Kampala, Uganda — Today, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), the country’s apex body for the private sector, launched a partnership with Bird Uganda Safaris Limited, a Ugandan registered leading birding tour company to establish 3,980 work opportunities for young women and men over a 5-year period. The partnership is in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation as part of the Young Africa Works–Enhancing Lead Firm Structure for Youth Employment in Uganda.
Samuel Yalew Adela, Country Head, Uganda at the Mastercard Foundation said, “Birding and tourism in general is a growing and promising space and we are excited to partner with Bird Uganda Safaris Limited to provide the necessary support to equip youth with the right ideas and skills, not just to improve their own lives, but to improve the lives of their families, the well-being of communities, and the resilience of the country.”
Under this partnership, work opportunities will be generated in birding tours, cultural tours, other nature tours, tour driving, food and craft production, cultural dances value chain and will be implemented in the districts of Kiruhura Kazo, Isingiro, Mbarara, Rubirizi, Bushenyi, Mpigi, Buikwe, Mukono, Masindi, Hoima, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Wakiso, Kisoro, Kanungu, Kotido, Moroto, Kabarole, Sembabule, Rubanda and Kabale.
PSFU is the anchorimplementing partner of the Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, and through the Lead Firm Structure Project aims to create a total of 300,000 work opportunities. The targeted sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and construction & housing with 70% of the participants being young women. To date, the project has generated up to 155,557 potential work opportunities through 22 Lead Firms.
Francis Kisirinya, Acting Executive Director, PSFU said, “I want to encourage especially corporate companies to embrace corporate social investment projects as these have proven to be more fruitful in the long run than corporate social responsibility projects. Invest in the future of your business, your customers and your country at large.”
Stephen Asiimwe, the Director - Policy and Business Development at PSFU, and a birding enthusiast added that, “This intervention is timely because, as we all know, the tourism and hospitality sectors across the globe have taken perhaps the greatest hit from the COVID-19 pandemic and any effort to boost the sector is highly appreciated. It is also timely because September 27th is marked as the World Tourism Day and this year’s theme is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” which is certainly ingrained in the objectives of this partnership.”
Bird watching is the fastest growing outdoor recreation activity in Uganda. The country boasts 1,081 bird species in the Albertine areas, 85 of which are rare unique species and within East Africa are only found in Uganda.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Herbert Byaruhanga- Managing Director Bird Uganda Safaris Limited said, “Uganda enjoys substantial economic benefits from visiting birders. An average birdwatcher spends between $2000-$7000 on bird watching. This has led to establishment of many birding and wildlife watching enterprises and events as a means of generating income. The professional bird tour guide in Uganda earns 150 US dollars per day and a fresh trainee earns 90 USD per day, considering a trip for birding goes 13-21 days, a guide earns between 1,800 USD to 3,150 USD. On average a driver will earn 50-70 USD a day. This goes to show that the jobs can be financially fulfilling if taken seriously.”
For more information, contact;
PSFU Uganda
Lorraine Nkoba
Communications Specialist
Tel: +256 758976105
Email: lnkoba@psfuganda.org.ug
Mastercard Foundation
Helen White
Strategy Lead, Program Communications
Email: hwhite@mastercardfdn.org
About PSFU
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) is Uganda’s apex body for the private sector. It is made up of over 200 business associations, corporate bodies and the major public sector agencies that support private sector growth. Since its founding in 1995, PSFU has served as a focal point for private sector advocacy as well as capacity building and continues to sustain a positive policy dialogue with Government on behalf of the private sector. PSFU aims to strengthen Private Sector capacity for effective policy advocacy and market competitiveness nationally, regionally and internationally. Regionally, PSFU is the national focal point for the East African Business Council (EABC) and the COMESA Business Council (CBC).
About Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
About Young Africa Works
Young Africa Works is the Mastercard Foundation’s strategy to enable 30 million young people, particularly young women, across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work. Africa will be home to the world’s largest workforce, with 375 million young people entering the job market by 2030. With the right skills, these young people will contribute to Africa's global competitiveness and improve their lives and those of their communities. The Mastercard Foundation will implement Young Africa Works in 10 African countries in collaboration with governments, private sector, entrepreneurs, educators, and young people. The first phase of countries identified by the Mastercard Foundation are Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.
About Bird Safaris Uganda Limited
Bird Uganda Safaris Ltd is a Ugandan Registered Tour Company established in 2002. Its core business activities are Birding tour services; cultural tours; other nature tours and lastly training bird tour guides in Uganda. It is the leading Birding Tour Company in Uganda. Bird Uganda Safaris conducts its business activities within Uganda and through partners in Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya.
