Source of Nile vantage point to get Shs2.5 billion facelift

Thursday May 19, 2011

One of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Uganda, the Source of the Nile vantage point in Jinja is to get a Shs2.5 billion facelift.

The site is where people go to view where Africa’s longest river, the Nile, starts its winding course. Mr Moses Zikusooka, the project manager of Nile Breweries Uganda, the company funding the project, said the company was ready with the resources to commence the beautification exercise.

Mr Zikusooka announced the development during a council meeting chaired by speaker Mathew Mukwaya that saw councillors unanimously pass a resolution endorsing the programme and send it to the technical committee for further scrutiny.

Breweries spell terms
Mr Zikusooka said in exchange, Nile Breweries will enjoy the benefits of selling its name (marketing) and products at the Source of the Nile as Jinja municipal council maintains management of the site.
He said the five-year joint venture will see Shs507 million being sunk in the developments at the site every year.

He said in these five years, Nile Breweries hopes to develop infrastructure, which will involve construction of a tourist viewing deck, a canopy crossing to the western side of the Nile, coffee shop, an information centre, flush toilets and erection of benches in the gardens.

Me Zikusooka said modern botanical gardens and erection of directional signage from the bridge to the Source of the Nile will be done in addition to upgrading the ground emerged with Golf Club, Rugby Football Ground and Jinja Agricultural Show Ground.

He said with the facelifts, the number of tourists visiting the site is likely to double to 10,000 from 5,000 per month. Meanwhile, the municipal council approved a proposal to set up a zoo at the source of the Nile to boost the number of tourist attractions.

By Abubaker Kirunda: The Daily Monitor Newspaper