The Speaker of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Rt. Hon. Tomio Okamura, has named a newborn mountain gorilla “Tomáš” during his visit to Uganda, describing the name as a symbol of friendship between Uganda and the Czech Republic.
Okamura proposed the name while trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda, where he was accompanied by Uganda’s Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.
The name was suggested after Tayebwa asked the Czech Speaker to propose a name for the newborn gorilla.
“Something like Tomáš,” Okamura said.
He explained that while Tomio is a Japanese name, Tomáš is a Czech name. In English, it becomes Thomas, which is also Tayebwa’s Christian name.
Okamura said the name would serve as a lasting reminder of his visit to Uganda and a symbol of the friendship and cooperation he hopes to strengthen between the two countries.
“It should be a start, or a sign, of our friendship and help build our relations,” Okamura said.
Tayebwa thanked Okamura for making the trip to Uganda, saying the visit provides the country with an opportunity to promote its tourism potential to the Czech Republic and Europe more broadly.
He said gorilla trekking remains a unique experience for him despite having visited Bwindi several times.
“For me, it always feels like the first time whenever I come here,” Tayebwa said, adding that every visit offers a new experience because of the interaction with the gorillas.
Tayebwa said watching the gorillas, particularly the way they care for their young, reminds visitors of the importance of protecting Uganda’s natural heritage.
“We learn a lot from them. But every day, they give you a reason to protect nature,” he said.
He also encouraged Ugandans to explore their own country before travelling abroad, urging citizens to take advantage of Uganda’s diverse tourism attractions.
“I urge Ugandans to come here and tour our country. I see very many going to Dubai. Going where? First, come and see the beauty of our country,” Tayebwa said.
He noted that Ugandan citizens pay significantly less for gorilla trekking permits compared to foreign tourists, making the experience more accessible to Ugandans.
Tayebwa said Uganda also intends to use major international events to market the country as a tourism and investment destination. He pointed to Uganda’s expected hosting of the OACPS–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly next year, which is expected to bring together more than 500 delegates from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Tayebwa, who serves as President of the OACPS and Co-President of the OACPS–EU Parliamentary Assembly, said the gathering will provide Uganda with an important platform to showcase its tourism potential to an international audience.
“We hope to host the EU-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Parliament next year in Uganda, where we will be having over 500 delegates from all over Europe and the rest of the world,” he said.
Okamura said tourism presents an important area where Uganda and the Czech Republic can strengthen their relations, highlighting Prague, the Czech capital, and Uganda’s mountain gorilla trekking experience as two world-class tourism attractions that could provide a foundation for deeper cooperation.
“Prague is a top destination. A top tourist destination. Gorilla trekking is also world top. So this is two top things,” Okamura said.
Tayebwa also commended Uganda’s embassy in Germany, particularly Ambassador Steven Mubiru and his team, for facilitating Okamura’s visit to Uganda.
The visit highlights the growing potential for Uganda and the Czech Republic to deepen their relations through tourism, parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges, while using Uganda’s unique natural heritage to attract more international visitors.
