Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a Familiarization (FAM) Trip, inviting French and Spanish influencers to experience and showcase the country’s diverse attractions, reinforcing its position as a top tourist destination.
According to chimpreports.com, held at the Ministry’s premises, the event briefed the influencers—boasting a combined following of approximately 2 million—before they embarked on a journey to discover Uganda’s natural wonders, cultural diversity, and warm hospitality.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa remarked, “Our country is extremely unique in many ways. We have one of the best weathers in the world, as you’ll experience. In Uganda, it’s neither hot or cold all year round, mainly because we are round to the equator, you will see that.”
Waiswa highlighted that Uganda’s geographical location gifts it with a consistently moderate climate, a feature he believes will captivate visiting influencers and travelers alike. He further noted the nation’s cultural diversity, drawing attention to the variety of traditions and lifestyles represented in everyday Ugandan life. “We have a diversity in culture, if it was a cultural festival the dress code here would surprise you and you’d wonder whether we are all in one country but that’s part of our diversity.”
The FAM trip itinerary promises an immersive experience. Ambassador of Uganda to France, Amb. Doreen Amule, detailed the planned excursions that will take influencers beyond the bustling streets of Kampala to the heart of the country. “We shall be leaving Kampala, which is a very busy, beautiful, and lovely city, and heading north, scratching a bit onto the northwest. And we shall be going to a place called Nakasongola.”
Amb. Amule, whose narrative was rich with details of the upcoming adventure, outlined activities that include tracking endangered rhinos—a species the nation is determined to conserve—as well as traditional milking practices and culinary experiences that showcase Uganda’s indigenous foods, such as the ever-popular matooke. She also hinted at adrenaline-pumping adventures: rafting on Lake Victoria, bungee jumping, and even a visit to the source of the Nile, a landmark that underscores Uganda’s natural significance.
This collaborative spirit is expected to extend into the realms of music and dance as well, aiming to strengthen cultural bonds and amplify the beauty of Ugandan heritage on the global stage.
Amb. Amule encouraged both Ugandans and international visitors to leverage their influence by sharing positive narratives about the country. “The content you put there goes onto the Google. Anything that you do on the internet remains as history. So let’s start changing the narratives and make Uganda beautiful as it is,” she urged, calling on citizens to utilize platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok to celebrate their homeland.
She also took the opportunity to inspire young Ugandans, saying, “These young people here travel and they don’t know where they are going, but they have a vision for their lives. So this is something that us Ugandans, our young people, can also do. We should create jobs opportunities instead of waiting one someone to come and pull you up.”
Ertan Anadol from TANKE, an international social media and creative agency, added, “The richest experience that I had in Uganda, and the thing that I keep always in mind, is the kindness of the people. Everywhere I go here, I can talk to anybody and that’s, I think, for me, the biggest experience here.”
Looking to bridge cultural divides, Ertan shared plans for future collaborations between Uganda and Europe. “We also planned with her Excellency the Ambassador, other types of collaborations where we bring, for example, a chef from France together with a chef from Uganda to show the fusion of cultures, of food, of spice” he noted.
