Beauty queens shine light on Ma’di’s tourism potential 

Ahead of their talent night on August 27, Miss Tourism Uganda contestants had a four-day visit to Ma’di land and came face to face with the community’s untapped tourism potential.

Despite the not-so-good roads that lead to Adjumani and Moyo districts, Ma’di community is endowed with plenty of little-known tourist attractions. Among them is the cultural emblem Aulogo. Aulogo is a sculpture of a white cock and it is the first thing that welcomes you to Adjumani town.

Among other attractions that the Miss Tourism contestants visited was River Zoka whose water is believed to be a cure for so many diseases – with some locals testifying that they have never fallen sick ever since they began drinking water from R.Zoka.

Zoka Central Forest Reserve is yet another attraction. The forest is home to 75 per cent of the world’s butterfly species, flying squirrels, a wide range of tree species, and snakes. The forest experiences Savannah, Tropical, and Equatorial climates.

The Miss Tourism contestants also got an opportunity to hike Mt Otche and Ochala hills. Ma’di land is also blessed with a hot spring in Amuru and waters of the Albert Nile. From Arra fishing lodge where the girls camped throughout their stay, they were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Nile water. At Arra fishing lodge alone, one is able to see the beautiful hippos swimming in the Nile water.

Hope

Obulejo Moses LC II Eremi parish, Otche sub-county said Ma’di hosting the Miss Tourism Talent show was a blessing to the community and they anticipate that they will receive more tourists as the world gets to know the beautiful attractions in Ma’di.

“We have so many attractions here and we hope that you people will go and tell the world about them and we shall get more visitors coming to our land,” he said.

According to Dr Jimmy Opigo, the proprietor of Arra fishing lodge that hosted the girls, it was an honour and chance for the Ma’di to exhibit their tourism potential out to the world and change the wrong narrative about the Ma’di.