The Ugandan government’s decision to name a road after two foreign tourists killed earlier this month has sparked outrage in the country.
British citizen David Barlow and his South African wife Emmaretia Geyer were assassinated on their honeymoon.
The attackers also burned their car, according to Police.
The government’s decision to honor the foreign couple while disregarding Eric Alyai, the Ugandan guide who was killed with them, has drawn criticism from some Ugandans.
The couple, from Berkshire in the UK, was killed in an Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attack at the Queen Elizabeth National Park while visiting gorillas and other primates, according to the authorities.
Although the ADF is based in western Uganda, it primarily conducts operations in the eastern region of the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is affiliated with the Islamic State.
“As cabinet, we took a decision that for these tourists, we are going to name one of the roads in Uganda after them,” Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s minister for ICT and national guidance, was quoted as saying by Uganda news website The Nile Post.
“As for Mr Alyai, the guide, the minister said the government would support his family.
Some Ugandans have said the government should also name a road after Mr Alyai.
The government has also faced criticism for planning a memorial for the foreigners but failing to take any action to honour the many Ugandans killed by the ADF in previous attacks.
In June, ADF fighters raided a Ugandan school in a surprise attack, killing 41 children.
This is not the first time that Ugandan authorities have faced outrage over their handling of the deaths of the couple and their guide.
Last Saturday, the Uganda Wildlife Authority was criticised after it posted a photo promoting the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Some Ugandans said that promoting the park so soon after the attack was insensitive and lacked compassion.
“The callousness and lack of humanity displayed by those responsible for orchestrating this insensitive campaign is a shame for our country,” said Ugandan human rights activist Daniel Kawuma.
“It is deeply troubling how you use the scene of such a gruesome killing and post messages of an ‘exciting morning’ for tourists. It is incomprehensible how you could mock the victims and their grieving families by circulating happy photos of Queen Elizabeth before the bodies have even been laid to rest,” he added.
Related posts:
Cuba evacuates residents, thousands of tourists
Sanwo-Olu assures residents slain Lagos Lawyer will get Justice
Residents protest plan to build cemetery in Ejigbo
Wikki Tourists unfazed by exodus of star players
Bala calls Enyimba tourists
Wikki Tourists task players, technical crew on better performance
FG reviews Visa processing for Business Travellers, Tourists to Nigeria
Oronna Ilaro festival set to host tourists across the world
