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MS. NAAVA C. NABAGESERASPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT TO H.E. THE PRESIDENTPRESTO COORDINATOR

REF: PRESTO (Presidential Initiative on Sustainable Tourism) And Tourism

The Presidential Initiative on Sustainable Tourism (PRESTO) waslaunched by His. Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni inFebruary 2012 in the United Kingdom.State House through the Presidential Initiative on Sustainable

Tourism has weighed in to boost the tourism sector, make quickfixes and gains and leverage from Uganda being voted by LonelyPlanet, an independent magazine owned by the BBC as the toptourism destination in the world for 2012.Ugandas tourism sector has increasingly become vibrant over theyears largely because of a peaceful, stable and vibrant economybrought by the NRM Government under the visionary leadership ofHis Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that has made it possiblefor business to flourish

The Presidential Initiative on Sustainable Tourism spearheaded by Ms. Grace Akello, Ag.Principal Private Secretary to His Excellency the President in order to catalyse thedevelopment of Ugandas tourism industry intends to organize and promote various exhibitionsand events about tourism, culture, tradition and religion such as Martyrs Day on 3rd June.

'Uganda'(Swahili for 'Land of the Ganda') was the name usedby the Arab and Swahili traders on the East African coast to

refer to the kingdom of Buganda, deep in the interior of Africa.

These traders first arrived in Buganda in the mid-nineteenth

century in search of slaves, ivory, as well as other merchandise.

When the European colonialists eventually extended their

hegemony over Buganda and the surrounding territories at the

end of the nineteenth century, they used the swahili term Uganda

to refer to the new colony. Today, Uganda is made up of almost

40 different ethnic groups with the Baganda being the largest

group at almost 20% of the total population. On a visit to the

country, the late Winston Churchill was so taken by its beauty,he called it the "Pearl of Africa"; a fitting moniker that has

stuck to this day.

Buganda, like her neighbors, had a proud history of culture,

beliefs, customs and traditions extending back centuries before the arrival of the Arabs and

Europeans. In Buganda's case; the ruling dynasty of kings was established in the mid-14th

century AD. Unfortunately, the lack of a written history prior to the arrival of the Arabs and

Europeans makes it difficult to establish important dates with precision. The first

acknowledged king in this dynasty was called Kato Kintu. There has been a total of 36 kings

from Kintu's time to the current king, Mutebi II.

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Buganda Cultural Expo endeavors to give the visitor a concise yet comprehensive look at the

history, language and culture of the people of Buganda.

Ms. Grace Akello the Principal Private Secretary to His Excellency the President and Chairperson

of the Presidential Initiative on Sustainable Tourism appointed Ms. Naava C. Nabagesera SpecialPresidential Assistant Political Affairs as PRESTO Coordinator with the Second task ofoverseeing and leading the successful involvement of PRESTO in the Buganda tourism Expoevent cognizant of the fact that it is critical for Ugandas image that the tourists coming toBuganda Tourism Expo experience only the best in terms of their reception, Security, comfortand services not forgetting a tourism touch to the whole experience.

PRESTO in collaboration with key stakeholders including UNRA (Uganda National roadsAuthority), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, UMEME, Uganda Scouts Associationprioritized areas critical to the success of 2012 Jubilee Martyrs Day Celebrations

Appeals for in-kind support towards Martyrs Day were sent by PRESTO through the Ag PPSTo His Excellency the President who Chairs PRESTO to several companies and organizations.

Support was received from the private sector, public sector and within Government making the2012 Jubilee Martyrs Day an orderly and memorable event for pilgrims.