Muhereza Kyamutetera

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 14/50 — APOKA SAFARI LODGE Kidepo gives you room to look further. Apoka Safari Lodge sits around a rocky outcrop overlooking the Narus Valley in Kidepo Valley National Park. Its appeal begins outside: the sweep of the landscape, the thatched buildings and a swimming pool carved from natural rock. Then come the intimate details: a private veranda, a generous guest room and an outdoor bath with a view. The lodge lists ten canvas-walled chalets, giving this remote Ugandan stay a character of its own. Game drives and guided walks bring the wider park into the journey. Back at the lodge, the temptation is to slow down and watch the light move across the plains. Wildlife is part of the destination, but no particular sighting is guaranteed. For a Christmas trip, plan the journey as carefully as the stay. Ask about current road or flight options, transfers, park activities and the accommodation category that suits your group. Would you begin with a game drive or a quiet hour beside the rock-hewn pool? Plan with EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Official lodge: wildplacesafrica.com/apoka-s… Photos: Apoka Safari Lodge / Wildplaces Africa, official gallery. Safari photographs show the wider Kidepo experience; sightings vary. #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda

Few people speak about Uganda’s hotels and hospitality with the passion, eloquence and infectious optimism of the ever-smiling @ByamugishaJean. But behind that smile is a serious message: Uganda’s tourism can deliver much more—if government matches ambition with action. I sat down with the CEO of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) for a candid conversation about the businesses, people and policies that will shape that future. We talked taxes, investment, practical skills, opportunities for women and young people—and why building a successful hotel takes much more than putting up a beautiful building. What stayed with me was her conviction that hospitality can help answer some of Uganda’s biggest economic questions, especially jobs. We need to give the people driving it the support to succeed. Watch our conversation and let me know what resonates with you. youtu.be/6frEJKYUgOc?si=R2eF… #UgandaTourism #JeanByamugisha #Hospitality

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 13/50 — MOUNT GAHINGA LODGE A fireside return after a day in the Virungas. Mount Gahinga Lodge by @VolcanoesSafari brings traditional building craft, gardens and inviting interiors to Uganda's southwestern highlands. Its eight hand-built bandas face the Virunga Volcanoes, with private porches and fireplaces that make the accommodation part of the adventure. Mgahinga offers several reasons to stay: gorilla tracking, golden-monkey tracking and volcano hikes. The lodge also connects visitors with the Gahinga Batwa Village, where a visit adds human context to a landscape often introduced through its wildlife. Start with the outside—the garden paths, thatched buildings and mountain setting. Then step into the lounge, dining room and guest accommodation. This is a journey that deserves time to absorb, rather than a hurried overnight stop. Plan ahead for permits and the activities that suit your group. Confirm availability, transfers and inclusions for Christmas; a lodge booking does not automatically mean every trekking activity is included. Which would shape your itinerary: gorillas, golden monkeys or a volcano hike? Plan with EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Photos: Mount Gahinga Lodge / Volcanoes Safaris, official gallery; exterior image: Sinamatella. Village photograph shows a community visit. #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 12/50 — NILE SAFARI LODGE The Nile sets the pace here. At @Nilesafarilodge in the Murchison Falls area, striking thatched architecture opens towards the river. The photographs take you from the main lodge and infinity pool into generous banda interiors, then out towards the experiences that make this corner of Uganda so compelling. A private viewing deck is a good reason to start slowly. A game drive or Nile cruise is a good reason to get going. The pleasure is in making room for both: adventure in the wider destination, followed by an unhurried return to your accommodation. The lodge offers different accommodation categories, including Deluxe and Exclusive Bandas and a Family Villa. Features vary—ask specifically about the room you want rather than assuming every banda includes a private pool. For a Christmas safari, confirm availability, transfers, park activities and what your package includes. Brunch at the falls is a separately arranged excursion, not the view from the lodge restaurant. Would your first choice be a river cruise or a quiet afternoon beside the infinity pool? Plan with EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Photos: Nile Safari Lodge, official gallery. #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 11/50 — KYANINGA LODGE A crater lake, remarkable timber architecture and a reason to linger in Fort Portal. At @Kyaningalodge, the arrival is part of the experience: thatched roofs and raised walkways sit above Lake Kyaninga, with views towards the Rwenzori Mountains. The main lodge and pool terrace make an arresting first impression; inside, timber textures and inviting rooms bring the story closer. Nine cottages, each with a private deck, offer space for a slower morning. There is time for a swim, a guided walk around the crater or an afternoon with a book before dinner. For a longer western Uganda holiday, ask about combining your stay with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale. What appeals to me about this kind of escape is the balance: a distinctive place to stay and enough room in the itinerary to enjoy it. For Christmas, confirm cottage availability, transfers and any tracking permits before travelling. Which would draw you outside first: the lake view or the pool? Plan with EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Photos: Kyaninga Lodge, official gallery. Aerial photographs: Robert Michael Poole. #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda

9/50 — TABEBUIA SPA & SAFARI RESORT Step outside for the lake. Step inside for the details. This closer look at Tabebuia takes you from its courtyard and pool terrace into bedrooms, lounge corners, dining spaces and a bathroom made for an unhurried soak. Warm woven textures, timber and thatched ceilings give the interiors their character; Lake Nyabikere provides the backdrop outdoors. Set in Rweteera near Fort Portal, the resort combines lakeside accommodation with spa experiences and opportunities to explore the surrounding crater-lake country. Leave time in the itinerary simply to enjoy where you are staying. Which would you choose first: a quiet hour by the pool or a long, slow morning in your room? Pre-book dining, spa treatments and day visits. Ask about room availability and the facilities included with your chosen accommodation. Plan with EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected]. Photos: Tabebuia Spa & Safari Resort, official website and gallery. #50LuxuryUgandanLodges #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda #TheExecutiveTraveller tabebuiaresort.com/

10/50 — ENTIKKO SAFARI LODGE Safari days, a beautiful place to come home to. Our #50LuxuryUgandanLodges journey continues to the Murchison Falls area, where Entikko brings together thatched cottages, generous living spaces and outdoor dining with sweeping landscape views. The lodge offers game drives, Nile boat cruises and visits to Murchison Falls, alongside spa and wellness experiences. It’s a tempting combination: time out exploring, followed by an unhurried evening back at the lodge. From a couple’s escape to a family safari, this is one to put on your Uganda travel list. Which would you start with: a game drive, a Nile cruise or a sunset dinner? Explore: entikkosafarilodge.com/ Photos: Entikko Safari Lodge, official website. #ExploreUganda #MurchisonFalls #TheExecutiveTraveller

🇺🇬 #50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 7/50 — WILD GEESE LODGE UGANDA Luxury does not always have to begin with a long journey. For Kampala and Entebbe residents looking for a change of scene within the wider city region, Wild Geese Lodge in Buwaya, Kasanje offers a lakeside escape worth putting on the list. The invitation starts with its distinctive A-frame chalets: warm timber, soaring rooflines and spaces that draw your attention towards the water. In these official photographs, a bed faces the balcony, lounge chairs invite a slower afternoon, and a private outdoor bathtub adds another reason to linger. Room features vary, so confirm your preferred chalet when booking. This is a stay to build around simple pleasures. Open the curtains. Take your time over breakfast. Read a few pages. Watch the light change over the lake. Let lunch stretch into an unhurried afternoon. The lodge also lists a swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam facilities and restaurant, offering options for a restful weekend, a couple’s retreat or a festive break with less emphasis on a packed itinerary. Planning your #XmasInUganda escape? Consider a getaway that gives you room to pause while keeping Kampala and Entebbe in the picture. Confirm the best route and travel time for your departure point when arranging your stay. Which would tempt you most: that lake-facing bedroom, the outdoor bathtub or a quiet afternoon with a book? Plan with EDX Travel: WhatsApp +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com. Ask about chalet availability, included amenities and transfers. Photos: Wild Geese Lodge Uganda, official website — wildgeese.ug. #ExploreUganda #1000Reasons2ExploreUganda #EdxTravel #TheAfropolitan

6/50: Mirima Kibale Lodge 🇺🇬 Crater-lake balconies, fireside sunsets and a pool with a view near Kibale. Your Christmas escape? EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326 Photos: Nkuringo Eco Collection #50LuxuryUgandanLodges #XmasInUganda

Last Friday, I attended the @ugwildlife’s Stakeholders’ Breakfast, where the Authority presented its Corporate Report for FY2025/26. The report is particularly significant because FY2025/26—running from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026—was Dr James Musinguzi’s first full government financial year as UWA Executive Director. It also comes roughly two years after the institutional merger of UWA and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. The numbers tell a substantial story. UWA collected UGX16.4 billion in concession revenue against an annual target of UGX5 billion—achieving 328% of target. It also generated UGX5.46 billion in FY2025/26 revenue-sharing obligations, due for declaration in FY2026/27, while declaring UGX5.51 billion for communities neighbouring protected areas from FY2024/25 park-entry collections. In wildlife protection, UWA conducted 25,621 patrols, apprehended 2,931 suspects and recovered 43,642 illegal hunting, fishing and resource-extraction implements. The Authority also managed invasive and problematic plant species across 7,464.94 hectares and maintained more than 1,200 kilometres of protected-area boundaries. Perhaps the year’s most symbolic conservation milestone was the reintroduction of eight southern white rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve and Kidepo Valley National Park—restoring the species to landscapes where it had become locally extinct. Beyond revenue sharing, UWA supported 1,282 community livelihood groups. Reported human–wildlife conflict incidents declined by 34.6%, from 6,557 to 4,290, although the remaining cases—and the human and economic losses behind them—show how much work still lies ahead. The Authority also recruited 1,362 rangers, trained hundreds of staff, strengthened field equipment and technology, expanded conservation education and opened the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. The report does not avoid the difficult realities. Overall visitation declined by 8.3%, from 943,837 to 865,805. Human–wildlife conflict remains painful for affected communities. Wildlife crime continues to evolve, while UWA’s expanding responsibilities—including the management of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve—have not been matched by proportional resources. But the larger impression is unmistakable: a great deal is happening at UWA. The task now is to communicate this work more consistently, connect it clearly to national value and mobilise the government, private sector, communities and citizens to support it. Uganda’s wildlife is not merely a tourism product. It is ecological capital, a source of livelihoods and national identity, and an inheritance we hold in trust for future generations. Wildlife and the protected areas that sustain it are also at the heart of Uganda’s approximately US$1.6 billion tourism economy and central to Uganda’s ambition of growing annual tourism earnings to US$5 billion by 2030. #UgandaWildlifeAuthority #Conservation #Tourism #Leadership #CEOEastAfricaMagazine #EastAfricaBusinessNews

🇺🇬 Lodge 5/50: Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Luxury bandas, a pool overlooking Queen Elizabeth NP and access to chimpanzee treks, game drives and Kazinga Channel safaris. Book: EDX Travel +256 751 395 326. 📷 Volcanoes Safaris. #50LuxuryUgandanLodges #XmasInUganda

🇺🇬 Lodge 4/50: Erebero Hills by Asilia. A striking new Bwindi-area retreat with forest-facing suites, curved bamboo-inspired roofs and a beautiful pool. Book via EDX Travel: +256 751 395 326. Photos: Asilia Africa. #50LuxuryUgandanLodges #XmasInUganda

Make this Christmas a Dubai adventure. ✈️🎄 Spend five nights exploring the city, desert and underwater worlds with @EdxTravel. Choose Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga at US$1,000 per person sharing, or Al Khoory Sky Garden Hotel at US$1,060 per person sharing, both on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Included: a private Dubai city tour, Caravanserai Desert Safari, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Aquaventure Waterpark, The Lost Chambers Aquarium and return Dubai airport transfers. Flights are not listed among the inclusions—ask EDX Travel for a flight quotation. Valid for travel 21–26 December 2026. Minimum two travellers; rates are subject to change and availability. Terms and conditions apply. Book with @EdxTravel: 0751 395 326 / 0775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Follow EDX Travel: facebook.com/EDXTravel/ linkedin.com/company/edxtrav… #TakeYourPlaceInTheAfricanSun #ChoicestDestinations #UnforgettableExperiences #edxtravel #ExploreTheWorld

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | PABIDI LODGE — A FOREST ESCAPE IN BUDONGO What if your Christmas break began with birdsong, a private veranda and a forest stretching beyond your doorstep? Pabidi Lodge Budongo brings tented luxury to the Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest, within Uganda’s wider Murchison Falls landscape. Part of the Great Lakes collection, it offers a different starting point for a safari: time among the trees, with the region’s wildlife adventures within reach. The accommodation pairs tented architecture with en-suite bathrooms and spacious private verandas. There is room to linger over a morning coffee, watch the changing light through the canopy and enjoy the setting before heading out for the day. Chimpanzee tracking, birdwatching and guided forest walks give a stay here its distinctive character. A wider itinerary can include Murchison Falls game drives and a boat safari towards the falls, combining forest encounters with the park’s river and savannah experiences. Back at the lodge, the swimming pool offers a place to cool down, while the restaurant serves Ugandan and international dishes. A drink at the bar or an evening around the firepit provides a relaxed finish to an active day. For couples, nature lovers and travellers building a longer Uganda holiday, Pabidi is worth considering as a forest chapter in the journey. Give yourself time to enjoy the lodge itself, rather than treating it only as an overnight stop between activities. Plan your stay around the experiences that matter most to you. Confirm room availability, activity arrangements and chimpanzee permits before travelling, particularly for the festive season. Direct enquiries: [email protected] | +256 770 486 002 greatlakessafaris.com/collec… Alternatively, @EdxTravel can help plan and book your escape: +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] Photos: Pabidi Lodge Budongo / Great Lakes Safaris, official website. #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda #1000Reasons2ExploreUganda #TakeYourPlaceInTheAfricanSun #EdxTravel #TheAfropolitan #ExecutiveTraveller

Give 2026 a spectacular send-off in Dubai. ✈️✨ @EdxTravel’s four-night Dubai offer starts at US$580 per person sharing at City Max Bur Dubai. Other options: Hyatt Regency Dubai at US$590 or Novotel Dubai Al Barsha at US$640 per person sharing. Included: bed and breakfast, return Dubai airport transfers, a half-day city tour, Marina dhow cruise with BBQ dinner and an evening desert safari with BBQ dinner. Tours and transfers are on a shared basis. Tourism Dirham is excluded; flights are not listed among the inclusions—ask EDX Travel for a flight quotation. Valid for travel 1–20 December 2026. Minimum two travellers; rates are subject to change and availability. Terms and conditions apply. Book with @EdxTravel: 0751 395 326 / 0775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Follow EDX Travel: facebook.com/EDXTravel/ linkedin.com/company/edxtrav… #TakeYourPlaceInTheAfricanSun #ChoicestDestinations #UnforgettableExperiences #edxtravel #ExploreTheWorld

#50LuxuryUgandanLodges | 2/50: BWINDI LODGE — A GORILLA FOREST ESCAPE What if your Christmas getaway took you to the edge of one of Africa’s most extraordinary forests? Volcanoes Safaris’ Bwindi Lodge is situated beside Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a celebrated home of endangered mountain gorillas. Here, the journey is as much about the landscape, people and conservation story as it is about the accommodation. For travellers planning a gorilla-tracking holiday, the lodge provides a luxurious base from which to discover the forest. A day in Bwindi may begin with an early departure for a guided gorilla trek, followed by time to reflect on the encounter and the fragile ecosystem that makes it possible. The experience can also extend beyond gorillas. Ask about the lodge’s community and conservation activities, opportunities to meet local partners and ways to better understand the people who live alongside the forest. For couples, families with eligible older children and international travellers, this is an opportunity to combine a remarkable wildlife experience with a more thoughtful holiday. PLANNING YOUR STAY: Volcanoes Safaris publishes 2026 low-season rates through 14 December of US$820 per person sharing for a standard banda and US$1,075 for a deluxe banda. From 15 December, high-season rates rise to US$1,370 and US$1,780 respectively. A US$50 per-person nightly community and conservation fee applies. Gorilla-tracking permits and transport should be checked separately; permits are not automatically included in these lodge rates. Ask about resident rates and availability. DIRECT BOOKINGS: +256 772 741 720 | [email protected] | volcanoessafaris.com Alternatively, let EDX Travel arrange the accommodation and wider journey: WhatsApp +256 751 395 326 / +256 775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com #XmasInUganda #ExploreUganda #1000Reasons2ExploreUganda #TakeYourPlaceInTheAfricanSun #EdxTravel #TheAfropolitan #ExecutiveTraveller Photo: Bwindi Lodge / Volcanoes Safaris; Sinamatella, bwindilodge.com.

More ocean views. More time together. A Christmas to remember. 🌊☀️ Discover Zanzibar with @EdxTravel, with four-night packages from US$658 per person sharing, based on two people travelling. The offer includes a sea-view room, daily buffet breakfast and dinner, dolphin tour and snorkelling, Mnemba Island tour, Kendwa Beach, a Stone Town tour, a Fukuchani Caves turtle experience, Zanzibar airport transfers and an English-speaking guide. Hotel options: Zanoceanique from US$658; Zanzibar Bahari Villas US$690; Antonio Resort Beach Hotel US$830; Mahi Mahi Beach Hotel US$1,010, all per person sharing. Flights, travel insurance and tourism tax are excluded. Contact EDX Travel to confirm current costs and availability. Book with @EdxTravel: 0751 395 326 / 0775 716 808 | [email protected] | edx-travel.com Follow EDX Travel: facebook.com/EDXTravel/ linkedin.com/company/edxtrav… #TakeYourPlaceInTheAfricanSun #ChoicestDestinations #UnforgettableExperiences #edxtravel #ExploreEastAfrica

Kenya's banking sector contributed a record KES 205.58 billion in taxes in 2025, accounting for 8% of government receipts. But behind the headline numbers is an interesting story. 📈 Bank profits surged 17.63%, yet corporate income tax payments rose just 2.06%. 🏦 Income from government securities grew 9.6%, while interest income from loans fell 7.5%. 📉 The sector's total tax rate dropped from 38.5% to 32.15%. 💰 Meanwhile, tax compliance costs jumped 62.25%. According to the Kenya Bankers Association's 2025 Total Tax Contribution Report, prepared with PwC Kenya, banks are becoming bigger contributors to public revenue—but their changing income sources raise important questions about taxation, government borrowing and private-sector financing. Are East Africa's banks increasingly finding government more attractive to finance than businesses? #KenyaBanking #EastAfrica #BankingSector #Taxation #BusinessNews