Tips

Hotel Faucon: Where Racists Met A King’s Fury

It was the very first hotel in Rwanda. It was also the scene of one of the most transformative events in Rwanda and Burundi’s history and a major spur for the then-fledgling independence movement.

Located right in the center of Rwanda’s Huye district, Hotel Faucon is one place that has such an interesting history that no one who is truly interested in the story of Rwanda should leave without visiting it.

History of a Whites-only Hotel
At the very spot where the hotel stands was a building in which the Belgian Royal couple stayed during the colonial era. After it was destroyed by fire, a hotel was rebuilt in its place by the building’s owner, Mr. Faucon, in 1943.

In its day, Hotel Faucon was the very definition of luxury. It was also a whites-only establishment and was a favorite entertainment destination for the (then white) administrators of colonial Ruanda-Urundi. Here they could come and relax after the rigors of the week’s work.

As was common in apartheid South Africa, just outside the hotel was a signpost that read, “ENTRY FORBIDDEN TO BLACKS AND TO DOGS”.

Thus the officialdom of colonialism could kick back and chill without being disturbed by any of the people they were trying to ‘civilize’.

A King’s Fury
This little racist club was to receive a rude kick in the rear when it encountered the wrath of a King. The story goes that once, in 1955(?) King Rudahigwa of Rwanda was returning from a visit to neighboring Burundi when he came to the classy Hotel Faucon. Pleased to find a hotel that he had not been to, the tired King ordered his retinue to stop so that they could rest at the hotel awhile.

On approaching the off-white hotel building, the king and his men were stopped in their tracks by the bold words, printed in French, on the signpost right at the hotel’s entrance:

“ENTRY FORBIDDEN TO BLACKS AND TO DOGS”.
The King was furious! In a rage, he stormed into the hotel, leaving the startled gateman paralyzed with fear. In the shade at the hotel’s entrance, the few patrons who sat sipping their refreshments for the day looked up from their drinks and cigars to find themselves face to face with the royal rage.

For, it is said, King Rudahigwa ordered his men to beat up all the white people at the hotel who had dared to compare his people to dogs in their own country.

He then demanded that the hotel opened its doors to any black people who wanted and could afford to use its services, thus effectively removing the race barrier that management had erected at the hotel.

From 1962, when Rwanda got its independence, to this day, Hotel Faucon has been owned and run by Rwandan nationals.

The King’s Chamber

To put a symbolic, royal stamp on the historic upheaval that he had caused in this colonial outpost of privilege, King Rudahigwa moved to ensure a permanent black presence at the hotel. The King commandeered what we would now call “the Presidential Suite” of the hotel for his own use whenever he was in the area.

The King’s chambers stand separate from the rest of the hotel. On entering, one is welcomed by a preserved setting of the living room as it used to be when it was in use by the king. In the center of the room is a set of two chairs with a small table (said to be the original used by the King) in the middle. The Suite also contains a sizeable bathroom, and two bedrooms, a smaller one for one of the King’s guests, and a larger room where the monarch slept. The royal bed is still intact.

Sleep like Royalty
Today, it is possible not only to visit The King’s Chambers at Hotel Faucon but also to rent the actual King’s suite for the night and live, if only briefly, in the same space that was transformed by this revolutionary King.

Sadly, this historic hotel, although quite well preserved, is not in the best shape and may not meet basic international hotel standards. However, it remains a place worth visiting if only for its historic significance.

Creating a Perfect Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Thinking about perfect Africa holidays, Rwanda is a well-stocked full of only wonderful & amazing attractions from culture to wildlife. Scenic views can take your attention all through but the friendly beautiful people impact your stay more than what you can imagine. No wonder thousands visit the country often and feel delighted every time they talk or think about Africa and Rwanda in particular.

Gorilla trekking tours are one of Rwanda’s unforgettable travel experience and an outstanding adventure in the whole world. Before heading out for a Rwanda safari ensure that you buy a gorilla permit at the Rwanda tourism board which go for $ 750USD.But if your schedules are tight a Rwanda travel agent can book it for you provided you put in your request in time. Get to the park as early as 7.am to meet up with other day trackers for briefing an activity which unveil all the gorillas dos and don’ts. A traditional dance welcome you at the park head quarter and morning coffee becomes even tastier since it’s sipped in company of the Intore dance performers. Put on right clothes and remember to carry your valid passport plus the insect repellant.

Later the park headquarters assigns you a gorilla group and guide according to your level of fitness, followed by entering the forest with your guide to search for the exclusive Mountain Gorillas. Normally the park guides keep in touch with other park wardens who surely know where the apes are. During Rwanda Gorilla safaris, tourists have ample freedom of speech so they request for particular Gorilla families provided they are sure of their level of fitness. Make good research on different gorilla families before putting in your request at the park headquarters especially if your interest is to track a family with many baby gorillas and members.Before the trek it’s good to hire porters bit fit or not since they give you a solution to slippery grounds (walking sticks).The bottom line of this is to have an exceptional Gorilla tracking experience free from luggage but full of joy and relaxation. Besides viewing mountain gorillas in their natural beautiful home is Rwanda’s most wonderfully rewarding adventure which leave every gorilla tracker happy and full of amazing memories plus stories which last forever.

Interestingly the adventure is great for family holidays, group and sole travel because memories don’t discriminate the adults or youngsters.Even gorilla lodges cater for young and old offering exclusive comfort throughout every guest stay.

There is nothing better than exploring a beautiful country at your own pace at the same time making your dream come true. Africa is a large, beautiful and mysterious continent waiting to be discovered but Rwanda will make you have a million reasons to visit other Africa travel destinations. Take the strain off you and book a tailor made Rwanda gorilla trekking safari to volcanoes national park for three day duration or even more if time permits. A perfect 3 day Rwanda Gorilla safari itinerary will be designed by experienced tour consultants covering the entire main park activities including gorilla tracking, golden monkey trek, a visit to the twin lakes, diany fossey tombs and also mountain hikes to Bisoke and Karisimbi. Still the expert will advise you on the best lodges to use according to your budget hence making you get the most out of your African adventure.

Above all Rwanda itself is amazing, the people are wonderful with spectacular tour activities done under co-operative cool weather, and the tour guides are too tremendous that no guest fails to say   thanks to you for taking us through at the end of every Rwanda tour. Kind words like that are what make Rwanda travel the most excellent travel destination in Africa. Check out some of the trendiest gorilla adventures online for a little further evidence of how fun it is to take on a Rwanda Gorilla trekking tour for family, group or sole travel. Everything can be great if you plan well and use right trip planners; however, fantasy feels all over the morning on the Gorilla tracking day in the ancient beautiful forest which comes to life every day.

Tour Burundi: Keeping a Car on the Road

Written by Sandra Shibura

The ability to keep a car on the road depends largely on the driver’s driving skills, the state of the wheels, the state of the suspension parts, and generally the condition of the car being driven. In this article, we are writing about vehicle vibrations, wheel balancing, wheel alignment, and taking care of suspension on a regular basis.

Bujumbura was nicknamed by the people that reside in it as Buja la Belle meaning Buja the beauty. Generally, due to its location, climate, size, beauty, positioning, people, and ambiance, Buja is regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in East Africa. It draws most of these factors from her proximity to the famous Lake Tanganyika.

The History

Bujumbura was been created in 1897 by western missionaries. At that time the city was named “Usumbura”. Usumbura was not occupied at all because of the very old legend where it is said that the King was forbidden to see the Lake. This legend was further complicated by the serious bouts of malaria given that Usumbura was located in a plain alongside Lake Tanganyika. The missionaries brought with them some workers from Tanzania. It is these workers that are believed to be the first occupants of the city. In 1916 when the Germans lost the war, the Belgians became the administrators of Ruanda-Urundi and decided that Bujumbura will be the administrative and political capital of Ruanda-Urundi.

Bujumbura was strategically placed and had an excellent climate with access to Congo. The Belgians decided to build a harbor in Bujumbura to stimulate business between Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. During the period of the Belgian Mandate, the Governor of Ruanda-Urundi gave to Bujumbura a special Status because they did not use the same laws as was done in other parts of the country. It is believed that the Belgian Administrative officers wanted to separate Bujumbura from Burundi to form an international zone, but the Mwami of Burundi Mwezi Gisabo refused. In 1962, when Burundi got her independence, the name changed to Bujumbura.

Bujumbura and her Life
Bujumbura lies in the low lands at the foot of the Western Rift Valley along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Whatever means you use to come into Bujumbura the first impression is of a Capital lying alongside the magnificent Lake Tanganyika. The Discovery of Bujumbura will start with a visit to the Central Market located in the city center where, you will find everything you need so as to enjoy your stay in Bujumbura. The Market is modern and organized with colorful designs but you will not miss the noise, the crowds negotiating up to the last penny, and the aroma from the restaurants around. Be sure to visit the main street where you can buy all kinds of electronics and due to the activities in the place the Police are all over to ensure safety and security.
By the time you finish your activities in the central market and the busy main street, we suggest you take a small break and go for a coffee and a small snack at places such as:

•  “ Geny’s Café”
•  “Aroma”
•  “Rusco Plaza”,

Be rest assured that you will enjoy the quality of Burundian coffee.

After a small break, you should go to visit “Le Musée vivant” which is an animal museum. At this time the sun will be up and a bit hot. Furthermore, most people go home for a siesta so it should be time to go back to your hotel. Most hotels in the city center have swimming pools, but there is no harm in visiting Lake Tanganyika where you will have a choice between swimming, sailing, or eating the excellent fish.

The city center is dotted with hotels and you can choose among the hotels as listed under the accommodation section of this magazine. Along Lake Tanganyika, you will have a variety of hotels of different standards and prices but we recommend that you visit Saga Plage, Royal Palm Resort, and Club Hotel Tanganyika.

On the hills overlooking Bujumbura, you can find the burial site of Burundian Independence hero Prince Rwagasore and you can also have a clear view of the city by visiting Le Belvedere and Chez Vaya. There are many places to dine and these include restaurants in the city center and hotels that serve Burundi’s fresh food that include fish like “Mukeke”, “Sangala” or “Indagala”. Some of these places include; Botanika, Roca Golf Hotel, Oasis, Chez Béa traiteur, Le Safran, Kiboko Grill at Ubuntu Residence, Bora Bora Beach Club, La Vigne, Pasta Comedia, Chez Andre, Taj Mahal and Le Kasuku. Once full of the noise in the market, fish at the above restaurants, the sky in Buja gets dark and it is time to enjoy for few hours of “Buja by night” at some very special places such as: Makki, Havana, Chez Kuta, and Cappuccino. However, if your interests are about dancing then the place to be is: Club Havana, Au Monocle, Get Up, and Ruhara.

About the Writer:
Sandra Shibura is the Proprietor of Authentic Burundi Tour and can be reached on +25779710576 or Sandra@ab-tour.com or www.ab-tour.com

Hearing Loss: Are You listening? Well hear this!

Although its prevalence in Uganda is not accurately known, hearing loss can have a devastating impact on the lives of those that are affected. The World Health Organisation has stated that hearing impairment is the most frequent sensory deficit in human populations, affecting more than an estimated 250 million people in the world, and middle ear infections rate as the most common form of childhood illness. One of the reasons hearing loss may be more common than you think is that it is a hidden impairment and often one which is undiagnosed or misunderstood. Children with hearing loss are routinely assumed to be lacking in intelligence, concentration, or
application as they appear to be distracted, ignorant, or disobedient. Adults with hearing loss might be considered rude or foolish when they don’t respond as others think they should.

So what causes hearing loss?
Some causes of hearing loss include: aging, family history of hearing loss, untreated ear infections particularly in childhood, ear canal wax blockage, meningitis, measles, malaria, other childhood illnesses, ear-damaging medications, lack of oxygen at birth, head and neck abnormalities or injuries and exposure to loud noise.

And the consequences?
Hearing impairment in children can have many lasting effects including issues in speech and language acquisition as well as mental, emotional, and social development. Consequently, this can limit opportunities in education, employment, and financial security. Adults with hearing loss find it difficult socially to participate in conversations and may need to guess at what is being said, often being embarrassed when they are mistaken. It is therefore important to do everything possible to prevent hearing loss and to provide treatment and
rehabilitation when required to reduce the impact of any hearing disability.

Ways to prevent hearing loss and reduce its impact Avoid situations where there is excessive noise and wear ear protection when using high-powered tools, lawnmowers, and other machinery. Do not put anything in your ear, even cotton buds, as you can dislodge ear wax further into the ear canal causing discomfort and complications. It is advisable to seek medical treatment for any signs of ear infection, discharge, or pain.

Having children vaccinated against childhood illnesses will ensure a healthier child and prevent the need for strong medicines to treat illnesses, which may cause damage to their hearing.

Treatment
Some causes of hearing loss are treatable with medication or surgery, so require medical intervention. These temporary issues need to be dealt with before permanent hearing loss can be addressed with amplifying devices such as hearing aids.

Rehabilitation
Many people with hearing loss can be successfully fitted with hearing aids to amplify sounds in their environment. This gives them better access to conversational speech and allows them to be better connected with the world around them. When a person with hearing loss wears hearing aids, it does not actually make their hearing ‘normal’ and often they still need assistance to hear clearly, but it does make it possible to hear much better. Like other electronic devices, the technology of hearing aids has advanced significantly other the last ten years. Advanced hearing aids with up-to-date technology are now becoming available across Africa including Malawi.

So how do I know if there is a problem?
One way to test your own hearing is to ask a family member or friend whether they notice you experiencing difficulty hearing. Often others notice a hearing loss before you do, so consider the following:

First Signs of Hearing loss
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Needing to have the TV volume up louder than is comfortable for others
• Difficulty hearing clearly on the telephone
• Difficulties understanding others if they are not facing you (E.g. in the car)
• Confusion of words in group situations or where there is background noise, such as when in a restaurant or at a family gathering
• Decrease in confidence or desire to socialize with others How can you help someone who has a hearing loss
• Look at the person when you are talking to them
• Say the person’s name first to get their attention before starting to speak
• Do not shout, speak clearly and only a little more slowly
• Reduce background noise at much as possible
• Encourage them to seek medical help
• Maximise the lighting so the face is visible

For further advice on hearing, issues consult your medical practitioner, audiologist, or Ear Nose Throat Specialist

Invasive Alien Plants (Congress Weed)

Many plant species have a strong ability to grow in similar situations but away from their native habitats. The result is that many plants are now found in places where they did not originate. This process of the global distribution of plants has been happening for millions of years. In the past 1000 years – as people have dispersed across the globe – this has speeded up, escalating still further over the past 300 years as modern world travel has developed.

Plants have been distributed as crop plants and ornamentals to foreign lands, often displacing the local flora with negative consequences. In many, if not most, cases of invasive alien plants that have originated from horticulture are plants selected by gardeners for the same qualities that make them potentially invasive. Some of these characteristics are rapid growth, early maturity, large quantities of seeds that are easily dispersed, the ability to out-compete other plants and diseases, and pest resistance.

Like many other parts of the world, Africa has also been affected by the global distribution of plants. With its diverse natural environment, Uganda provides habitats suitable for many species ranging in origin from the tropics to Mediterranean-type environments and deserts. These plants are termed ‘invaders’ because they spread and displace the indigenous plants. The question then is ‘Why are invasive alien plants such a problem?’ Apart from displacing the natural flora and therefore impacting negatively on biodiversity they also use more water than the better-adapted natural flora.

They also intensify wildfires should these occur. These negative impacts call for concerted action for the control of these invasive alien plants. Some of the most widespread offending species in random order are Lantana Camara (Lantana), Solanum Mauritianum (Bugweed), and Parthenium Hysterophorus (Congress Weed or Parthenium weed).

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) Common Names:
Parthenium Weed, Congress Weed, Bitter Weed, Feverfew, False Ragweed, Whitetop, Carrot Grass, Santa Maria, Karottenkraut (German), Camomille Balais (French-Reunion). Parthenium weed is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Uganda because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts. It has a serious impact on the pastoral industry, costing farmers and graziers in reduced production and increased management costs. Some people suffer severe allergic reactions to the plant or its pollen; prolonged contact can cause asthma, acute dermatitis, and respiratory problems. Parthenium weed is toxic to cattle, and meat from livestock that eats the weed can be tainted. It also threatens the biodiversity of native grasslands in Uganda.

Mature plants are normally about 1 m tall

Description
Parthenium weed is native to the subtropics of Central and South America. It is a fast-maturing annual with a deep taproot and an erect stem that becomes woody with age. It may eventually reach a height of 2m. Its leaves are pale green, branched, and covered with soft fine hairs. The small white flowers (4mm across) have five distinct corners and grow on the stem tips. Its large and persistent soil seed bank, fast germination rate, and ability to undergo dormancy make it well adapted to semi-arid environments. It also releases chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of pasture grasses and other plants.

The distinctive branched leaves are covered with soft, fine hairs.

How it spreads
Parthenium weed can produce large quantities of seed, up to 100,000 per plant. More than 340 million Parthenium weed seeds per hectare can be present in the surface soil, compared to 120,000 native grass seeds. The seed is easily spread by vehicles, machinery, and animals, and in pasture seed, stock feed, and water. Most long-distance spread is in produce, vehicles, and farm machinery. It can also be spread by flooding and by animals.

Where it grows
Parthenium weed grows best on alkaline, clay-loam to heavy black clay soils but tolerates a wide variety of soil types. It aggressively colonizes areas with poor groundcover and exposed soil such as wastelands, roadsides, and overgrazed pastures. It does not usually become established in undisturbed vegetation or vigorous pastures – drought and subsequently reduced pasture cover create the ideal opportunity forParthenium weed to establish. A flooded country is also very prone to Parthenium weed.

Lifecycle stages
With the right conditions (rain, available moisture, mild soil, and air temperatures), Parthenium weed can grow and produce flowers at any time of the year. In a good season, four or five generations may emerge. In summer, if plants are stressed (e.g. due to lack of water), Parthenium weed can complete its life cycle in four weeks. Buried seeds have been found to last much longer than seeds on the soil surface, and a significant proportion can still germinate after eight to ten years. Parthenium weed is best suited to areas with an annual rainfall greater than 500 mm. Parthenium weed can flower all year round

Control Methods:
The aliens described here, and indeed many others, are invasive because they are difficult to control. Successful control measures have been developed but in many cases only after detailed research and good results can only be expected if attention is paid to detail. For example, some methods are specific to a particular weed or growth form.

Hand pulling
Hand pulling is effective where infestations are small and the invaders are shallow-rooted.

Mechanical removal
Ploughing the weed in before plants reach the flowering stage and then establishing pasture may be effective. Before crops are planted, Parthenium weed is normally ploughed in, or pre-emergent herbicides can be used.

Burning
Burning is not a useful control strategy for Parthenium. However, research suggests that burning for other purposes (eg woody weed control) will not result in an increased infestation of Parthenium so long as the pasture is allowed to recover before stock are introduced. Stocking of recently burnt areas known or suspected to contain Parthenium weed decreases competition, ultimately creating a more serious infestation. Permits may be required to burn, so check with your local council. While Parthenium weed is certainly something landholders should try and prevent invading their properties, it can be managed. Although it is unlikely to totally eradicate
Parthenium weed, we must live with it and manage it appropriately.

Cuttings
Nearly all invaders will coppice if cut once, but repeated cutting during the growing season causes depletion of root reserves eventually resulting in death. If the terrain permits the second and subsequent cuts can be done with a mower. Such treatment favors grass which will then be able to out-compete the weeds and assist in their elimination.
The problem of invasive plants is large, and it requires active public and private participation to combat this ‘growing’ threat. Agricultural landowners need to familiarise themselves with those species that pose a threat to their own land and eradicate them. The gardening public, in turn, should be aware of those invasive alien plant species that they may have on their suburban properties and remove them.

Key points
• Invading alien plants are a major conservation threat.
• Parthenium weed can germinate, grow, mature and set seed in four weeks.
• Parthenium weed is toxic to stock and contact with Parthenium weed, particularly its pollen, can cause allergic reactions such as dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma in people.
• The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to Parthenium weed is to avoid contact with it, especially breathing pollen from flowering plants.
• Pay close attention to property hygiene.
• Weed seeds are spread very easily by vehicles, machinery, stock, grain, and fodder.
• Use mechanical, chemical, and biological control and grazing to manage Parthenium weed.
• Control measures usually require a carefully planned and implemented program.
• Obtain advice on chemical control from your local herbicide representative.
• Follow-up operations are essential for complete success.

Tall Stories: Mvule (An unusual choice of Christmas tree this year?)

The Once Much Mightier Mvule – too popular for its own good?

In The Eye’s last issue, Cathy Watson gave lots of sound advice about how to grow Mvule. But there’s a lot of (natural) history behind why we should be planting it, upon which more light deserves to be shed.

Botany: Known more commonly across the world by its trade name ‘Iroko’, its botanical name is Milicia excelsa (previously Chlorophora excelsa), belonging to the Moraceae family – and is thus closely related to the Figs.

Ecology: A beautiful, tall tree that grows naturally across much of the lowland forests and wet Savannahs of Africa, it is widespread across all the moister parts of lowland Uganda. Mvule is dioecious (di-Oikos = greek for “two houses”), meaning that it has separate male and female trees (whereas monoecious species carry male and female flowers on the same tree). It is also a ‘pioneer’ tree, i.e. it likes to colonize open ground, and is therefore common in forest edges and farmland (seeded by birds and bats from mature trees within the vicinity). From that point of view, it’s unlikely ever to be threatened with ‘biological extinction’ – i.e. it does not depend on the undisturbed forest for its regeneration as do many threatened species and will keep popping up, so long as we don’t cut all the parent trees. However, that does not mean it’s safe.

Economics: Mvule timber is popular due to the high quality and natural durability of its wood, particularly in outdoor uses, such as doors and windows. It resists decay and termites well, without any chemical treatment. Locally it is used for furniture, boat building, and general-purpose building timber (and in many forms, as a medicine).

The favorable characteristics of its timber command a high commercial value, both locally and internationally. It is widely used as a substitute for “Teak”, being almost as strong, and durable, but significantly cheaper. Some even call it “African Teak”. Till recently, many architects, and engineers insisted (some still do) on specifying Mvule for certain uses where the timber is likely to be exposed to the weather, or termites, and you will find much older, (and not so old) houses in Kampala are laden with mvule parquet floors, roof joists, door frames and so on.

Uganda was famous for exporting Mvule up to the mid to late 20th Century. Entire sawmills depended primarily on this, and Mahogany as their ‘bread and butter’, especially in Busoga land, where huge Mvule trees were once a common sight. Of course, as with any other valuable crop, farmers have been keen to sell trees for cash. But they also consciously protected young trees that regenerated on their land, knowing their future value. And Mvule was also widely planted across the country in the early part of the 20th Century, particularly along boulevards in most administrative headquarters in its natural range. Sadly this tradition seems to be dying out.

Protection: Due to its excessive exploitation across Africa, in 1998, IUCN (the World Conservation Union) raised its status from “Not threatened” to “Lower Risk, Near Threatened” species. This does not make trade illegal but should raise all of our attention that all is not well. In Uganda, the Forest Department banned the export of unworked Mvule timber back in 1987, and the last concession for harvesting of Mvule within Forest Reserves was terminated in 2000. Contrary to popular belief, it is in fact not clear that harvesting on private land (where most remaining stocks are now found) is “banned”. Instead, Mvule is legally defined as a ‘reserved species’ meaning that prior permission to cut must be requested from a forest officer. In practice, this is translated into a blanket rule that almost all Mvule intercepted on the road / in the market is confiscated, and then auctioned by the National Forest Authority.

Politics: Needless to say, when Governments ‘restrict’ trade, it doesn’t mean it suddenly stops! But such restrictions can have perverse effects: they create a new sense of scarcity – a higher ‘snob’ value of being able to afford the banned substance, or a sense that if one sees it on the market, one should buy some ‘while stocks last’… Thus the demand for Mvule has far from disappeared within Uganda, and many of us would have to raise a guilty hand to admit that we too have bought into the demise of Mvule – so let’s not be too quick to blame the lawmakers or enforcers. And banning harvesting of Mvule would mean that it makes even less commercial sense for farmers to plant, or protect young growing trees – the fear being that a government officer will either deny you the right of harvesting it later, or worse, only allow you to harvest if you pay him (or her) either a high royalty or to look the other way.

Genetics: Not surprisingly, if one selectively cuts all the straightest, tallest trees in the natural population, and leaves the bent, and branched specimens, these ‘rejects become the parents to the next crop, which will inevitably not be as good quality as the first generation. In a rather perverse way, without taking much more care than we do at present, we do the opposite in harvesting Mvule than happens in agriculture – where the very best bulls are kept to sire the next calves. So if you are going to plant Mvule, check where your seed comes from.

Cultivation: So why, one asks, if it is so valuable is Mvule not commercially planted, like Teak? Its main problem is that when planted in dense ‘monocultures’ Mvule is vulnerable to leaf gall insect attack that damages the leading shoots, and if indeed it survives, it results in a rather forked, ‘branchy’ tree not much good for timber. Mixed, or single tree planting, is therefore recommended over plantations. But while Mvule grows relatively quickly: 60-80 years to maturity, few commercial investors would wait this long for their return on investment.

Christmas trees: Back to the title of this article, I was surprised to find the concept of planting Mvule trees in Uganda being promoted in the U.S. as a charitable alternative to buying a ‘Christmas tree’. The Kibo Group’s “Mvule Project” website asks you to send them $45 to plant one Mvule tree in Uganda– in fact, they get school kids in Busoga to plant, and then contribute at least some of the money to the school for education, though at that price, I would be interested to know how much is used for ‘administration’ of the scheme.

In conclusion, I am not promoting the project per se, but given its depletion in Uganda, I do encourage any of you thinking about buying Mvule timber this Christmas for whatever reason, to think again, and instead consider investing in planting some first, or better, if you have landed at your disposal, planting a few of your own.

Coffee Shops and Night Clubs

Night Clubs

Abraxas, Same compound as the French Cultural Centre,
Tel: +250 08571191

Bourbons Coffee Shop – Union Trade center
Kigali Tel + 250 505307

Cadillac Restaurant & Disco, Tel: +250 511622.

Nyira Rock, Avenue du commerce,
Tel: +250 511622.

Olfa Panoramique Discotheque, Avenue de la Nyabugugo,
Tel: +250 08503695.

Planet Cinema & Club, KBC Place,
Tel: +250 08683043

Republika Lounge, off Avenue des Grands Lacs, Kiyovu. Tel: +250 08303030

Zoom Nightclub, Chez Lando Hotel

Boulevard de l’Muganda, Tel: +250 582050