Uganda’s tourism industry is optimistic that the recently released British film entitled, “the last king of Scotland,” will attract more investors and visitors into the country.
The movie was shot in both Uganda and Scotland and is expected to benefit the country in terms of international visibility.

The movie actor, Forest Whitaker won an Oscar award recently, for his role as former Ugandan President Idi Amin.

The movie will create awareness about Uganda to the world and the fact that Whitaker won the lead Actor Academy Award is an added advantage, said Roni Madvani, the Chairman of Tourism Uganda. He noted that in as much as the country’s dark past was portrayed; still awareness would be raised. And the natural beauty of the evergreen country remains outstanding as the “pearl of Africa”

Madvani said that, ”there had been a lot of positive public relations created in the overseas; media surrounding the making of the film, for example the warmth and friendliness of Ugandans, the beauty of our country and how the beauty of our country and how the country has changed positively after Idi Amin.”

He added that, “this coupled with the positive light in which Uganda has in general been portrayed by the media overseas, will go a long way in reinforcing our goal of making Uganda the destination of choice on the continent for the discerning traveler.”

During the annual Milan Travel fair that took place from February 22 to 25; majority of visitors to the Ugandan stall confessed that they recognized the country because of the film. Participants in the exhibition were from several countries worldwide whereas from Uganda were organizations like Tourism Uganda, Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) Uganda investment Authority and several tour operators.

The star tourist attractions that Uganda boasts of include; the rare mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees and the snow capped Rwenzori Mountains.

It is justifiable that the savannah national parks are also popular in other parts of the world especially among the Italians.

It has been note that the number of Italian tourists visiting Uganda has greatly increased reaching up to 25,000 visitors last year; the numbers are anticipated to double or triple in the following years.

After watching the movie, many Italians said they would like to visit Uganda, while other visitors to the Ugandans stall had gone there to arrange travel to Uganda for their summer holidays.