Cabinet is to decide next week on the fees charged by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on passenger vehicles passing through the Murchison Falls National Park.
Since the closure of the Karuma Bridge for construction works expected to last for three months, vehicles that used the Bridge to access Northern Uganda and the West Nile region were diverted to alternative routes like the one that runs through Murchison Falls National Park which was initially reserved for tourists.
People using the Kichumbanyobo Gate to access Northern Uganda pay fees ranging between shs 40,000 and 50,000 to help in conserving wildlife but the route from Tangi-Bugungu to Northern Uganda is free of charge.
However, the news of the charges on those using the road through Murchison Falls National Park did not go well with passengers heading to Northern Uganda hence calling for Government intervention.
While addressing the press at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the State Minister for Tourism, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka explained that this matter was again tabled before cabinet and they explained that they cannot allow passengers to go through the national park without paying since they won’t be able to differentiate between normal passengers and tourists yet they have to continue conserving the environment in the park.
However, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was not convinced with their argument of the fees being charged to be used in environmental conservation works hence advising them to return to cabinet next Monday with scientists to explain more on the matter.
By Olivia Nabaggala
1st Oct 2024
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