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Beware of fake Ugandan hotel, resorts and lodges ‘gold list’ ranking

IN SHORT: Tourists hope to create lifelong memories and an important part of this is spending their money on the right accommodation. So visitors to Uganda would do well to ignore a list circulating on social media.

A graphic posted on a Facebook page in Uganda appears to show a ranking of the best hotels, resorts and lodges in the country.

Published on 8 November 2022, it includes two logos, one of Uganda’s ministry of tourism and the other of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). 

“THE BEST HOTELS, RESORTS AND LODGES IN UGANDA . THE 2022 GOLD LIST: VOLUME 1,” reads the header on the graphic.

It lists places in the tourist-magnet areas of Jinja, Lake Mburo National Park and Lyatonde. 

According to a tourism ministry report, the number of foreign tourists in Uganda increased from 3,577 in 2020 to 7,318 in 2021. This growth may be partly due to the Covid pandemic, but a top-reviewed venue is likely to attract more tourists.

This graphic has also been posted here on Facebook. On Twitter, it appears here, here, and here.

But is the ranking legitimate? We checked.

UgandaHotels_False

Ignore ranking list

During the 29th annual World Travel Awards in 2022, Kampala Serena Hotel was ranked Uganda’s leading hotel.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge was the leading safari lodge while the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest camp was ranked the top tented safari camp.

There was no mention of any of the places on the list circulating on Facebook.

The Uganda Tourism Board posted the graphic and stamped it “FAKE” on its Twitter account .

“NOTICE: Please disregard any mention of this ranking list,” the board wrote. The list didn’t originate with the official institutions responsible for tourism in Uganda.

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