I recently posted a picture of myself in Lira, and I was shocked at how many times the picture was liked on my Facebook page!, posted Amos Wekesa, a prominent hospitality and tourism expert in Uganda (@wekesa_amos) on Twitter.
Many of my Lira friends were actually very excited about it. I met many people who said, “because you posted a picture of Lira City, I’m visiting Lira soon.”
Think about this!
If I had chosen to take the picture in the less pretty part of Lira, I wouldn’t have attracted the same attention.
Every place or country has not-so-nice places and places or countries that prosper, focusing on showing the better places.
Why?
Posting in the better parts of a place or a country attracts opportunities, which eventually, over time, help improve conditions in the less attractive parts.
Posting the bad places attracts less attention and probably some pocket change called “aid,” but never prospers places or grows jobs!
Think about Dubai. Over 10,000 workers die annually because of bad working conditions. Visit worker camps and you won’t like what you see.
But even then, they control their narrative by using six campaign slogans!
The six are as follows: (1) Dubai Discover campaign (2) Dubai tastemakers
3-Dubai kitchens (4) Dubai through the eyes of influencers (5) sounds of Dubai ( 6) explore Dubai.
They have understood the power of narrative and storytelling!
Great brands like Dubai, which Uganda can copy, are built in the minds of the people through narrative and storytelling.
The people that will attempt to develop this potentially great nation called Uganda must understand the above!
The population must be educated on the importance of positioning this nation using great narratives and storytelling!
Information management can either grow you or destroy you!
If you wake up every morning as a country to share only negative information, that will kill the morals of your citizens. Hopelessness will grow; businesses will die; jobs will disappear; taxes won’t be available; debt will grow.
You could visit the Barlonyo Massacre Site while in Lira City (Lango), which is located in Agweng Sub County, about 18 kilometers along the Lira-Kitgum Road.This site is where over 300 people were massacred in 2004 by LRA rebels.
Got Ojwang -This Hill is located at the border of Otuke and Abim districts, where the first group of Lango first assembled after migrating from Abyssinia in Ethiopia so many years ago.
Kangai site: This is located in Kangai sub-county, Dokolo district. It was where Kings Kabalega and Muwanga were captured by British troops several years ago.
Then Olum; this location is on Ibuje Rock in Acandano Village,Ibuje Sub County, Apac district.There are foot prints of human beings on the rock, both young and adult people. This site also has several human marks on the rock.
There are several unsung tourist sites in Lango that require development and promotion.
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