Entebbe Tourist Guides and Operators Association

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As we welcome ourselves from voting our LC4 chairpersons and councillors, I would love to share a moving reflection about Uganda 🇺🇬—our beautiful home, our motherland, and its resilient people.
The past three months, and even the period before, have been deeply disruptive. They have been filled with worry, uncertainty, intense political rivalry, and, regrettably, skirmishes that led to loss of life, injuries, and the imprisonment of several political and military actors. These moments have tested us as a nation.
As a professional tourist guide, I have had the unique privilege of witnessing a metamorphosing Uganda. This is a country whose people endured nearly 100 years of colonial rule, followed by post-independence turmoil and insecurity, until 1986 when a semblance of stability and security began to take root.
Truth be told, a lot has changed. From infrastructure and population growth to institutions—especially higher learning, media outlets, and governance systems. One of the most significant transformations has been Uganda’s gradual movement toward democratic expression, especially when compared to the early post-independence years.
I strongly believe that we are growing day by day, aided greatly by access to information and the power of the internet. As stakeholders in the tourism industry, I pray that we hold ourselves together, support peace, and continue advocating for openness—free from internet blockages and shutdowns—so that our country’s image continues to grow positively.
May Uganda’s profile rise, may confidence return, and may our clientele continue to flow. Let us, despite the challenges, consistently share a positive, honest, and lovely image of our Pearl of Africa.
Together, we can be ambassadors of hope, stability, and truth.
Warm regards,
Balya Baliija Abraham Yampa
Professional Tourist Guide
📧 [email protected]