HC Deb 01 November 1993 vol 231 cc27-8W
Sir Thomas Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is currently offered by his Department to persons proposing to visit(a) Egypt, (b) Tanzania and (c) Uganda.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The current Foreign and Commonwealth consular travel advice for Egypt isSince the summer of 1992 there have been a number of violent incidents in Cairo and Upper Egypt, aimed at embarrassing the Government, including attacks on tourist targets by Islamic groups in which three foreigners, one a Briton, have been killed and several others injured. In early June, five Britons on a tourist bus in Cairo were injured in a bomb explosion. In August a River Nile cruise boat, carrying British tourists, was fired on between Assiut and Dairut, and in mid-September another, carrying French tourists, was fired upon in the Assiut area. In late October, three foreigners were killed when a gunman opened fire in a Cairo hotel. Islamic groups have threatened more violence in Cairo and further incidents there and elsewhere in Egypt must be expected. The Egyptian authorities are giving the highest priority to protecting visitors, and the great majority experience no security difficulty, but complete security cannot be guaranteed. Visitors should be vigilant at all times, avoid the areas of Dairut and Assiut unless they have essential business there, and are reminded to behave and dress discreetly.

For Uganda the travel advice is: There has been an increase in incidents of armed robbery in Uganda, including Kampala. If possible, do not drive at night, and, in particular:

  1. (i) Avoid the border areas with Rwanda, Zaire and Sudan
  2. (ii) Exercise extra caution in Northern Urganda (Karamoja, Teso, Lango, Acholi, Madi and West Nile), and
  3. (iii) Avoid travel in Murchison Falls National Park north of the River Nile.
Before travelling up-country, inform the British High Commission in Kampala (Telephone: 257054/9). Please report to them any known incidents involving British travellers.

We do not issued a travel advice notice for Tanzania.