New UWA Buses to Boost Tourism in Uganda

The year 2018 has started with interesting news including the importation of brand new executive UWA buses that are aimed at promoting domestic tourism in Uganda. Additionally, these buses will contribute to awareness among some members of the population especially corporations, schools as well as the general public institutions within the different areas of tourism for conservation initiatives.

While launching the buses at Uganda Wildlife Authority Headquarters in Kamwokya (Kampala), the State Minister for Tourism-Hon Godfrey Kiwanda emphasized that the over dependence of the country in International Tourism is not sufficient in supporting tourism development in Uganda hence the need to also focus on domestic tourists.

According to UWA Executive Director-Dr. Andrew Sseguya, all the five buses coasted about $800, 000 (Uganda shillings 2, 923,080,000) and was part of the Agency’s strategy to improve tourism and conservation within all the National Protected Areas. Therefore, you can visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at greatly reduced transport cost.

However, that is not enough because with the poor state of roads, it is challenging to connect to the National Parks even with the purchase of the buses. Therefore according to UWA Executive Director, the Government is very committed to constructing more roads across Uganda so that tourists are not challenged with transport and connection to the Conservation Areas.

What special features are found on the executive buses to make them ideal for tourism? They surprisingly have high ground clearance with cozy leather seats, power charging ports, entertainment and communication facilities as well as enough luggage space. Wouldn’t want to feel the comfort of the new tourism buses?

During the same time of launching the buses, Minister Kiwanda also launched the 2018 Tulambule public Campaign, to sensitize and create awareness about the tourism sector among Ugandans, as a way of promoting domestic tourism in the country.  During this initiative, tourists (especially Ugandans) are able to make trips to popular destinations in the country such as Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks as well as Towns like Jinja, Mbarara and Mbale at affordable rates for middle income earners.  Therefore with the purchase of the buses, Ugandans can take advantage of the low rates to explore the beauty of the country-known as the “Pearl of Africa”. Not only that, with these buses, two birds have been shot with one stone because tourism is marketed to locals and then more Ugandans will be able to visit the spectacular National Parks.

These executive buses were commissioned as part of the benefits of the $100,000,000 World Bank Project referred as the “Competitive and Enterprises Development Project (CEDP). This project is aimed at supporting reforms to improve the business environment within Uganda.

In conclusion, the launch of the executive buses by the Uganda Wildlife Authority is one of the ways of marketing the attractions especially National Parks to locals while at the same time promoting domestic tourism since more Ugandans will be able to explore what the country offers.