Ugandan citizens and foreign residents will, starting this year, enjoy free entry into the savannah national parks across the country on select days, Rtd. Col. Tom Butime, the Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has announced.
This year’s open park days are October 17th and 18th.
“Together with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), we are introducing Open Park Days where tourists will enjoy free entrance and a complimentary game drive in our Savannah parks including Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve,” Minister Butime said.
He made the announcement during the World Tourism Day celebrations held in Kasese at the Nyakasanga Grounds where he represented His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni who was the Chief Guest.
According to him, this initiative is part of government’s efforts to foster domestic tourism while creating awareness on the need to uphold individual responsibility towards conservation as well as generating revenue to aid UWA’s conservation mandate.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to enter the parks freely and enjoy themselves. I invite all Ugandans, foreign residents and the private sector to take advantage of these Open Park Days to strengthen our commitment to tourism and conservation,” he said.
Responding to a query on X (formerly Twitter) back in December 2023 on whether Uganda would adopt the open park day policy, a practice done in some other countries, the Head of Communication and Public Relations at UWA Mr. Bashir Hangi noted that it was in the works.
He emphasized, however, that Uganda wouldn’t adopt the practice because other destinations were doing it, “it is a well-thought-out activity we intend to roll out soon.”
“Soon, we will have open park days in Uganda every year. The days will be commemorating the dates when the National Parks were gazetted,” Hangi wrote in a post on X.
Tourism and Peace
This year’s World Tourism Day celebrations were held under the theme “Tourism and Peace”, which, according to the President’s message as read by Minister Butime, recognizes the invaluable contribution of tourism to peace and development.
The president noted that tourism plays a key role in rebuilding communities, restoring and fostering peace.
“The day’s celebrations are not just about recognizing the importance of tourism, it is a call to action, a reminder that we as stakeholders of the sector have a responsibility to contribute to peace. Our commitment to promoting tourism must go hand in hand with our commitment to promoting understanding, fraternity and peace across the borders,” he cautioned.
According to the Minister, in the Rwenzori region, government has invested in improving hiking trails, installing modern visitor facilities, and training local guides who are now key ambassadors for cultural and ecological tourism.
He further stated that through the different tourism campaigns, such as the Rwenzori Theluji Festival, Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon and the Explore Rwenzori campaign, the region is getting the much-needed spotlight for its numerous tourism offerings.
Rwenzori region safe to visit
On Friday 16th June 2023, assailants linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group operating from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe town, Kasese district leaving 42 people who included 37 students, a security guard and 4 community members dead.
In October of the same year, another attack linked to the same rebel group claimed lives of three people; 2 foreign tourists and a local along Katwe Road within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
These attacks left many shaken, triggering a bunch of distressed travel advisories especially from embassies in the country, warning their nationals against visiting Kasese and the region as a whole.
In his remarks during the celebrations, Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, the State Minister for Tourism, noted that Kasese was chosen to host this year’s World Tourism Day event to reaffirm the peace and security prevailing in the region despite the unfortunate incidents.
“There were recent incidences that threatened security in the Rwenzori region but I want to assure everyone that government prioritized restoration of peace and security here. Our being here in these large numbers speaks to the trust we have in our government to maintain safety and security,” Hon. Mugarra said.
Kasese is home to 2 of Uganda’s 10 National Parks; Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mount Rwenzori National Park and a host of other features that make it a hot spot for tourism. These include the renowned Kazinga Channel a boat ride on which gives tourists a chance so see various animals up close along the shores.