To strengthen and enhance the growing tourism industry while improving customer service standards in the parks, UWA has identified potential investment opportunities in services, products, infrastructure, and accommodation facilities. There are opportunities for the development of new ecotourism projects, both within and outside the national parks, supported by the private sector or through collaborations between public and private entities. The tourism industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by Uganda's reputation as a leading tourist destination and one of only three countries that are home to nearly 50% of the global population of endangered mountain gorillas. (Source: Lonely Planet 2012 and CNN 2016, which recognized Uganda as one of the top 16 holiday destinations worldwide).

Wildlife viewing is the most popular tourist activity in the national parks, due to the rich diversity of wildlife, including the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, white rhinoceroses, and elephants, as well as hosting 11% of the world's bird species (totaling 1,060 species). Furthermore, the country is renowned for its unspoiled natural beauty, which includes forests, hills, mountains, rivers, and lakes.

I call upon investors that promote responsible investment and sustainable development to partner with Uganda in rehabilitating the protected conservation areas.

The tourism sector presents various opportunities, like the establishment of high-quality lodging facilities, the management of tour and travel routes, such as bicycle tours, hot air balloon rides, aquatic activities on Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake George, and river rafting on the Nile River, walking Safaris in the wilderness areas and the volcanic craters, canopy Walkways in tropical forests and sky trams, development of Lodges and other types of accommodation to suit the various categories of visitors, nature walks, game farming, game ranching and sport hunting on private property (private wildlife reserves) house boats and other water based activities, mountaineering packages for Rwenzori, Elgon and Mgahinga Mountains, internal air transport services to the national parks and other domestic touristic hubs, white water rafting on the Nile, hot springs baths and supporting facilities, stop over facilities en-route to the national parks along major tourism circuits.

Additionally, there is potential for the development of specialized eco-tourism and community tourism facilities, as well as faith-based tourism, exemplified by pilgrimages to the Namugongo-Uganda martyrs and the Bishop Hannington landing site along the Nile. The number of tourists is steadily increasing, with estimates reaching 1.5 million annually, which contributes 7.7% to the GDP.

For more information visit UWA at: https://ugandawildlife.org/investment-opportunities/

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