The Ugandan tourism community is mourning the loss of Rob Davies, a visionary force behind quad biking and a significant contributor to the country’s adventure tourism sector. Davies passed away on Friday, January 19, 2023, at Case Clinic in Kampala.
Davies played a crucial role in elevating Busoga, making it a popular destination for travelers in Uganda. His impact was such that any traveler who hadn’t experienced Busoga through Davies’ initiatives considered their trip incomplete. Quad biking, one of his ventures, added excitement to Jinja, earning the city the title of East Africa’s adventure capital.
James Mwere, the spokesperson for the Uganda Tour Guides Forum, reflected on Davies’ legacy, stating that his name remains synonymous with adventure products. Davies had recently taken over Bangi Jumping, successfully rebranding it to Nile Bungee Jumping under the Nile Bungee trademark.
Simplicious Gessa, spokesperson for the Uganda Tourism Board, expressed the significance of Davies’ passing, highlighting the substantial blow to the Jinja adventure package. Beyond business, Gessa emphasized Davies’ role as a people person who made clients feel at home, enabling them to appreciate the Busoga terrain, culture, food, and rural lifestyle through quad biking.
Quad biking became a cherished adventure activity for domestic and foreign tourists alike, with many returning and bringing along friends to experience it. Rob Davies’ contributions to the adventure tourism sector have left a lasting legacy, and his passing is deeply felt by the community he served and the tourists he enthralled.
A service in memory of Rob Davies is scheduled to take place at his home in Bujagali, with burial at Njeru Kafuka at 3:00 pm on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
