It’s great news again for Ugandan tourism industry! The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has announced the opening of all National Parks and Protected areas including Apes and Primate National Parks Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mt.Mgahinga Gorilla, and Kibale National Parks which had remained closed for tourism regardless of the other savannah parks having opened for domestic tourism earlier in July.
According to UWA, the parks were opened after consultations with various stakeholders and putting in place standard operating procedures for the containment of the possible spread of COVID-19 in protected areas.
According to the released statement by UWA, it reads in part:
‘All tourism activities within the protected areas shall be undertaken in a manner that ensures that all guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and the directives by His Excellency the President are adhered to. These include but not limited to:
i.) Mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infrared thermometers at the key tourism gates of the different protected areas
ii.) Mandatory hand washing /sanitizing at the entrances of all UWA premises and protected areas.
iii.) Wearing a face mask while inside the protected area
iv.) Observing social distance.
v.) All tourists going for primate tracking activities should carry at least two N95 masks, surgical masks, or double-layered cloth masks with filters.
vi.) Government guidelines of carrying half capacity in order to observe social distance shall apply to the use of vehicles and boats within the park. These include concessionaire and delivery vehicles
vii.) Saloon car vehicles shall not be permitted to carry out game drive activities in the protected areas.
viii.) Visitors going to the parks are encouraged to carry their own hand sanitizer
The reopening of the remaining parks comes on after the industry has struggled with numerous challenges be it financial and/or administrative.
In May, President Museveni announced that the country was set to lose $1.6 billion from the tourism sector since the airport had been shut from passenger flights and millions of tourists in the country are foreigners.
UWA has assured tourists that it has trained its staff and provided them with appropriate wear to protect themselves and visitors from any possible infection.
“Staff on duty shall sensitize the visitors on the general government-approved COVID-19 operational guidelines including the ones developed and approved by UWA management.All visitors into the protected areas have been advised to take personal precaution to prevent the spread of the Corona-virus “ends the statement signed off by Bashir Hangi , Communication Manager
More so, the reopening has come on at a time when the gorilla parks are experiencing a baby boom with both Bwindi and Mt. Mgahinga registering a total of six baby gorilla births in the space of seven weeks, the latest being on 2nd September with the birth at Mgahinga Park in the Nyakagezi family by mother Nshuti.
Uganda earned about Shs5. 8 trillion from tourism in the 2018/2019 financial year, making the sector the country’s leading foreign currency earner for the fifth year in a row, according to government data.
Uganda earned about Shs5. 8 trillion from tourism in the 2018/2019 financial year, making the sector the country’s leading foreign currency earner for the fifth year in a row, according to government data.
The number of tourists in 2019 reached 1,505,669 up from 1,402,409 in 2017.
In the FY2018/19, the tourism sector accounted for 7.7 percent of the national GDP and 6.7 percent of total national employment after creating 667,600 jobs.
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on Uganda and surrounding towns, attractions, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda as well as being a dynamic news and comprehensive events driven site with content being added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (whom both measure online influence) we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. We were also awarded for ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2017-2018 Africa Travel Awards. If you are planning a visit to Uganda you can always reach us on; info@guide2uganda.ug
