Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has requested Parliament to approve an expenditure of Shs600 million for various tourism activities, including organizing a Covid-19 remembrance parade.
While presenting their 2024/25 national budget framework paper to the Presidential Affairs Committee, KCCA officials, led by Deputy Executive Director Eng. David Luyimbazi, explained that the Shs600 million allocation is for diverse tourism development activities.
These activities encompass the Kampala Tourism Expo, the development of Kampala’s tourism brand and identity, a COVID-19 remembrance parade, digitizing the Kampala Tourism Information Centre, and developing and maintaining 10 tourism sites around the city.
The committee tasked Luyimbazi with explaining the concept of the COVID-19 remembrance parade. In response, he stated that the idea was borrowed from Canada and is intended not only to commemorate lives lost to the deadly pandemic but also to express appreciation for the medical workers who worked tirelessly to treat and save lives in Uganda.
“This is more of a remembrance campaign; many people died, many businesses closed, and we can’t wish them away. Many countries are remembering this COVID-19 event as part of appreciating the sacrifices people made, the doctors, so this is partly tourism, partly remembrance,” he said.