MP Opendi wants tourists to interact with wildlife at hotels

Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi, has urged the tourism ministry to partner with the hospitality industry to bring friendly wild animals closer to hotels, saying the initiative would enhance tourists’ experience and boost Uganda’s appeal as a top destination.

Opendi said such an arrangement would not only make Uganda’s hospitality industry more attractive but also bring the country’s unique biodiversity closer to visitors who may not have time to travel to national parks.

“We need to innovate and create more memorable experiences for tourists. Having some of the harmless animals at hotels would be one way of doing this,” she noted.

She challenged the Ministry of Tourism to work closely with hotel owners and operators to identify practical ways of integrating wildlife into the hospitality experience without compromising animal welfare or guest safety.

The legislator further argued that Uganda must diversify its tourism offerings in order to compete with other destinations in the region.

“Our animals are our greatest selling point. But if we keep them only in the parks, we limit exposure. Tourists should encounter them as part of everyday hospitality,” Opendi said.

Her proposal sparked debate on how far the country should go in commercialising wildlife, with some MPs cautioning that animal welfare standards and environmental conservation must remain a priority.

Others, however, welcomed the idea as a creative way of boosting revenue and improving Uganda’s global brand as the “Pearl of Africa.”

The call comes at a time when Uganda’s tourism sector is recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking new strategies to attract more international visitors.

According to the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), wildlife remains the country’s single biggest attraction, accounting for over 70% of visitor interest.

Tourism board responds

Simplicious Gessa , head of public relations at UTB cautioned against the proposal, stressing that wild animals cannot simply be moved into hotels. He explained that there are established legal frameworks governing how people interact with wildlife, including gazetted areas and user-right laws approved by Parliament.

“A wild animal is a wild animal; there is a process that allows for that. You cannot have them interface with tourists,” Gessa said.

According to him, such interactions are better managed through designated facilities like zoos rather than hotels.

He added that most hotels already collaborate with tour operators to take guests to see animals in their natural habitats.

“We shall certainly not just carry animals and take them to the hotels. The hotels are already making arrangements to take tourists to the wildlife.”

If adopted, Opendi’s proposal could see hotels in major tourist towns collaborate with wildlife authorities to host select species, such as giraffes, zebras, or smaller primates, in controlled and secure environments designed to enrich the visitor experience.

Uganda has mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, elephants, and over 1,000 bird species, making it a significant biodiversity hotspot, particularly within the Albertine Rift. 

The country features diverse habitats that support numerous mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and butterflies, with iconic species like Rothschild's giraffes found in Murchison Falls National Park and tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.  

Uganda possesses rich wildlife and fauna, with over 1,073 bird species and 345 mammal species, spread out in different national parks. 

These include:

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Kibale Forest National Park

• Kidepo Valley National Park

• Lake Mburo National Park

• Murchison Falls National Park

• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

• Mount Elgon National Park

• Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Rwenzori Mountains National Park

• Semuliki National Park

• Uganda Wildlife Authority - UWA

• The ten National Parks include Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, Kibale, Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, Semuliki, Mgahinga Gorilla,