PARIS – Uganda is set for a month of prime-time exposure on French television following the premiere of a dedicated documentary on the long-running adventure series Echappées Belles.
The episode, which debuted on France 5 on April 25, kicks off the show’s 20th season. Known in English as Great Escapes, the weekly program follows host Ismaël Khelifa as he explores global destinations through the eyes of locals.
The 11-day itinerary featured in the documentary highlights Uganda’s national parks, gorilla trekking, game drives and cultural landmarks. The project was funded under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Program and sponsored by the Uganda Embassy in Paris to bolster the country’s visibility in the French market.
Ahead of the broadcast, Uganda’s Ambassador to France, Doreen Amule, hosted a premiere event on April 16 at La Marina Des Maqeureaux in Paris. The event targeted French tour operators, journalists and industry stakeholders.
We are incredibly proud of the strong media exposure Uganda is receiving, Amule said during the event. Europe has long explored the world, but we believe the world’s best-kept secret is waiting for French travelers in Uganda.
Khelifa, who traveled to Uganda to film the episode, described the country as a treasure of biodiversity characterized by warm people and abundant wildlife.
The strategic push into French media is backed by data suggesting that 80% of French travelers choose their destinations based on television coverage, according to Margaret Kafeero, Uganda’s head of public diplomacy. She noted that the embassy’s decision to customize content for French audiences was a vital step in authentic storytelling.
Daniel Irunga, senior brand manager at the Uganda Tourism Board, said the premiere was designed to convert awareness into direct action by encouraging tour operators to include Uganda in their travel packages. Irunga added that the board hopes other Ugandan missions abroad will follow the Paris embassy’s lead in developing localized content.
The documentary, titled Echappées Belles-Ouganda, is available on France 5 and the show’s YouTube channel.
