President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has committed to a ten (10)-point investment plan aimed at improving Uganda’s tourism numbers and earnings. The President’s remarks, conveyed by the Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja, during the Commemoration of World Wildlife Day in Kyenjonjo district, emphasized the significant contribution of tourism to the national economy.
Museveni revealed that by 2023, tourism had generated employment for 1.6 million people, with 68 percent being females, constituting 14.7 percent of the total job market. Furthermore, tourism accounted for 3.64 percent of the GDP. The President affirmed the government’s strategic commitment to continue investing in the tourism sector to capitalize on the high returns associated with the industry.
Museveni emphasized, “Development of infrastructure and tourism support services is critical for a vibrant tourism industry.”
Uganda, recognized as one of the top biodiverse regions globally, is endowed with exceptional wildlife diversity. The country hosts more than 50% of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, along with various other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and fish.
Uganda boasts exceptional wilderness tourism sites, including national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable Forests, Mgahinga, Mountain Rwenzori, Kibale Forest, Lake Mburo, Murchison Falls, Semliki Forest, Kidepo, and Mountain Elgon. Additionally, there are impressive wildlife reserves such as Pian Upe, Karuma, Bugungu, and Kabwoya. The country also features beautiful mountain ranges, including the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, the second-largest freshwater lake, the third-deepest lake, and the source of the world’s longest river with stunning waterfalls and unique water scenery.
These diverse wildlife and physical endowments provide Uganda with a competitive edge to develop into a top tourism destination in Africa.
The President elaborated on the extension of the electricity grid and ICT infrastructure to most tourism attractions, stating, “Government has constructed tourist trails and rescue facilities on Mountain Rwenzori and is exploring the possibility of electric cables on Mountain Rwenzori.”
To further harness the potential and sustain the contribution of tourism to the economy, the government will enhance the protection of tourists and tourism sites, construct more tourism roads, upgrade domestic aerodromes, including Kidepo, and upgrade selected Central Forest Reserves and Wildlife Reserves to National Parks. Other measures include constructing more electric fences and other animal deterrents to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, promoting the use of ICT in conservation and tourism promotion, strengthening law enforcement against wildlife crime, improving regulation of tourism activities, enhancing standards along the tourism value chain, and improving human resource capacity along the tourism value chain.
President Museveni called upon all Ugandans and conservation partners to continue supporting Uganda’s efforts to conserve its wildlife heritage for sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butiime, expressed optimism about existing partnerships helping the sector overcome challenges.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija underscored the role of tourism as a sector in Uganda’s development, acknowledging its employment generation and financial contributions, pledging his ministry’s support.
The Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, Sam Mwandha, highlighted the focus of this year’s wildlife day on technological advancements in the conservation sector. He emphasized the use of modern technology to combat human-induced threats to wildlife, such as poaching, illegal wildlife trade, encroachment, deforestation, habitat loss, among others.
At the event, a number of people were recognized and awarded for their roles and efforts in conservation and tourism development.