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Barcelona footballers tour Uganda to play solidarity match

UGANDA TOURISM BOARD
18 April 2016
KAMPALA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Barcelona Soccer Fans Tour Uganda, to Play Solidarity Match

Uganda is yet again in the sights of the world as the A.E. Ramassa football team and fans from the Spanish city of Barcelona tour and follow in the footsteps of the FC Barcelona Legends that came to Uganda in December 2015. The group of 45 is  visiting Uganda on a privately financed safari to experience the country their stars enjoyed.

The Government of Uganda, through its agency Uganda Tourism Board hosted the FC Barcelona Legends from the 8th to 12th December 2015. Among the players were greats like Patrick Kluivert, Louis Garcia and Zambrotta, Carles Puyol, Edgar Davids and Ludovic Guily among others. Kluivert scored a memorable goal which in some circles is seen as one of his very best.

That goal must have scored in the hearts of the FC Barcelona and 40 of them booked safaris to Uganda through Trips and Dreams, a Spanish tour company. During the tour, the group will be involved in a number of activities including gorilla tracking, rafting, rhino tracking, among other safari activities.

Speaking of the safari to Uganda, Josep Antoni Roman, one of the organisers of the trip says the FC Barcelona Legends visit inspired this group to visit the Pearl of Africa.

“Together with Trips and Dreams and A.E. Ramassa, we want to promote Uganda as a tourist destination having learnt about it after the Barcelona Legends visit to Uganda,” says Josep Romani.

Uganda Tourism Board together with partners Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will hold a solidarity soccer game between KCCA FC and the Barcelona fans. After the match, they will donate sports equipment and scholastic materials to support some chosen schools.

“As part of UTB’s tourism and promotional campaigns, the Board hopes to give the country great visibility and awareness, locally and internationally through initiatives like these ones,” says Stephen Asiimwe, the Uganda Tourism Board CEO.

He adds that it is not usual that one gets a return on investment so quickly considering that the it is only in December that Uganda invested in the Legends visit.

“If each of the 45 tourists spends a minimum of $3500, Uganda will put in at least $157,000, and this is just a beginning,” Asiimwe says. Sports and tourism are synonymous and many sportsmen are already looking at coming to Uganda for tournaments, promote local talent and promote the destination.

Spain’s A.E. Ramassa will play with KCCA on 23rd April at 12 noon in the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole. The match that has received a nod from FIFA. Thereafter, Uganda’s Hippos (U20) will play Rwanda. Football fans will pay for one match but watch both.

For more information:
Contact: Uganda Tourism Board | Plot 42 Windsor Crescent, Kololo | P.O. Box 7211 Kampala, Uganda | Tel: +256 (0) 414 342 196/7 | Mob: 0772 403 330 | E: vmugaba@tourismuganda.info | W: www.visituganda.com | Like Us: facebook.com/tourismuganda | Twitter: @visit_Uganda