In response to a petition from Members of Parliament representing Northern Uganda and West Nile, news reaching ugnewsline desk indicates that the President of Uganda Gen. (RTD) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has temporarily halted the fees charged on those using the Murchison Falls National Park route.
According to sources, the charges by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been suspended until further notice.
This concern followed after the closure of the Karuma Bridge.
While the fee isn’t unfamiliar to regular users of the park route, traders and leaders from the Greater North argue that it has led to a sharp increase in transportation expenses.
Prior to the suspension, travelers using the park had to pay a fee of shs25,000 being a tourism road.
Consequently, they claim that this has considerably inflated transport costs, resulting in delays in the delivery of goods and services that impact both traders and consumers.
Recently, UWA decided to exempt buses and heavy trucks from this fee while keeping the charges for other vehicles in place.
The recent closure of the Karuma Bridge has led numerous bus services to adopt the Eastern route via Soroti to reach Northern Uganda, resulting in a modest increase in fares.
For example, buses traveling from Kampala to Lira previously charged between shs30,000 and shs35,000 when utilizing the Karuma Bridge; however, the current fare for the Eastern route ranges from shs50,000 to shs60,000.
While the President’s decision is viewed as a positive step, it raises questions about the future of the tourism sector, especially with unrestricted access for everyone into the park.
Industry experts emphasize the necessity for the government to establish a system that implements a reasonable entry fee.
“Opening the park to the public for just three months isn’t not fair. This is a protected area and needs funds to be maintained. This decision carries significant implications, particularly regarding the safety of the wildlife,” Rona Ahereza, a tour operator noted.
