UWA announces open day in all Uganda’s national parks

Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) has announced it will open the gates of all national parks in the country with free admission on October 17 and 18, 2024 in the first of its kind to celebrate the World Tourism Day.

Steven Masaba, UWA's Director for Tourism Development said the move is aimed at encouraging Ugandans to visit national parks as one of the ways of promoting tourism.

“Domestic tourism is a key driver of our economy and every visit to the national parks not only contributes to local economies but also drives a sense of ownership and responsibility towards our natural resources,” Masaba said.

The UWA Director for Tourism Development said by opening national parks to Ugandans, they hope to see more citizens appreciate what the country has to offer and in turn these could become loyal customers.

“Each visit to our parks plays a crucial role in conservation and enhances social cohesion, promoting understanding and appreciation across diverse cultures.”

UWA officials said for the inaugural open day, savanna parks, which include Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, and Kidepo National Park will be open to the public for two days.

"We started with the savanna parks because that's where most of the tourism activities take place. For forested parks, it's a different arrangement, and we don’t expect visitors to track chimpanzees or gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga using the open park days code," Masaba clarified.

Muhereza Kyamuteetera, the CEO of the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), welcomed the initiative as being  significant  in increasing tourism numbers to the country’s national parks.

. "As you know, in marketing and real life, every consumption decision begins with awareness. Awareness is a critical component of product consumption. When Ugandans are made aware of the incredible treasures within their own country, it creates a desire to explore and appreciate them. As the private sector, we are proud to stand with UWA in encouraging more Ugandans to discover our national parks and contribute to the growth of domestic tourism,” Kyamutetera said.

Last year, Uganda’s national parks received 387,914 visitors, a 5.4% increase from the number received in 2022.

Apart from the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Uganda’s national parks are the biggest tourist attraction sites for the country named the Pearl of Africa due to its immense and unique beauty.