Low cost accommodation in short supply in Uganda's national parks

May 13, 2014

The shortage of affordable accommodation facilities in protected areas is rising because of exclusive and legal restrictive agreements government entered into with investors in some of the national parks.

By John Odyek

The shortage of affordable accommodation facilities in protected areas is rising because of exclusive and legal restrictive agreements government entered into with investors in some of the national parks.
 
Members of Parliament have expressed concern that even the existing hotels, lodges were ‘high end type’ and could not be afforded by medium to low income earners.
 
They have asked the government to review these agreements and allow in more investors especially to provide low budget rooms for people who come to see wild animals, birds, flora and fauna in the national parks.
 
Maria Mutagamba, minister for tourism said the shortage of accommodation is felt most in the Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.
 
“There is currently a legal restriction on additional investments within Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park due to commitments that were entered into in the early 1990s,” Mutagamba said.
 
Mutagamba said the commitments blocked other investors from setting up accommodation facilities within the parks and near the parks for several years.
 
Mutagamba revealed that Uganda Wildlife Authority has taken a step to bring in more investors in the Murchison Falls National Park. The investors include Protea Hotels Ltd, Bomah Hotels Ltd and AMPROC Ltd.
 
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