Prince Charles to visit war-ravaged northern Uganda

Peopes' Daily Online (China)
23 October 2007

Britain's Prince Charles is to visit war-ravaged northern Uganda where a two-decade long insurgency has left over 1.4 million people homeless, a Ugandan official said on Tuesday.

Sam Nahamya, permanent secretary of the Tourism Ministry told reporters on Tuesday that Prince Charles will travel to the war- torn region during his official visit to Uganda prior to the Commonwealth Head's of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held here next month.

"He will be going to northern Uganda because of the programs which he has been supporting or where he is patron," Nahamya said.

Following the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army and the return of relative peace to the region, many displaced have returned home.

Nahamya said during CHOGM, Prince Charles will also visit the source of the Nile, 80 km east of Kampala, and the country's famous Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, which is named after Queen Elizabeth II.

He said Queen Elizabeth II will not visit the park as earlier reported during her state visit to Uganda prior to the CHOGM.

"I can confirm to you here and now that the Queen is not visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is only Prince Charles, "Nahamya said.

Uganda anticipates using CHOGM to showcase its tourist attractions and make the country one of the top tourist destinations in Africa.