First-ever Rwenzori Theluji Festival officially opened in Kasese

BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOODLUCK)

This three-day festival kicked off on Thursday with the Tourism expo, re-greening drives and cleaning exercise in Kasese town.  The other activities to follow will include; marathon slated for tomorrow, round table discussion, beauty show as well as the trade investment convention and expo.

The festival is meant to showcase the opportunities and cultural diversities in the Rwenzori region to attract investors and tourists. 

Locals and exhibitors who braved yesterday’s rains hailed the event as a platform to interact, learn and expose local talents and opportunities to the rest of the world. 

Kenneth Ssekisaka, working with Jena herbals limited, the producers of Covidex said they are taking part in the festival to empower the local community in Kasese and interest itself in the value of local medicine and emphasize the need to preserve nature. 

He said the festival is an opportunity where people will access free health advice and buy over 16 of their products at discounted prices. 

Samuel Muhindo from Mt. Rwenzori Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union is opportunistic that the exhibition will bring them more business opportunities for their coffee and agro-inputs. 

Muhindo added that they will use the three days to explain to the local people on the value of engaging in coffee as a business and a drink.

Peninah Tukwasibwe from Bugoye Sub County in Kasese told rwenzoridaily.com that she came to the festival with hope of making better sells out of her crafts.

The single mother of seven and living with diabetes added that the exhibition will expose her condition to people who can support her treatment.   

Douglas Chebii, a marathon runner from Kenya-Kapsait training camp told this online that he discovered the festival events and opted to come and take part in the marathon slated for tomorrow ahead of his participation in an international competition in Europe slated in November. 

Amos Wekesa, the Equator Heights Executive Director says the festival is a good idea and if sustained it is expected to raise more 200 million dollars in earnings for the people in the region.

However, he said there is already lack of enough accommodation within Kasese town forcing a number of people who want to take part in the festival to stay far away in Fort Portal and other surrounding places. Theluji is a Swahili word meaning Snow.