UWA Gives UGX 4.189 Billions to Communities Around Murchison Falls Park

As an initiative to support and appreciate local communities adjacent to National Parks, Uganda Wildlife Authority recently handed over UGX 4,189,834,069 to local communities surrounding Murchison Falls National park. The money was handed over by Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, the minister of tourism, wildlife antiquities at Bulisa district headquarters. This money will be shared between Pakwach, Kiryandongo, Nwoya, Oyam, Bulisa and Masindi districts, which surround Murchison Falls National Park. The money was shared under the revenue sharing scheme that allocates 20% of total tourism revenue aimed at promoting the local livelihood of local people and promotes a positive local attitude, which enhances tourism development and progress. In his speech, Minister Kamuntu thanked locale people who have worked hand in hand with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to promote wildlife conservation in National parks and protected areas all over Uganda. In April 2019, UWA did the same by giving out UGX 4 billions to local communities around Mgahinga and Bwindi Forest National parks, homes to the endangered mountain gorillas. Revenue sharing has improved relationships between local people with the Uganda Wildlife Authority team, which has helped to solve human-wildlife conflicts. Among the people who attended this meeting was Residents District Commissioners of the six districts, technical officers, local councils chairpersons, and Chief Administrative officers among others.

Revenue shared is collected from park entrance fees to savannah parks, activities such as launch cruise and game viewing, sell of chimpanzee permits for the chimpanzees and gorilla permits in Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Forest National Park. This money is used to support local projects such as building schools, health centers, water tanks and houses for those relocated to new places for wildlife conservation. Also, local leaders were urged to make sure money is equally distributed for the best of local people and the improvement of local livelihood. On the other hand, local people were asked to support wildlife conservation and help the government to fight against all illegal practices especially poaching and encroachment in National parks.

Benefits of the tourism sector
With no doubt, tourism is currently a major source of revenue for the government of Uganda. Over 50% of Uganda’s foreign exchange earning is from tourism, which has improved the country’s gross domestic product. More so, several employment opportunities such as waiters, waitress, park rangers, local guides, housekeepers, lodge/hotel managers and porters among others have been created for local people. This earns them a living hence improving their standards of living.

About Murchison Falls National park

Located in Northwestern Uganda, Murchison Falls is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park spreading over 3,892 square kilometers of land and was established in 1952 a must-visit of all Uganda Safaris. The park comprises of Karuma wildlife reserve, Bugungu wildlife reserve, and Budongo forest. The mighty Murchison falls in the heart of the park is the highlight of Uganda safaris to Northwestern Uganda. Also, Murchison falls national park has a high concentration of wild animals such as African buffalos, giraffes, elephants, lions, waterbucks, warthogs, Elands, Topis, Uganda Kobs, Impalas, chimpanzees, Patas monkeys, olive baboons, and Jackson’s heartbeats among others.

Tourist activities in Murchison Falls National Park
Travelers to Murchison falls national park have an endless list of things to see and do. These include among others:
• Game viewing/ Game driving
• Hike to the top of Murchison Falls
• Launch Cruise to the bottom of the falls
• Bird watching
• Nature walk
• Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest

How to get to Murchison falls National park
Murchison Falls Park can be acceded by road or air transport depending on the client’s budget and available time. The distance from Kampala to Murchison Falls National park is roughly 6 hours drive through Masindi. At times, Travelers stop at Zziwa Rhino sanctuary to make their safari a complete package.

Where to sleep in Murchison Falls National park

Wondering where to sleep in Murchison Falls National park? No worries, a variety of lodges and hotels have been built to serve you with first-class food and sleeping services ensuring your comfortable stay in Murchison Falls National Park. The top lodges/safari camps in Murchison Falls National park include Paara Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Amuka Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge and Bwana Tembo Safari Camp among others.

About the power dam project in Murchison falls
Uganda tour operators and visitors have been are still mad at the plans of the government to contract a hydropower dam at Murchison falls. However, Minister Kamuntu comforted people that an environmental impact assessment is being conducted to find out whether dam construction will not affect the waterfalls. Murchison falls will, therefore, stay conserved as the iconic tourist attraction in Murchison Falls National Park and Uganda as a whole.

In general, the sharing of tourism revenue with local communities adjacent to Murchison Falls National park is a good and positive move. Contact Africa Adventure Safaris, book a Uganda safari to Murchison Falls and explore the true African wilderness.