Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) seeks to enter into agreements with private, foreign or local companies for the collaborative management Of Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in north-eastern Uganda , Matheniko-Bokora Wildlife Reserve in north-eastern Uganda (Karamoja) and Ajai Wildlife Reserve in north-western Uganda (West Nile area).

Investors are also sought after for the development and management of tourism facilities such as the re-development and management of the Buffalo Tented Camp, Bandas in Lake Mburo National Park, the Ntoroko Tented Camp and Campsite in Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve.

UWA has of recent entered into collaborative management with the private sector owing to the increased demand for water based tourism. UWA signed a concession with three tour companies, to operate launch boat cruise services in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks.

A new up market lodge called Katara Lodge recently opened its doors to tourists in QENP .The lodge is situated just outside the eastern side of the park set on the edge of the hills overlooking the open savannah. It accommodates 10 guests in 5 spacious thatched luxury cottages. These cottages are partly constructed from bricks and partly canvas, combining the authentic feeling of camping in the wilderness with the spaciousness of a normal building. The main entrance to the park is 20 minutes drive away.

 This now brings the number of up market lodges in QENP to three: Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge and now Katara lodge.

Following the success of the Common Wealth Summit (CHOGM) held in Kampala last year, there is increased international interest in Uganda as a tourist destination.

Uganda has registered a steady increase in the number of tourists during the last 10 years. This is due to the fact that the Government is implementing policies that are favorable to the sector, and security in the national parks is now guaranteed. Security concerns and harsh travel advisories were a stumbling block against visiting some parts of Uganda.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) the government body mandated with the conservation and sustainable management of all the protected areas has engaged the private sector in a bid to ensure the availability of adequate tourism services in future. New hotels and lodges have been and are still built.

Uganda receives 600,000 visitors per year, of which about 100,000 visit the protected areas. The Government is targeting 1 million visitors per year by 2010. Of these, between 300,000 and 500,000 will visit the protected areas.

Some protected areas such as Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley National Parks have got certification from the Civil Aviation Authority to receive commercial flights. Various towns neighboring the protected areas have also got good airstrips. This has led to the increment of more tourists visiting some of the protected areas using air travel.

The Ministry of Tourism, is considering a tax waiver on tourist vehicles and possibly on other tourism infrastructure upcountry such as hotels.

Government departments are involved in setting the stage for more aggressive marketing of the country abroad in order to boost the country’s image. Marketing efforts will target more countries including the US, Canada, Japan, China, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia.

The Japanese government has pledged financial support to construct a new bridge over the River Nile to replace the old one at Owen Falls Dam in Jinja. At least $50m is needed to build the new bridge, according to the Ministry of Works.

This was disclosed by the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held every five years since 1993.

The bridge is a link for tourists visiting the source of River Nile and those interested in water tourism activities such as white water rafting .The bridge will also serve as Uganda’s link to Kenya and the coast. Other countries that will depend on it for access to the sea will be Rwanda, Burundi and the DR Congo.

The existing bridge is 54 years old and has developed cracks.

A group of 152 guards were recently recruited into the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to boost security in the National Parks. The guards graduated at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi, after concluding an eight year training program for game rangers. According to the UWA Director of Field Operations, 2500 rangers have undergone the same training since 2003 and have been deployed in 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves, Zziwa rhino sanctuary and in ranches around Lake Mburo to deter poachers from encroaching on protected areas, killing wildlife and at the same time beefing up security for the visitors to the National Parks.

On the contrary Kenya tourism industry is threatened by illegal poaching activities. Wildlife Annual report of Kenya 2007 shows that 2,134 poacher suspects were arrested and about 1200 illegal trophies were received which included skins, ivory, rhino horns and live animals. Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) Director Dr.Julius Kipngetich has called on the Kenyan Government to enforce severe punishments  to the culprits.

A chimp named Zakayo, referred to as the Alpha male, escaped from its sanctuary 1^st April 2007 in Budongo Island causing other chimpanzees to escape in the process while emulating Zakayo. The care takers tried to persuade Zakayo to return to its enclosure in vain until a veterinary doctor sedated Zakayo. After this it was easy to entice the other chimps Amina, Ruth, and Aluma to return back to the enclosure.

In a related incident in June 2006 hordes of villagers in Kitomi-Kakasi village, Bushenyi District were on a mission to rescue a baby boy that was snatched by a chimpanzee from a mother while she was working in her garden

A six ton elephant almost killed two Swiss tourists Rico Beltrame and his sister in Hluhluwe game park South Africa. The incident happened when the duo started taking photos of many elephants only to be besieged by one elephant which got so close to their car plonking its trunk across the car’s roof. The tourists were only saved by the park ranger who instructed the driver to switch off the engine. However, for six minutes the elephant did not move its trunk from the roof of the car. The tourists were scared to death! Luckily the elephant later left them unhurt and walked off into the undergrowth of the park.

New Zealand has a fantastic range of wildlife in their own natural environment. New Zealand tourism arrivals have increased by 61% since 1999 to 2.4 million.

 Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years

 Tourism is New Zealand’s single largest export sector and contributed $8.3billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2006. That is 19.2% of exports

 Domestic tourism contributes $10.3 billion to the economy each year

Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand!

The new tourism bill which was recently tabled in Uganda’s Parliament was finally passed and is only awaiting Presidential assent. The bill seeks to enhance opportunities of soliciting financial resources for marketing Uganda worldwide. Comparatively, Uganda spends about  USD$500,000 annually on promotion and marketing of its tourism potential compared to its neighbors Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania who spend more than 1millon dollars annually in marketing their tourism potential world wide.

The bill, among others, seeks to eliminate taxes on domestic air flights, a move that is seen to encourage the number of tourists who have limited time to visit many Uganda National parks by air instead of using the road.

The implementation of a waiver of import duty on tourism vehicles may lead to the importation of many tourist vehicles which will ultimately make car hire rates more affordable. The introduction of a new tourism development levy of 2% on accommodation is a move intended to boost the marketing and promotion of Uganda tourism.

Owing to prolonged stability in Murchison Falls National Park, the Madhvani group of companies has spearheaded the renovation of Chobe Safari lodge. The lodge had closed due to the insurgence that had characterized the northern region of Uganda for a long time.

This is a welcome move owing to the fact that there has been an influx of tourists recently in Murchison Falls Park especially during the festive seasons due to much improved security. The number of tourists who visited Murchison Falls National Park increased from 2,741 in 2006 to 3,451 in the 2007. Completion of the lodge will not only boost tourism arrivals in the park but will also boost the overall economy of the country at large. Chobe lodge will be the 3^rd up market lodge in the park besides the Paraa Lodge and Nile Safari Camp.