Monthly Archives: October 2013

Silverback Rapid lives?! – Errors in the Isimba Dam social impact study

Social impact assessments are fundamental documents for any hydro power project. Key players will base their decisions regarding dams on these evaluations. 

The report for Isimba dam has just been released online. With regards to tourism it is incomplete and, in places, inaccurate. 

An example of this?

‘Silverback’ rapid (amongst other rapids such as the grade 6 Hypoxia!) is listed as still being available to commercially raft following the completion of the Isimba Dam. However, had those writing the report been to Silverback recently, they might have noticed that Silverback no longer exists! It is actually the site for the Bujagali Dam and is now a huge concrete structure – as you can see from this image. 

Image

Share this if you would like to see a full and comprehensive impact assessment done to show the true impact that the Isimba Dam will have on the Nile, Uganda and its people!

Are you involved in a business that will be affected by the Isimba dam?

If you are involved with a business that’s likely to be affected by the downturn in tourism in Jinja caused by the Isimba Hydro Power project in its current form, you can help by:

– Ensuring your company has completed the questionnaire that counts toward an independent study that’s taking place next month. (Your company should have received this via email in the past two weeks)

– Liking and sharing the Facebook page “Save adventure tourism in Uganda” 

– Ask your visitors to complete the following short survey: http://bit.ly/Ha5O4Y

If you have not yet received a copy of the questionnaire for the independent study be sure to let us know on savethenile@gmail.com. 

 

Not sure you’ll be affected? 

If the Isimba dam goes ahead, in its currently large scale form, white water rafting and all river based activities will cease to operate. Destroying this major attraction with have a huge impact on all tourism businesses in Jinja and further afield. Please read the ‘Mission Statement‘ for more details. 

You can help save Uganda’s adventure tourism!

Word is spreading… the whole region is listening now!

This issue is being discussed on radio, in the newspapers and even on TV! Thousands of residents in the region are against the Isimba dam in its current suggested form, they want to keep their jobs and livelihoods. They have taken the matter into their own hands and are planning a peaceful demonstration to make their views clear. 

We have heard that on 21st October, an anticipated crowd of not less than 2,000 residents will be marching from Itanda to Jinja! Good luck and stay peaceful!

You can still help! The Facebook page needs as many likes as possible. Please ike the page and share it with your friends:

https://www.facebook.com/saveadventuretourisminUganda

What’s threatening the Nile’s adventure tourism?

To gain a clearer picture the situation on the Nile, near Jinja, Uganda, and why the Isimba dam currently poses such a drastic threat to the adventure tourism industry please view the following statement:

Mission-statement-what-is-threatening-the-niles-adventure-tourism/

What can we do?

Awareness of this issue is critical and we need help to save thousands of Ugandan
jobs and one of Uganda’s natural wonders.

  • Like and share our Facebook page ‘Save Adventure Tourism in Uganda’, this is
    where we will be posting the most up to date information we have:
    https://www.facebook.com/saveadventuretourisminUganda
  • Get this message to anyone that can help raise awareness. Forward this information to anyone who you may feel it could be of interest to. The ultimate aim is to get this
    message to the key decision makers in Uganda.

Why damming Isimba Falls will destroy tourism on River Nile

Why damming Isimba Falls will destroy tourism on River Nile

taken from the Daily Monitor: September 14th 2013

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Travel/Why-damming-Isimba-Falls-will-destroy-tourism-on-R–Nile/-/691238/1991446/-/item/0/-/104gc07z/-/index.html

“The proposed dam is likely to tamper with commercial activities along the course of the river like white-water rafting and kayaking operations which many believe will affect more than 100 tourism businesses in Jinja and beyond.”

“It would end adventure tourism in terms of rafting and kayaking on the river causing a major drop in tourist numbers and affecting businesses around and thousands of people who benefit from it. In the July 2013, World Bank Economic and Statistical analysis of Tourism in Uganda, adventure tourism was cited as the third most popular trip activity for leisure tourists coming to Uganda.

The 2013 World Bank report on Tourism in Uganda also indicates that leisure and cultural tourists spend 30 to 100 per cent more than other types of tourists per visit to Uganda

The total economic impact of the expenditures made by these half-million foreign tourists while in Uganda is large; expenditures totalled Shs1.1 trillion and generated Shs2.7 trillion of GDP

Depending on the dam model adopted for the Isimba hydro power project, Uganda stands to lose most of its revenue from adventure tourism.

It is estimated that up to 100 tourism businesses in Jinja and beyond could be adversely affected directly or indirectly by the dam construction and these include banks, mechanics, boda boda cyclists, supermarkets, clinics, phone companies and farmers, among others.”

“Tourism – the neglected goldmine” under serious threat

“Tourism – the neglected goldmine” under serious threat

taken from the New Vision: September 20th 2013

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/647430-discover-the-neglected-goldmine.html

“Uganda is sitting on a gold mine. It is not gold, it is not even the confirmed 3.5 billion barrels of crude oil. It is tourism. The numbers  affirm and tell an even better story. Tourism earnings jumped by 22% in 2011 with the country raking in $832 million, up from $662 million  in 2010.”

“This is almost double the $449 million that the country earned from coffee, Uganda’s top foeign exchange earner for decades. For three years  now, Uganda has been at the helm of global acclaim and recognition for its abundant tourism blessings.”

“Tourism has one of the largest impacts on the economy, with a single dollar spend resulting  into foreign exchange earnings, employment, tax and direct investment.”