When the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) chose Kasese as venue for last year’s World Tourism Day celebrations, concerns about safety and security arose, considering the rebel attacks that had shaken the region a few months prior in 2023.
Having thousands of tourism enthusiasts and stakeholders pitch camp in the Rwenzori region for 5 days as the tourism sermon echoed through the land without a hitch, the Ministry reassured masses that irrespective of the occasional hiccups which are not unique to the area, the destination is safe for tourism.
West Nile has had its fair share of disheartening headlines in Uganda’s leading dailies with cases of insecurity and conflict, a tainted image that has for long, unfortunately, defined the Northern part of Uganda and its peripherals.
Just like the Rwenzori region, West Nile still faces spillovers of conflict from neighboring countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which many a time, overshadow the region’s tourism offerings.
As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate tourism on September 27th, an industry that’s fast-recovering post Covid-19 globally and employing millions of Ugandans both directly and indirectly, the Tourism Ministry is optimistic that hosting the event in Arua will, among other wins, redefine how people see West Nile.
Speaking at the event’s media launch held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, the State Minister for Tourism Hon. Martin Mugarra noted that West Nile has more to offer in the tourism spere and the celebration will drum up interest for the same.
This year’s World Tourism Day celebrations will be held under the global theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” which, according to the Minister, serves as a reminder that tourism is more than just leisure and travel, it is a driver of long-term change which creates livelihoods, safeguards cultural heritage, protects biodiversity and promotes inclusive growth.
“It is fitting that this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations be held in Arua City, which is a gateway for both domestic and cross border tourism with its rich cultural heritage, diverse ethnicities and nationalities complemented by the natural features that hold big potential for tourism,” Mugarra said.
By bringing the celebration to Arua City, he added, the Ministry is gearing towards showcasing the tourism opportunities in the West Nile and integrating the region more strongly into the national tourism development agenda.
“We are also reaffirming our commitment to reinforce tourism development that’s inclusive, regionally balanced and community driven in line with the National Development Plan (NDP4) agenda,” the Minister said.
The tourism month agenda has activities that include awareness campaigns, community mobilization drives, cultural showcases and conservation outreaches all designed to highlight the importance of tourism to sustainable development.
The agenda also focuses on raising awareness on; the role of tourism in advancing sustainable development, fostering dialogue on investment that is not only profitable but also community centered, and inspiring Ugandans to discover more of their country.
“I encourage all Ugandans to take part in the various activities and the commemoration itself because this interaction helps us to build bridges across cultures, stimulate local economies where we go and deepen our sense of national pride,” the Minister said.
featuredHon. Martin Mugarra, State Minister for Tourism speaking at the media launch on Tuesday.
2025 tourism earnings outperforming 2024
“We have a reason to celebrate,” the Minister said, noting that the tourism earnings for the first 6 months of 2025 have greatly increased compared to the same period last year.
The Minister noted that statistics from the first half of this year – 2025 indicate growth both in the number of tourists visiting the country and the tourism earnings.
“In the first six months of 2024, we had around 678,811 tourists coming into the country. In the same period this year, the number has grown to 765,307 tourists which translates into a 12% growth,” the Minister noted.
The sector’s contribution to GDP has also increased by 24% in the first 6 months of 2025 at Shs 2.680 trillion compared to the Shs 2.612 trillion generated under the same period in 2024.
“I am therefore very sure that by the time we finish the year, we will have surpassed our pre-covid numbers, we will have gone back to bringing over 1.5 billion USD into this economy but also grow the tourist numbers even more,” he said.
Safety and security
“Peace and security are very key in the development of the tourism sector. In addition to other aspects that make Uganda a preferred destination for tourism and investment, the country is safe, thanks to the NRM government that continues to make safety and security a priority,” Mugarra said.
Giving her remarks at the launch, Dorothy Amparo, the Senior Communications Officer Arua City, noted that Arua and West Nile as a whole is largely safe, an environment that has enabled people to make investments along the tourism value chain.
She noted that the region boasts a variety of wildlife and bird species that are thriving in the Ajai Wildlife Reserve thanks to the prevailing security in the area and continuous pacification initiatives.
“We are peace-loving people, hospitable people and we look forward to hosting everyone. People are safe enjoying themselves in the night life just as is during day. We have various cultures including Arur, Lugbar, Madi Okollo and of course the different cultures of the Congolese,” she added.
Some of the tourist attractions in West Nile include heritage sites such as the ‘smallest church in the world’, physical features like Abairo and Miradua waterfalls, delicacies like the renowned Nang Nang and the blend of exciting cultures.
