Uganda Safari News, Gorilla Tours Info

The East Africa Community have continued to call for a single tourism which will help harmonize and improve the tourism sector in the region. Currently, East Africa community is made up of 5 countries Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. The region boasts of tourist destination sites, with many wildlife parks where tourists go for wildlife tours, mountains where tourists go for mountaineering trips, and other areas. In Uganda and Rwanda, tourists from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, all enter for Gorilla tracking in either Bwindi Impenetrable national park or Mgahinga national park in Uganda, or Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. With the introduction of a single tourist visa, it would help the tourists to travel with in the region without hustles, and especially this would help the airline companies. Currently, all the partner states are not cooperating in introducing single tourism, as they are competing from the earnings from the entry fees. In Kenya and Tanzania, they cannot allow foreign registered vehicles in their National parks, unlike in Rwanda and Uganda where vehicles are allowed.

A week long Buganda tourism expo closed last week after showcasing various activities to much excited people who attended the expo.

Various Uganda wildlife was exhibited, which included lion, Monkeys, Python, Leopard among others.

There was also lots of cultural entertainment which was embroiled in cultural tourism. The minister of Finance thanked the organizes and encouraged Buganda Kingdom to improve on the tourist destination sites as it brings much foreign income to the Kingdom and the country.

Buganda Kingdom is one of the most active Kingdoms in Uganda with many cultural heritages where tourists who come to Uganda visit. During city tour, tourists are taken to Kasubi Tombs, the kings palace, the Kabaka’s lake, Katereke prison trench, nagarabi colonation site, the churches, among others.

This forms a big part of cultural tour in addition to wildlife tours, Gorilla tracking tours and Primate tracking tours which tourists engage in.

Last week, a mountain gorilla in Bwindi impenetrable national park died of injuries sustained by the poachers in the park. This trend is likely to affect gorilla tours in the region.

Poachers in Biyumba, Kanyonza sub-county in Kanungu district speared the 12 year old black back Gorilla in the chest, which has resulted into his death, after a struggle to treat him.

The death of the mountain gorillas reduces the number of gorillas in the park which are already endangered, and this brings a big loss to the government revenue.

Poachers continue to be a biggest threat to the animals in the wildlife national parks in Uganda which puts tourist industry at a loss of revenue. For example, Rhinos were extinct in Murchison falls national park and Kidepo national park in the 1980’s as a result of poachers. Elephants in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale National park, continue to be killed, Antelopes in Lake Mburo National park continue to be hunted.

Mountain Gorillas are a major source of revenue in the tourism sector, as most tourists buy permits for gorilla tracking at a higher price. Mountain Gorillas are only found in Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in DR Congo.

The acting Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority said that the government policies and rules procedure have frustrated them in a bid to improve tourism and harmonize their relationship with the Association of Uganda Tour operators (AUTO). This he said while addressing the questions raised by the AUTO members during the annual general meeting held at Kampala Serena Hotel held on 20^th May 2011.

In the meeting, member raised many issues that could help improve and harmonize the tourism industry in Uganda. Among the issues raised, was the unpaid commission that UWA owes AUTO through the sale of Gorilla Tracking permits, the improvement of roads in and to the national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Kibale National park, clarification on the park entrance fees especially Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo National park where there is entrance fees, the need to protect AUTO in the sale of Gorilla tracking permits by not selling to Individuals, the rescheduling of Gorilla permits due to cancellations as a result of current negative publicity.

The ED, Dr. Andrew Sseguya said that UWA is faced challenges from the government policies and procedures. He said that the Roads in the National parks could not be done because of the reluctance of Ministry of works which high jacked the money allocated to tourism ministry to rehabilitate the National park Roads. He noted that as a way of government procedure, they find it difficult releasing public funds in form of cash, that’s why there is delay and disagreement on the unpaid commission.

Dr.Sseguya called on AUTO members to put in more efforts in selling Gorilla tracking permits so as to improve on the income to the sector, which in turn will help improve tourism in the country.

Chimpanzee tracking fees in Kibale National park is to be combined with park entry fee which will help avoid the inconveniences, he said.

Uganda is on of the best tourism destination country with a lot of tourist sites like Cultural sites for cultural tourism, variety of birds for birding tours, wildlife parks for Wildlife tour, and most notably, Gorilla tracking in the Gorilla parks of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park.

The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary under Rhino Fund Uganda has issued a press release refuting claims that they mismanaged the World bank funds given to them by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

In their statement, they says that Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary is purely a private entity, and has never receives any funding from UWA. They further say that they have only 9 Rhinos all white, and were imported for Ziwa Rhino sanctuary as a business under directorship of Captain Joe Roy.

This follows the story that ran in the papers that the Rhinos imported by government are making profit for private farm not government.

They further say that there was only agreement that when they breed up to 20 in number, they will be released to the national parks. They further refutes the fact that the Rhinos were introduced in the Ziwa sanctuary by UWA to act as a breeding place before they are introduced in the park, saying that it is a private business, they have no partnership with UWA. They also refuted the fact that UWA recruited the staff for the sanctuary, claiming that UWA only gave them two employees before the Rhinos were brought in, and they were paid their salaries.

Rhinos were formerly in Murchison falls national park and Kidepo National park before they were extinct due to civil strive that rocked the country in 1970’s under Idi Amin Regime. The Rhinos are planned to be reintroduced in Murchison falls national park once there is a good number and more are to be imported.

This is aimed at boosting tourism, which is one of the most foreign exchange earners to Ugandan government, Uganda having many tourist destination centers with many national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Rwenzori national park among others. Gorilla tracking is the most activity that attracts tourists as well as mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountain and Mt.Elgon National park.

The government of Uganda has realized that there is a big loss on the Zziwa deal. This was discovered by the commission of inquiry that is looking into mismanagement of Uganda Wildlife Authority funds given by the World Bank as a loan under the protected area management for sustainable use project.

The UWA imported the white and black rhinos from Kenya and placed them on Zziwa ranch to act as a holding ground as they prepare for future placement in the national park.

This followed the extinction of Rhinos from most national parks especially Murchison falls national park and Kidepo national park as a result of wars in the 1970’s.

The income generated from the Zziwa sanctuary as a result of most tourists visiting the area has been found to be going into the hands of private individuals, not the government, yet the UWA employed there the rangers to take charge of the Rhinos.

Uganda has many tourist destination sites with many national parks, like the Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, a home to the famous mountain gorillas, with most tourists interested in Gorilla tracking adventure. Unfortunately, among the wildlife tours, Rhinos are hardly found in the national parks, thought the government plans to place them in the parks after importing more, more especially they will be placed in Murchison falls national park, which formerly was a good harbor for the Rhinos.

Following the increased encroachment of Mt.Elgon National park by the locals, government has come in to  force them out of the park land.

The government fears the risk that is associated with the mountain, which has cracks and anytime may have landslides which may clear the lives of people.

In the last two years, hundreds of people were killed by landslides on the mountain and the government fears the same may happen again if people are allowed to stay in the mountains.

Besides, the government  is concerned about the wildlife in the national park. Mt.Elgon national park is one of the ten national park in Uganda with a variety of wildlife, and is also popularly known for Mountaneering. Tourists who visit Mt.Elgon national park are always interested in Mountain climbing on top of wildlife tour.

Tourism in Uganda is the second foreign exchange earner in the country, with most visitors coming for Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga National park, Wildlife Tour in the major national park like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison  Falls national park, Kidepo national park among others. Mountaineering is also done in Mt.Rwenzori National park and Mt.Elgon National park.

Following the commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of funds in Uganda Wildlife Authority, more information has continued to come out. The latest that has come out shows that a Uganda Wildlife Authority board member was awarded six out of the eight gorilla permits meant for operators in the industry.

The commission, led by Retired Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba was set up to investigate the mismanagement of funds which was given by the World Bank to improve tourism attraction areas in Uganda.

The report shows that the board member mismanaged the money including that that was meant to improve the national parks. Uganda has ten national parks, but the most visited national parks are Bwindi Impenetrable national park which is a home to half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas, Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison national park among others.

According to the chairman of Uganda Tour Operators, the tour operators expressed discontent about the unfair prevelledge extended to the Board member which is seen as a conflict of interest, but nothing was done.

The chairman of Uganda Tour operators also noted that the Wildlife body owes the tour operators a big outstanding debt in the unpaid commissions which he said has not been explained.

The Gorilla permits were established by the UWA for tourists to secure in case they are to go for Gorilla tracking. Gorilla tracking can only be done in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, Mgahinga national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in Democratic republic of Congo.

UWA is going to improve the standard national parks by renovating and constructing more facilities in the national parks in Uganda.

Addressing guests at a dinner organized by one of the leading member of Uganda Tour Operators, the UWA official said that over six billion Ugandan shillings has been secured to be used to improve the standards of hotels in the national parks, following the increased number of tourists in the country.

Uganda has ten national parks and 13 game reserves which attract many tourists in the country in addition to cultural tour and site seeing tour. Most visited national parks in Uganda are Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kibale national park, and Murchison falls national park.

Hon. Serapio Rukundo, state minister for Tourism, said that the government is committed to improve the tourism sector since it is the second foreign exchange earner to the country. He said the government is putting effort to sell the image of the country so as to attract more tourists, since the country is now more stable.

Gorilla Tracking and Primate Tracking is the most adventures visitors go for, though wildlife tour is also taken alongside. Uganda has seen a sporadic increase in the number of tourists visiting the country which is attributed to the stability that is prevailing in the country.

In another development, UWA officials have been enraged into a fight with the poachers in Kidepo National park in northern Uganda. Poachers remain a major threat to the national parks in Uganda, with most animals at a danger of extinction, more especially the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.

Uganda is one of the countries with great opportunities for tourism but has not marketed itself well to tap the market. Though tourism sector is one of the major contributors to the country’s budget, little has been done to tap more income from the sector.

Uganda has ten of the best national parks and game reserves, as well as other tourist attraction sites, but little has been done to market it, which would be bringing more tourists.

Uganda is very hospitable with people having good attitude towards the tourists. The recent restoration of peace in northern Uganda which had been ravaged by a two decades war also would contribute to the tourism industry. Like in Rwanda where Genocide took place and now Genocide sites have become one of the tourism attractions, in northern Uganda there was mass killings of people and tourists would come in to have the emotional feeling of the way people suffered under a two decade war.

Besides the attraction, Uganda is generally a stable country with good infrastructure, but all this has not helped to attract more tourists due to poor marketing Strategy.

The most visited areas in Uganda are Murchison national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi National park which is famous for Mountain Gorillas. Cultural tours also contribute to tourism though still on a smaller scale than expected. Gorilla tracking is currently the major income earner with most tourists interested in Gorilla tracking in Bwindi national park.

The UWA has patterned with National geographical society to help in marketing of the tourist areas in Uganda which will help in improving on the tourism sector.