Upload Arua Tourism.txt

Arua Tourism.txt

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Arua is the centre of Lugbaraland; a magnet and melting pot for all Lugbara in t
 
 Foreigners allowed; strangers are welcome to visit Arua!
 
-I was born in Jinja and grew up in Kampala, but had a very ignorant disdain against Arua (I had no desire to visit throughout the 90s). However, since the world did not end in Y2K as prophesied by Computer Bug Doom's Day theorists (who were 100 percent dead-wrong), I decided to make the first pilgrimage I can remember (using Nile Coach) to the land where my ancestors are resting (Mother told me she brought me to Arua when I was a handheld baby, but my oldest memory in this life is in Jinja). Every year after Y2K, I returned to Arua until moving permanently in Twenty13; I wanted to demystify all the lies (like grassroofed mudsoil-and-stick-huts plus murram roads only) I heard about Arua. Furthermore, I used to think beautiful women only originate from India, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Teso, but met some stunners in Lugbaraland too; they come out during crusades, promos and other events unless you see them in the markets or church. You wonder where they stay and if their origins are from near Arua. My first crush in West Nile was Cynthia Letasi (now Mrs. Mungufeni) who changed my worldview between 2001 to 6 like a Kumari (She spoke Lugbara so fluently without shame and inspired me to study my own mother tongue); she literally drained amalala ga kibuga [Luganda for: city haughtiness] out of me. Afterwards, every woman I glanced at who looked like her became my favourite eg Tonto Dikeh (who I saw on the new Top TV), Betty Mpologoma (who started her career in 1999), Sheebah Karungi, Pretty Banks, Queenie plus even Scarlet Johansson who featured in a 2003 movie that portrays exactly how Xnthi made me feel in the same year it came out. 
+I was born in Jinja and grew up in Kampala, but had a very ignorant disdain (settled discriminative attitude) against Arua (I had no desire to visit throughout the 90s). However, since the world did not end in Y2K as prophesied by Computer Bug Doom's Day theorists (who were 100 percent dead-wrong), I decided to make the first pilgrimage I can remember (using Nile Coach) to the land where my ancestors are resting (Mother told me she brought me to Arua when I was a handheld baby, but my oldest memory in this life is in Jinja). Every year after Y2K, I returned to Arua until moving permanently in Twenty13; I wanted to demystify all the lies (like grassroofed mudsoil-and-stick-huts plus murram roads only) I heard about Arua. Furthermore, I used to think beautiful women only originate from India, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Teso, but met some stunners in Lugbaraland too; they come out during crusades, promos and other events unless you see them in the markets or church. You wonder where they stay and if their origins are from near Arua. My first crush in West Nile was Cynthia Letasi (now Mrs. Mungufeni) who changed my worldview between 2001 to 6 like a Kumari (She spoke Lugbara so fluently without shame and inspired me to study my own mother tongue); she literally drained amalala ga kibuga [Luganda for: city haughtiness] out of me. Afterwards, every woman I glanced at who looked like her became my favourite eg Tonto Dikeh (who I saw on the new Top TV), Betty Mpologoma (who started her career in 1999), Sheebah Karungi, Pretty Banks, Queenie plus even Scarlet Johansson who featured in a 2003 movie that portrays exactly how Xnthi made me feel in the same year it came out. 
 
 Koboko broke away from Arua in 2005 while Maracha (where I come from) and Terego left in 2006 until the latter returned to Arua in 2010 (while I was working for Electoral Commission in Tara Subcounty which is next to Terego). Other clans including my mother's clan (Ayivu, from which the City was cut out) also asked for districts, but the spirit of Arua cannot be divided by politicians. All the other places around Arua are like 12 gates. Arua is the only regional city in Uganda colonised by Belgians who first set up their West Nile administrative headquarters in Alikua (Maracha); I used to find iron sheets from Belgium sold in Arua shops unlike KLA which had Roofings. Meanwhile, Madi Okollo (South of Vurra) is the only district with two names by 2026. For me, Arua stands for freedom from incarceration (mental imprisonment): African, refreshing, unchained, amazing! Draw a circle around Arua Hill from Ora Bridge in Madi Okollo!
 
@@ -19,11 +19,13 @@ Famous people who have visited Arua include Daniel Arap Moi (President of Kenya)
 
 One day while travelling by bus with two Bantu youngmen beside me around the early 2010s, they kept belittling West Nilers; I did not say anything in defence of my people, but commented on other topics during the daytime-journey. I believe their contemptuousness was based on hearsay and prejudice mixed with ignorance. When we crossed Pakwach Bridge, I shamelessly told the first-time travellers to Arua that am from this side, but they refused to believe because I spoke their language well. I did not argue with them about West Nile's low status in the other parts of UG (Knew the reputation well), but after gliding past the Arua Hill Roundabout, the pair confessed that Idi Amin was the only president who left his hometown in a good state: At least, it looked urban, not rural and some roads were tarmacked. I had kept quiet about how Arua looks on the ground all along so that they could judge for themselves like I was pleasantly surprised at the turn of the new millenium. I even witnessed some roads going through several pothole-patching makeovers before everything was removed and new longer-lasting layers tarmacked. Nevertheless, some roads were never finished due to corruption eg Mango Road.
 
-Back when airtime was sold on scratchcards, I was sent with my half Lugbara, half Itesot 2nd cousin to buy a card. We walked towards Mvara on Oluko Road and he kept abusing people in English like they had never been to Kampala. Somewhere near Missions Cafe (before it was opened), a senior citizen rose up as if coming to beat him, but I calmed him down by speaking Lugbara and telling him to forgive the young man. What is it with city lads undermining people who live far away from urban centres? Is it because of tall buildings or just in-born arrogance? The food is not different, people are similar (just fewer) and many commodities come from the same manufacturers.
+Back when airtime was sold on scratchcards, I was sent with my half Lugbara, half Itesot 2nd cousin to buy a card. As we walked towards Mvara on Oluko Road, he kept abusing people in English (while asking them: Do you know Kampala?) like they had never been outside Arua; I tried to calm him down in vain. Somewhere near Missions Cafe (before it was opened), a senior citizen rose up as if coming to beat him, but I begged him in Lugbara to forgive the youngun. What is it with city lads undermining people who live far away from urban centres? Is it because of tall buildings or just in-born arrogance? The food is not very different, people are similar (just fewer) and many commodities come from the same manufacturers.
+
+When my parents moved their home from KLA to Arua in 2001, they set up a shop at the old Arua Central Market and asked me to design a doorpost on wood for "Ndedra Stores"; that was my first signpainting in Arua; others include: Springs Kindergarten (2017), Charis International School, etc. In 2016 while anticipating Arua's transition from municipality to city which happened in 2020, I re-designed the Arua Municipal Council emblem with tonnes of love a day before Women's Day in memory of Kawino, the 1st neighbour's daughter I loved like myself in Jinja (Found out from my mother in 2003 that she was poisoned in Andruvu). In 2021, it was chosen from my AruaCartoons blog and emblazoned on the West Side of the market. When I discovered that fact while watching Smart24 TV alone at exactly 10am one sunny day, I jumped up in the air with my right fist up and proclaimed: GOD is great! That day was truly special because in the evening, an American humanitarian on a refugee mission in UG bought me dinner at Golden Courts Hotel.
 
 Arua City Tower is the Tallest Monument in East and Central Africa, but 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa after Senegal's African Renaissance Monument. It was commissioned on MTN Uganda's 27th birthday in October 2025, a month after Arua hosted the national World Tourism Day celebrations at the Golf Course. It includes digital advertising screens, small museum, coffee restaurant and an observation deck offering panoramic views of the city as well as nearby DR Congo.
 
-Three things I admire about Arua in my spirit are: Ori Yo [No Fear]; Young Mothers and Mputa [Nile Perch (fish)].
+Three things I admire deeply about Arua are: Ori Yo [No Fear]; Young Mothers and Mputa [Nile Perch (fish)].
 
 Lugbara is the predominant local language. Arua is the Regional City of West Nile since 2020. Arua Hill Stadium and Business Park is a different, head-turning and multi-purpose venue under construction that will feature a 20,000-seat stadium, shopping mall, Arua Hill Hotel, banks and hospital. 2ambe Health Club has a fenced artificial football turf with floodlights for nighttime activities. Martin Anguandia (Unique Rider) in Ambeko (Between Mvara and Muni) made a small 4-wheel car using a Senke motorcycle engine and has driven it to Koboko. He also assembled a pedal-assist electric bike that he wants to equip with a solar panel. Island Resort Beach (Ogurugu) behind Otokoa Market provides boat rides and fishing in a 100-metre long pond. Meanwhile, Aqualand Farm in Ombaci also has several fish ponds, but no rides. Drone fishing can be another activity introduced. Visit Adriko's Factory near Enyau River or Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) at the Ombaci Earth Satellite Station next to Nile University! Cassava Enyasa [Slap food] is the staple food in Lugbaraland since colonial days. Za [Meat] feasting (Yamari Wedding Banquets) never end. Mangoes ripen in May and December. Butterfly migration and fireflies at night are superb spectacles during mid-year. There is also weekly birdwatching eg gaagaa (black and white crows), small redbirds, vultures, brown kites, marabou storks, etc. Three rain seasons include: Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August) and Autumn (September to November) plus a Dry Winter with little to no rain from December to February.