Transboundary Conservation and Northern Uganda

Transboundary conservation is a strategy that has multiple benefits. It can foster peace and cooperation; secure areas for biodiversity conservation; provide resilience to climate change impacts; and enhance nature based economic activities in and around transboundary conservation areas. Through the US Forest Service (International Programs) and with funding from USAID, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has assisted the East African Community to organize and successfully conduct the first regional conference on Transboundary Conservation in East Africa. As part of the background information to the conference a situational analysis of transboundary conservation in East Africa and an accompanying video were prepared. Both the analysis and the video highlight the current status of transboundary conservation in East Africa as well as its constraints and opportunities. The situational analysis and the conference proceedings will be availed online once completed. 

WCS is involved in transboundary conservation in Uganda and neighboring countries through its Albertine Rift Program which supports conservation authorities and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration in conserving one of the most biodiverse regions in Africa. Similarly WCS, under its USAID funded Wildlife, Landscapes, and Development for Conservation (WILD) program, supported the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in transboundary collaboration in conservation landscapes along the border with South Sudan,.particularly in the Kidepo and the Mount Otze - Dufile landscapes.

The contents of the video and the opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the East African Community, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Forest Service or the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Uganda Diaspora Summit in Gulu and Tourism

"My Home, My Investment” was the theme for the Investment Summit of Ugandan Diaspora organized by Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) / Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Acholi Inn in Gulu on 22^nd December 2011. Since 2007 UIA has made it an annual event to invite Ugandans living in Diaspora to events that encourage them to invest in their home country Uganda. The events are organized in a series of summits and the Gulu one was the first of its kind in 2011 followed by two other summits in Kampala.

Wildlife Conservation Society was invited to inform the attendants about the tourism investment opportunities in Northern Uganda, the first time that the Tourism in Northern Uganda was featured as an opportunity at such event.

Apart from highlighting numerous opportunities directly in tourism sector (water-based tourism, nature, culture); the discussion of the participants also focused on related activities such as agricultural interventions which could help mitigate human-wildlife conflict (e.g. chili farming, apiculture, lemon grass and sim sim production). It was also noted that more needs to be done in public relations to highlight stability and peache in Northern Uganda.

The discussions at the summit also revolved along other industry sectors, such as agriculture, financial services, oil industry, and infrastructure.

Carol Bogezi, WCS representative presents attendees about tourism investment opportunities in northern Uganda.

World Tourism Day 2011

World Tourism Day (September 27^th 2011) festivities took place in Taks Centre in Gulu organized by Uganda Tourism Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

The five-day celebrations and expo climaxed on 27^th September with marching through Gulu town. During the expo different government organizations and private companies in the tourism industry in Uganda showcased and advertised their products and services.

The minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu was present as well as the third deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Gen. Moses Ali as the main guest-of-honour. Other guests included UWA boss, Dr. Andrew Seguya, Amos Wekesa of Uganda Tourism Association (UTA); District Chairpersons; Residential District Commissioners; area MPs; students from within Gulu; and many others.

WCS shared an exhibit stall with Uganda Tourism Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority to display their materials and speak about the tourism potential in Northern Uganda to students, private companies and the prime minister. WCS/UTA distributed some books/DVDs to the guests.

The discussions emphasized the peace in Gulu and Northern Uganda as a whole, and human wildlife conflict featured prominently as a topic in many speeches and discussions. In general, attendees enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their products, services, and make new industry connections.

I befriended a gorilla !

I love Gulu shirts on sale

Global Village Tour Van on Exhibit

Northern Uganda Tourism Gallery

Northern Uganda, a group on Flickr.

We just set up a Gallery on Flickr to pool all of the nice pictures of Northern Uganda. Enjoy the landscapes, people, wildlife, history. Post your pics on Flickr and join the Group !

Welcome & Introduction

Dear Friend,

Welcome to our new page dedicated to tourism development in Northern Uganda.

This effort has built upon a 3-year work of Wildlife Conservation Society (www.wcs.org) in the northern landscapes and is founded on a detailed knowledge of several landscapes and its people. We have become very fond of the places which deserve and require much needed investment for visitors to enjoy its beauty.

Tourism in Uganda has largely recovered from the political instability in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In the Southern and Western regions of the country, private investment in tourist facilities is evident and this has made it possible for these sub-regions to handle the increasing number of visitors. In northern Uganda, tourism attractions ranging from wildlife-rich landscapes, scenic rivers, to cultural and historical sites, could not be accessed due to the insecurity, which at times included Murchison Fall National Park.

With the return of peace to northern Uganda, there is an increase in the number of visitors to the region. Currently, most are either business tourists or family and friends of people working in the region. Significant opportunities exist to expand the scope and scale of tourism activities throughout northern Uganda.

This blog provides information on tourism potential along the Albert Nile and in the landscapes surrounding more prominent conservation areas of northern Uganda (Kidepo Valley, East Madi, Agoro Agu, Mt.Otzi and others). It is intended to serve as an initial guide to prospective investors and visitors to the region.

Best start to learn about the region is to watch the video below and download our booklet.

Video: Inviting Investors to Northern Uganda