The Uganda wildlife Authority has tremendously worked upon improving the status of the Ugandan tourism sector over the years. Such effort has been through activities like training tourism personnel, promoting tourism activities and conservation of tourism sites among others.
To further promote its tourism sector, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has given Shs4.47 billion to the three districts of Kanungu, Kisoro and Rubanda districts, which border Bwindi and Mgahinga national park, to help conserve wildlife.
Kisoro was allocated Shs949m, Kanungu received about Shs2.4b while Rubanda got Shs1b. The funds are part of gate collections from tourists into the parks.
the Minister for Tourism, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, while handing over the money to respective district leaders last Thursday warned against diverting the funds to other projects instead of directly benefiting the communities.
This was at a simple ceremony organised at Buhoma, the headquarters of the Bwindi-Mgahinga conservation area.
“The money may come when there is a stalled road project or a bridge to work on and the district may want to use it first for that while the communities keep waiting. I want this money to be used well so that people who have no parks may want parks to come where they are so that they too can get the money,” Prof Kamuntu said.
He further noted that the tourism sector being the biggest foreign exchange earner with $1.5 billion (about Shs5 trillion) earned annually, there was more reasons to embrace it.
“We need to value our people, culture and heritage, so that we can promote our tourism better.”
The UWA executive director, Mr. Sam Mwandha, said the money was distributed on basis of population and area of park coverage. He urged the districts to be more innovative in the sector.
During the event, a new tourist information center at Buhoma was opened by the tourism minister. The center will be the first access point of information for tourists about the parks.
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