One of the greatest handicaps to Uganda’s tourism has been the quantity and quality of accommodation in and around her major tour attractions. However, this is changing within and outside the major national parks in the Country, a recent survey shows that the number is about to double with over 20 new sites being developed. The statistics released by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) indicates that the resorts and hotels being developed in the protected areas will be able to accommodate over 800 people at a time.

According to Mr. Moses Mapesa during a recent interview, the world renown Murchison Falls National Park has got two concessions which are about to be completed.  These include Pakuba and Chobe (owned by the rich and famous Madhivani Group of Companies) which are being developed for up-market tourists.  It is expected that Chobe will be completed this year while Pakuba’s development will last until 2010.

While in Kidepo national park Katurum, a huge park facility is being developed and it is going to be one of the most modern accommodation facilities in the country.

In Kibale forest National Park a great sanctuary for chimpanzees and elephants, a facility ideal for community-based tourism – Sebitole is being developed.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to the endangered mountain gorillas has a number of accommodation facilities at Nkuringo and Buhoma all of which have habituated mountain gorilla families. However, there is another on being developed at Ruhija were another family of mountain gorillas is found.

A great number of safari lodges are also found in most of these national parks and according to Mr. Mapesa there are pocket-friendly lodges being built in and around most national parks.

According to Stephen Masaba an Officer with Uganda Wildlife Authority, Apoka Camp in Kidepo National Park is in the process of being re-developed so as to offer accommodation for at least 40 people at a given time.

The Ishasha Sector part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park located towards the Uganda-Congo border  has a number of Camps built by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are being re-developed into medium-size facilities that will house more tourists.

Mr. Masaba further said that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) apart from the concessions has responded positively to the request by private investors to invest in the national parks have begun constructing a number of safari lodges and camps in and around.

Great Lakes Safaris which own Primates Lodge in Kibale Forest National Park under the brand name Uganda Safari Lodges is one of the new developers in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Some of the existing developers like Mosa Courts – a developer with a number of Apartments in the city and Adrift – The renown White Water rafting company are just some of the new developers in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is working to identify potential investors and attract them into the protected areas and major  stop-overs to the main tour attractions.  There are restaurants and shops selling artefacts  as well as providing tourist information about tour attractions.

The major stop-overs are Mbarara, Lyantonde in Rakai, Nabajjuzi in Masaka and Muko in Kibale Forest National  Park. All these stop-over are located in the major tourism areas like Mgahinga Gorilla National park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The major national parks that are visited are Queen Elizabeth National which receives about 52,000 tourists anually, Murchison Falls with about 32,000 tourist per year. The rest are Lake Mburo and Bwindi national park which receive about 15,000 and 10,000 tourists anually.

The other major stop-overs are found in the Eastern areas of Mbale, Iganga, Jinja and Busitema respectively.

These developments are mainly due to the previous increase in the number of tourists visiting the country, however, the global-economic crisis has affected most of the tour operators not only in Uganda but the world over.

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