This November, East Africa (Uganda and Kenya in particular) will be expecting to receive one of the most famous people on the planet -the Pope. Pope Francis became Pope in 2013 succeeding Pope Benedict XVI who resigned. Pope Francis this year (2015) embarked on a tour outside Italy where he first visited the South American states of Ecuador, Paraguay and Bolivia from 6th to 13th July and the United States just in September from 26th to 27th. The good news is that this coming November the Pope is set to visit the African continent for the first time since he became pope in 2013. In Africa, he will visit Kenya from 25th to 27th proceed to Uganda from 27th to 29th November and lastly go to central African republic from 29th to 30th concluding his African journey.
Two East African countries receiving the Pope is a very blessing especially for the tourism industry because it will continue to expose the east African region worldwide making it known to those few who had no idea where it is.
Apart from exposure, a number of foreign catholic visitors from other staunch African countries who eagerly want to see the Pope are expected to go to the two countries (Uganda and Kenya), whichis a very good thing for the tourism industry.
The Pope will be visiting the 3 African countries an honor of the invitation by the heads of state and local church leaders of the 3 countries. The Uganda martyrs Namugongo is one of the major reasons why the pope is visiting Uganda and he is expected to reach at the site.
Many local Ugandan Christians and Catholic Church leaders will be covered with joy for such an important visit and they have highly anticipated the Pope’s visit to the country. Uganda is among the few countries that have been visited by more than one Pope and the Pope Francis’s visit will be the third, setting a record. The first Pope to visit Uganda was Pope Paul VI who visited the country in 1969. Uganda was the only African country that Pope Paul VI visited in the 15 years he served as Pope.
24 years later, Pope John Paul II also visited Uganda in 1993 where he visited the Namugongo shrines elevating them to a rank of a minor basilica. Pope Francis’s visit in November is going to be the third papal visit to the country after 22 years. The previous Pope’s visits attracted a number of people and this November, many will be expected in Uganda.
The international catholic pilgrims who will come to Uganda ahead of the Popes’ visit if they wish can get a chance to go for Ugandan safaris in Uganda’s major national parks or visit the nearby tourist attractions like lake victoria’s major islands (Ssese islands or Ngamba island for chimpanzee viewing). They can alternatively engage in tourism sports activities like playing golf at the lake Victoria Serena hotel golf course or at golf course hotel in Kampala.
Major tourism stakeholder in Uganda and Kenya are very enthusiastic about the Pope’s visit that is expected to raise and boost religious tourism especially for the Uganda’s Namugongo shrine.
Uganda is the pearl of Africa as sir Winston Churchill described it and it’s not a coincidence that many influential people love visiting this beautiful country. Am very sure that once the Pope steps on the Ugandan soils, he will greatly appreciate the good climate and above all the very hospitable and warm welcoming Ugandans millions of which will assemble on the streets just waiting a wave at him.