UWA
24th February 2010
PRESS RELEASE
UWA TO HOST MT. ELGON CORPORATE CHALLENGE
Uganda Wildlife Authority in conjunction with a private company, Ai Services is organizing a Mt. Elgon Corporate Challenge that will bring the famous mountain into the spotlight as a premium tourism destination. The event is targeted at corporate organizations, international schools and diplomatic missions and has already generated a lot of interest.

Various corporate organizations and government agencies have already indicated interest to participate such as Nile Breweries, Uganda Revenue Authority and Crown Bottlers producers of Mountain Dew.
The Mt. Elgon Corporate Challenge will be an unforgettable event for those that will participate in it.

The excitement it has generated is huge mostly because of the prospect of people spending four full days together on the mountain viewing wildlife, enjoying beautiful scenery, eating food cooked on a mountain and exploring caves.
Participants will climb the mountain on 22nd March and descend on either 25th or 26th March 2010 for those who will be interested in spending an extra day on the mountain to view the hot-springs. Interested organizations can be part of this event by sponsoring one or two of their staff at a fee of Ushs700, 000 each. This will cater for transport, accommodation in the mountain and in Mbale, climbing gear, guide fees, porters and publicity. Individuals wishing to participate are also welcome.
The Mt. Elgon Corporate Challenge will have 40 climbers that will include public servants, private sector workers, diplomatic mission workers, community leaders from the Mt. Elgon area and journalists.
Climbers will get an opportunity to explore the mountain, which has as much historical importance as biodiversity significance. They will also get to see the preparations being made by the Bagisu for the forthcoming circumcision season, which takes place every even year.
Mt. Elgon located in Eastern Uganda along the Uganda-Kenya border, is the only known mountain in Africa with a lake (caldera) on top. At 4,320ft above sea level, it is the second highest mountain in Uganda. In addition to the caldera, it has spectacular waterfalls, hot-springs as well as unique vegetation such as the Giant Lobelia and the Everlasting Flowers which never wither and remain fresh even after being plucked off the plant and brought down the mountain to the hot climate.
 
The Giant Lobelia which is the other major attraction on the mountain is a single trunk plant that grows as tall as a tree yet it is as soft as a banana.
The importance of Mt. Elgon to the growth and development 0 f Ugandan can never be underestimated. Millions of people living in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya depend on water sources that are directly supplied by Mt. Elgon. Major water bodies such as Lake Kyoga are also supplied by the mountain.
Mt. Elgon is also famed to have been the ancestral home of Nambi and Kintu, two famous characters that featured prominently in the Primary Three history lessons. With the huge and long winding caves scattered all over the mountain, climbers will get a chance to get a firsthand experience of the place where some ethnic groups are said to have originated.

Local leaders from the Mt. Elgon region including Her Worship the Mayor of Mbale, Hajati Jamila Naleba and Town Clerk, Mr. Norbert Turyahikayo said they would be interested in climbing the mountain.
Mt. Elgon National Park is one of the protected areas in Uganda that is experiencing high levels of encroachment due to its fertile soils. Uganda Wildlife Authority aims to change this trend by turning it into a popular tourist attraction for both Ugandans and foreign nationals.
The Mt. Elgon Corporate Challenge is slated to become an annual event so that every Ugandan gets an opportunity to experience the beauty of the mountain.

 
Moses Mapesa EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY