Visiting Czech Speaker names baby gorilla ‘Tomas’
Czech Republic Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura has named a newborn mountain gorilla “Tomáš”, saying that the name is a symbol of friendship between the Czech Republic and Uganda.
Accompanied by Uganda’s Parliament Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Okamura said the name reflected his Czech identity and the relationship he hopes to build between the two countries. He added that the name will remind him of his visit for years to come and stand as a symbol of friendship between Uganda and the Czech Republic.
“It should be a start, or a sign, of our friendship and help build our relations,” Okamura said.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa thanked Okamura for making the memorable trip. He said the visit gives Uganda a chance to promote itself to the Czech Republic and Europe more broadly. He added that gorilla tracking never gets old for him, no matter how many times he does it.
“For me, it always feels like the first time whenever I come here. Every time I come here, the experience feels new because we are interacting with our cousins,” Tayebwa said.
He added that watching the gorillas, including how they care for their young baby, reminds him why conservation matters. We learn a lot from them, but every day, they give you a reason to protect nature.
Tayebwa also used the opportunity to urge Ugandans to visit their own country before travelling abroad, pointing out that Ugandan citizens pay far less than foreign tourists for gorilla trekking permits, a big opportunity for locals to experience one of the country’s biggest tourism draws.
He said Uganda plans to use the upcoming international events, such as the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly next year. The event is set to bring over 500 delegates from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to showcase Uganda’s tourism potential to the world.
Tayebwa applauded the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Uganda Wildlife Authority for their continued conservation efforts and Uganda’s Embassy in Germany, particularly Ambassador Steven Mubiru and his team, for organising Okamura’s trip.
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