Security Deploy Drones and UAVs in National Parks to Safeguard Tourists

Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, has reassured the public and foreign tourists that it is safe to travel to any part of the country.

This comes shortly after the tragic incident which happened in Queen Elizabeth National Park where two foreign tourists and their Ugandan tour guide were recently killed by suspected rebels.

According to SCP Enanga Fred, Police Spokesperson, the newlywed couple (a British and South African citizen) were on their honeymoon when their lives were cut short and their vehicle burnt.  

The bodies of the two foreign tourists are still being kept in the mortuary at Mulago National Referral Hospital, awaiting the arrival of Forensic experts from the UK and South Africa, who will in coordination with police investigative and scientific experts review the circumstances of the violent attack and murder, the evaluation of the evidence, and forensic analysis of the collected samples.

He said an official report of the death of the victims, will be handed over afterwards.

The body of the Ugandan guide/driver, Eric Alyai, was handed over to the relatives, after a post–mortem examination.

He said the UPDF Mountain Brigade and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) continue to aggressively pursue the suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists who fled, in the area left of the Bweera-Kikoroongo road.

While addressing the press at Uganda Media Centre on Wednesday, Minister Baryomunsi said the Uganda High Commission in London, UK is in touch with the families of the tourists, and they will be supported, as well as the driver who was from Kaberamaido.

“The family also will be supported by the government,” he noted.

When asked about measures to ensure security in National Parks, Baryomunsi said the government is putting in place different measures including drones and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to do surveillance, especially where there is suspicion of a security nature.

“We have different technologies; I do not have to list all the capabilities which the state has. We have different technologies which we use for security, but also for monitoring those protected areas like Game Parks and the tourist destinations,” he stated.

He added: “And I mentioned in general that we have heightened security and other measures without necessarily going into details, and that’s why I am confidently saying that it is safe to travel to any part of the country, including the tourist areas.”