President Museveni has directed the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to stop charging fees from travelers except tourists who are transiting through the Murchison Falls National Park to connect to and from Northern Uganda.
The President said this when meeting the members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at State House, Entebbe, on October 4, 2024.
Currently, travellers are using the road in Murchison Falls National Park as an alternative route following the closure of Karuma Bridge, which is under rehabilitation.
“On the use of the park by the people who are travelling to and from Northern Uganda during the time of the closure of the Karuma Bridge, I totally forbid the charging of money from travellers who are not tourists; it’s nonsensical. It’s not correct,” Museveni said.
The President then directed Vice President Jessica Alupo to convene a meeting next week between the Ministry of Tourism, Conservationists, and some Members of Parliament to assess the impact of big cars transiting through Murchison Falls National Park.
“Apparently, according to conservationists, they are saying that those animals in the park are not used to very many vehicles, especially the big ones. I can suspect that there may be common sense in it since, from when that park was created, big vehicles never passed there; it is only the small ones. That when these animals see these big vehicles, they fear and run away,” he noted.
“If these animals run away and the tourists don’t see them when they go there, the whole country will lose. This has an impact on tourism. Should we only allow a certain type of vehicle instead of the big ones? What should we do after you have done the impact assessment with the conservationists?” the President inquired.
The President’s directive followed a request by the Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua, who appealed to the President to waive off the fees being charged from the travellers using the road in the park.
The meeting was also attended by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, the Vice President, Jessica Alupo, ministers, and members of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC).
