All people who have visited Uganda-my dear motherland! Have their own fairytale stories to tell about this country which has an astounding impact on the hearts of many Africa safari makers who have dared to venture to this incredibly beautiful country that’s so awesome to see. One of the many things that have made Uganda a darling Africa safari destination to many Africa safaris tours makers is its unique culture, food and wildlife biodiversity that is unmatched.
Although Uganda is a relatively small country that can only be compared to great Britain or Oregon state in size, Uganda has a cultural diversity that is unmatched by any of these because Uganda has over 60 unique tribes of people with each tribe having their own language and culture. Therefore means that as you walk on the streets of Kampala city- Uganda’s capital during a 1 day Kampala city tour, 1 day Kampala tour out of the many of the 5 million people that work in Kampala you’re likely to meet, every 2 of these people are coming from a different tribe. During a Kampala city tour which can be done using any of our wide fleet of safari cars like the 4×4 safari land cruisers for hire in Kampala, 4×4 safari vans for hire in Uganda or 4×4 coasters for hire In Uganda not only do you get to see people of different cultures but you also get to visit several places that celebrate the cultures of different tribes in Uganda. One of these places is the Uganda museum.
Located 3 km along Kampala- Ntinda- Bukoto road the Uganda Museum was 1908 by the colonial government and this makes it the oldest museum in the East African region. This museum is dedicated at showcasing Uganda’s cultural diversity and history as it displays both cultural and historical items ranging from musical instruments used by different tribes in Uganda, archaeological artefacts, natural historical samples, royal regalia of different monarchies in Uganda and artifacts of the colonial era like vintage cars that were used by the first colonial governors.
Uganda museum in its efforts to preserve Uganda’s culture and history strikes a similar code to other international museums around the round in their efforts to preserve the heritage of their own people. It’s on this basis that Italy European centre of culture through the Italian Embassy in Kampala has decided to give Uganda Museum a facelift. This facelift comes ahead of the Leonardo Opera Omnia Exhibition due in Kampala next month.
Speaking to the media earlier today, H.E Massimiliano Mazzanti, the designated Italian Ambassador to Uganda said that, “To mark the occasion [Leonardo Opera Omnia exhibition], the Embassy of Italy in Kampala, with support of the private sector (generous companies like Youma Builders and Equatorial Power), will renovate the main hall of Uganda Museum to give it a fresh look.”
Adding that, “the power system at the Museum will be stabilized and solar panels be installed to ensure outdoor lighting.” He revealed that only two cities in sub-Saharan Africa had been selected to host the exhibition – Addis Ababa and Kampala whose expo will be held at Uganda Museum from November 19, 2019, to January 5th, 2020.
Amb. Massimiliano noted that the inauguration of the exhibition will open the Italian Cultural week (18-24 November 2019). The week that is dedicated to Italian Culture and cuisine will see many exciting events with the participation of a rock band and some chefs, who will come directly from Italy for the occasion.
“The Italian music band “Ladri di Carrozzelle” composed of people with disabilities, will bring to Uganda their mission of social inclusion and promotion of “diversity” through music,” Mazzimiliano added.
According Massimiliano, the Italian Tourism Board will ensure participation of five chefs from Piedmont region (north of Italy, famous mainly truffles fungus and wines) and one of their managerial representatives.
They will be engaged in a training session for the students of Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in Jinja and will also participate in Rolex vs Pizza competition on November 21st, he added.
He went on to thank key partners that have made Leonardo Opera Omnia possible in Uganda. These include City Tyres, Equatorial Power, the Italian Trade Agency, Qatar Airways, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Stanbic Bank Uganda and Youma Builders. Others are Uganda Ministries’ of Science and Technology and that of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities alongside its sister Agency Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).
Speaking on behalf of Uganda’s Minister of Tourism, Mr. Lyazi Vivian, a Commissioner at the Ministry of tourism, said that, “Uganda was privileged to have been selected as the African country to host this exhibition that is moving around the world.” “This opportunity is significant and manifests the important relationship that Uganda shares with the people of Italy,” he added.
He particularly noted that the relationship [between Uganda and Italy] was old and precious sighting examples of when in 1906, the Duke of Abruzzi, Amedo Luigi climbed the Rwenzori and documented its geographical features for the first time. The Margherita peak is named after the Queen of Italy and indeed over the years, “Italy has supported various development programmes in Uganda,” he said.
Mr. Lyazi said that this exhibition was bound to raise the profile of Uganda Museum and indeed Uganda as a heritage destination, adding that it was an opportunity for regional visitors and international tourists to enrich their experience of rare and internationally acclaimed works of art in Uganda.
On her part, UTB Marketing Manager, Ms. Claire Mugabi reiterated the Ministers words, saying that, “The choice for Uganda to be the first to unveil this collection shows our tourism capacity and capability, highlighted with the trust put in us by the Italian ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation as well as the embassy of Italy in Uganda.”
“This partnership and collaboration shows our increasingly successful partnership with Italy, who can contribute greatly to our cultural exposure with their equally diverse and rich history,” she added.
Ms. Mugabi called on the tour operators, hotels, airlines, churches, mosques, academia, schools, the media and all interested organizations to mobilize their clients, students, followers and friends to come and benefit from this opportunity.
Leonardo Opera Omnia is an innovative and ambitious project, born from a collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and RAI (the Italian Public Television), to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci’s death. It aims at sharing the Italian cultural heritage by displaying seventeen high definition and true-to-scale reproductions of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpieces. The original paintings are scattered in various locations and museums all over the world.
A curator from Italy will travel to Uganda to take care of the entire set-up of the exhibition and the logistic costs of the initiative will be sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Leonardo Opera Omnia unveils the great master’s life and genius through his pictorial work. The exhibition is at the same time an art exposure and an educational experience, intended to showcase the culture of the Renaissance era through visual information, painted by Leonardo in the 16th century.
According to the organisers, the exhibition brings together the cultural and artistic aspects of Leonardo’s works with the innovation and technology applied for the reproductions on display; this is the final and uppermost tribute to Da Vinci’s passion for inventions and scientific experimentation.
Though many people around the world recognise the work of Leonardo, they may not have had the chance to see his artworks in Europe; with the project Opera Omnia, the opportunity to see and enjoy the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, like “Mona Lisa” or “The Last Supper”, is now being given to the majority of Ugandans and tourists at large.
Leonardo, (1452 – 1519) was born in a small village in Tuscany (Italy). Son of a Florentine notary, Leonardo’s eclectic creative talent marvelled his own era and the ones who followed, with his fame reaching every corner of the globe.
He created the two most famous paintings in history: the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Driven by passion for innovative studies, he anticipated many of the great scientific discoveries ahead of time (from calculators to helicopters, hydrodynamics to solar power), depicting him as history’s most creative genius.
To primatologists and any other person who is intrigued by these wild cousins of ours, Uganda isn’t only the Pearl of Africa as many of us know it to be but also is truly the home of primates and this is because Uganda is home to over 13 primate species a number that isn’t easily found elsewhere on the planet. Are you on a search for mountain gorillas? If you’re, then get your bags ready and make that Uganda safari tour because Uganda is home to these elusive mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These gentle giants in Uganda almost constitute half of the world’s gorilla population which is currently standing at around 1000 individuals.
When you make your Uganda safari to this pearl of Africa, you will come to realize that mountain gorillas are just a part of what really Uganda has to offer. Uganda still has more attractions your will encounter in case you decide to make a Uganda wildlife safari. After a really spectacular encounter with the gorillas, Uganda gives you an opportunity to meet another great ape species and this is the chimpanzee. With a safari Uganda to Kibale Forest National Park Uganda, , you are assured for a memorable encounter with the chimpanzees that will definitely fascinate you with their high levels of intelligence. However, as you search for the chimpanzees in Kibale you have an opportunity to meet 12 other primate species and these include the black and white colobus monkeys, the grey-cheeked mangabeys, the L’hoest monkeys, the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, patas monkeys and many more.
Birds, when you speak of birds in Africa, Uganda should be your first priority because a Uganda birding safari is to any of the numerous birding safari destinations in Uganda such as Semuliki National Park Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Kibale Forest National Park Uganda is a totally unique experience that gives you an opportunity to encounter several of the 1070 bird species that call Dear Uganda home. This makes Uganda home to over 50% of all the bird species that are found on the African continent.
Wild mammals- if you are looking for wild mammals, a Uganda wildlife safari to some of Uganda wildlife safaris destinations such asLake Mburo National Park Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park Uganda and Kidepo Valley National Park which can be done in our fleet of safari cars like 4x4safari jeeps for hire in Uganda or the 4×4 safari mini vans for hire in Uganda or 4×4 coasters for hire in Uganda will give you an encounter with some of the finest African savanna mammals like you have never seen before. All these cars for hire in Uganda are best suitable for an epic Africa wildlife safari as they come with a pop-up roof that will allow you to stand and enjoy magnificent views of wild mammals and also take photographs of whatever catches your scanning eyes. Many of these destinations have 4 or 5 out of the big five Africa game which includes African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos. On top of these expect to encounter numerous other mammals such as Roth child giraffes, Burchell zebras, elands, Jackson hartebeests, topis, and a wide variety of antelope species.
If you are a person with a big appetite for scaling mountains, Uganda offers you the best opportunity to engage in an epic Rwenzori hiking safari experience with minimal crowds. Uganda is home to 2 towering mountains which are Rwenzori mountain in Mountain Rwenzori National Park and this is the 3rd highest mountain on the African continent with an elevation of 5109m, Mountain Elgon at 4321m above sea level, 3 of the 8 Virunga ranges found in Uganda and the forever intriguing Kigezi highlands will excite you on your Uganda safari to Kabale district.
Would you like to make a Uganda safari? There are numerous Uganda safari companies/tour operators in Uganda that organize various tour Uganda packages that come in the form of Uganda wildlife safaris that can be either short Uganda wildlife safaris or long Uganda wildlife safaris. Uganda gorilla safaris which also can be either short Uganda gorilla tours or long Uganda gorilla safaris. These tour operator in Uganda include Prime safaris ltd and Wild gorilla safaris.