By David Imaa
TORORO
The Senior Presidential Advisor on Economic Diplomacy and Infrastructure, Amb. Phoebe Otaala, has unveiled a comprehensive master plan to turn Eastern Uganda into Uganda’s leading tourism and investment circuit as the country marks World Tourism Week in Clara hotel tororo
Addressing tourism stakeholders, hotel managers and the media in Tororo, Amb. Otaala launched the East Africa Welfare Organisation Initiatives (EAWOI), announced 8 million coffee seedlings from H.E President Yoweri Museveni, unveiled an international brand KIFARU registered in the European Union, demanded Shs 1 billion for Tororo hotels and immediate city status for Tororo.
KIFARU BRAND REGISTERED IN EU
Amb. Otaala said EAWOI is led by two directors Prof. Joe Paul from Germany as Main Director and herself as Director.
“We have already registered this organisation throughout Uganda and even internationally we have registered a brand called KIFARU which is now in European Union and the whole of East Africa,” she revealed.
She announced that President Museveni has allocated eight million coffee seedlings for three years to be planted in the sub-region to boost coffee growing and tourism.
To sustain the organisation, EAWOI will work with its business arm Awepo Ventures which will generate revenue through exporting coffee to Europe, exporting products under AGOA to the US, selling Arno products to Kenya and exporting Tororo fertilizer from Dongso Cement Factory to Kenya.
EAWOI MAPS TOURISM SITES – INVESTS 10 ACRES IN PIAN-UPE
Amb. Otaala said EAWOI has traversed all districts citing strategic tourism sites for promotion including Sangalo Beach in Busia, Tororo Rock in Tororo, Kabul Hills, Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve in Nakapiripirit, Mt. Elgon and Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa, Namingo Island and Coconut Beach.
“Pian-Upe is in Nakapiripirit. It is the second largest reserve in Uganda. It has the best animals than even Murchison Falls. But nobody is talking about it. We are losing out,” Otaala said.
She disclosed: “I was in Pian-Upe. I bought there ten acres of land. I want to concentrate on leisure. I’ve seen money in tourism.”
She said Namingo Island now has a ferry and Coconut Beach is “like another world, very nice” but remains unmarketed.
EAWOI will focus on eight pillars: health, education, environmental protection, tourism, agriculture and road safety after 20 pupils died in a bus accident in Kapchorwa while going for a school tour.
“These hotels are asking for funding like Emyoga, Parish Model they are okay, but one million is small. They can come as an umbrella association and ask for say a billion shillings. If Tororo we are given a billion for all the hotels, we will match the
Amb. Otaala urged the people of Bukedi to get prepared after Mbale, saying Tororo will be next in November.
“So let’s go to Mbale and showcase Tororo hospitality industry to the players of hospitality tourism industry,” she rallied.
She said this is strategic because tourism function was taken to Mbale because Mbale is a city.
Linking tourism to infrastructure, she demanded Tororo Hospital be elevated to regional referral hospital.
“Seven districts are still using one small hospital which is not even referral.”
On city status: “The President has sang about the city. We voted for the President we are getting the city in July 2025. Now we are in July 2026. Nobody is talking about the city. Everybody is quiet. Me I’m not going to be quiet. There is no negotiation on this part of the city.
