The Head of Communications at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Bashir Hangi, has criticized media outlets for consistently depicting Uganda as an unfavorable tourist destination. Hangi expressed concerns about the negative impact this portrayal has on the entire country, affecting everyone from food vendors and taxi drivers to hotel owners.
Despite a recent incident involving the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Hangi emphasized that Uganda has a strong record of visitor safety and warm hospitality, with the ADF event being an isolated occurrence that should not tarnish Uganda’s reputation as a tourism destination.
“Prior to COVID-19, our country welcomed 330K tourists. Recently, we’ve exceeded these pre-pandemic figures, with over 360K tourists. These statistics underscore the trust and security our country provides for visitors,” he noted further
To ensure the safety of tourists and prevent cancellations in the tourism sector, the Uganda Police have deployed additional security measures at various national parks. The police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, confirmed the enhanced security measures and stated that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is utilizing all available resources to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the recent attack in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Despite the recent attack, Uganda remains committed to maintaining its reputation as a safe and hospitable tourism destination. The country’s proactive measures in enhancing security and pursuing the perpetrators of the attack serve to reassure tourists and safeguard the tourism industry.
