across the road … as they do. There was plenty of spoor including ele poo which was great for topping up the fire.

Stopping by a waterhole for some coffee, we enjoyed the ambience of the bush. South Kafue is flattish, largely seasonally inundated open grassland with scattered mopane and patches of miombo between the open plains along the rivers. The river pools were gradually drying up as the dry season continued but some pools remain throughout the year and there were a lot of signs of animals coming to drink. The animals are, however, still quite skittish after all years of persecution. Andre has worked in the area for two seasons and has noticed an increase in the game population and he also feels that they are getting more used to vehicles and do not, always, run off into the bush at the sound of a vehicle engine.

Much of the plains had been burned earlier in the year &endash; an early burn, as it is called. This is supposed to encourage the grass to grow and large areas of the plains were covered in green grass &endash; looking a lot like a golf course. Also, I would imagine, that the burning of woodland areas will get rid of some of the tsetse flies. I don't know enough about bush-burning and would like to know more. They say that burning the bush late in the season is bad for the environment, and I can understand that. If the bush is seriously dry, the fires burn fiercely, burning everything in their path.

After our drive we returned to the lodge for breakfast. It was hot and we lazed around the boma reading and looking at photos. The lodge has solar power, so I could hook up the computer, download photos and choose the ones I liked. Late in the afternoon we decided that we would like to go out for another drive for sundowners at a pretty spot and then return during the dark of early evening. Andre obliged and Aaron joined us. We went to a place which is known as 'Ten Palms'. It was not far and near a waterhole. There, Aaron showed his prowess at lobbing palm fruits. He hurled them up into the palm trees which were in fruit, thereby knocking some down. Aaron immediately started to munch on the fruit and later gave them to me for onward transport to Livingstone … for planting. The palms in Kafue are borassus palms, not the ilala palms which we have in Livingstone, although they look very similar.

At the same place we noticed a heap of poo. This, I was told, was a civet midden &endash; a poo spot for a civet &endash; they always come to the same place when they want to poo and pile it all up together.

An excellent sighting on the way to Ten Palms was a serval cat. A serval is rather like a small leopard. It was wandering through the bush but did stop and watch us for a few minutes as we looked at it through the binoculars.

That evening was a quiet evening as Bob and his clients had moved on to Kaingu camp along the Kafue River. We were alone in the lodge, except for two Swiss tourists who were in the campsite.

Here endeth the first part of our trip …. More next week.

To contact Nanzhila Plains Camp, email info@nanzhila.com. Remember that th