Mr Kiwanda Ssuubi, Ugandan Minister of State Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, on Tuesday urged Africans to make the continent their choice destination for tourism.
Ssuubi said this at the 15th African Travel Market, AKWAABA in Lagos said there is need for Africans to discover Africa through regular visitations.
“One of the things we want to encourage is that Africans should discover Africa. Before you visit the United States of America, United Kingdom or Jamaica, please come and visit Africa.
“My message to Nigerians and Africans at large is that we should visit Africa. Why take your money elsewhere, let us have the money here. Let Ugandans visit Nigeria and Nigerians visit Uganda.
“Let us have that bond as Africans as we have more than enough places to visit and spend our holidays.” he said.
Ssuubi who was at the exhibition stand with his team to showcase what he described as faith based tourism emphasised the need for people to travel and learn about their religion.
“We specifically picked one item to showcase at the AKWAABA event which is the Uganda martyrs that died because of their religion.
“These martyrs were fortified young men who were killed by a traditional king who believed their saying of ‘our father in heaven’ was a disobedience against him who was believed to be the father.
“We have many churches here in Nigeria named after the Uganda martyrs like St. Kizito, St. Andrew Kugua and especially St. Mathia Mulumba.
These martyrs are usually celebrated on June 3 every year by all Africans who gather in Uganda for the event.” he said.
He added that there is a lot to learn about Africa; `if we make effort to visit ourselves and learn about the culture.”
