Nkumba University journalism students underwent an intensive half-day travel writing training, courtesy of Uganda Uncovered, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO).
The training, held on April 1, 2025, aimed to equip students with the necessary skills to craft compelling travel stories.
Julius Luwemba, a travel writing expert working with Uganda Uncovered, emphasized the importance of understanding the essence of travel writing. “Travel writers are actually tourism enthusiasts who love escapades and have an eye for unique story angles that appeal to the public,” he explained.
Luwemba stressed that travel writing is not just about writing, but also about experiencing and researching. “You write about an experience, which calls for practical traveling, going there, and seeing it. In the process, you are carrying out research,” he noted.
To stand out in the world of travel writing, Luwemba advised students to focus on finding uniqueness. “Many people have written about everything, so for you to stand out, you must find something unique,” he said.
Sharing his personal experience, Luwemba revealed that he focused on chimpanzees when starting his travel writing journey, discovering that Kibale National Park is the “primates capital of the world.”
Luwemba also shed light on the habituation process of gorillas and chimpanzees, which takes around two to three years. “For you to visit a gorilla or chimpanzee family, that family has to be habituated,” he explained.
The training was part of Uganda Uncovered’s efforts to promote tourism and market Uganda as a global tourism destination, in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.
Students had the opportunity to engage with trainers and ask questions, gaining valuable insights into the world of travel writing.
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