UWA fully reopens national parks to tourists

Uganda Wildlife Authority has announced that it has fully reopened all national parks to both local and international tourists around the country.

Following the announcement of the lockdown by government, all national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and 13 sanctuaries were closed to visitors to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.

However, according to the latest statement, these have been fully reopened for visits but under strict guidelines to avoid the spread of the virus.

“The management of Uganda Wildlife Authority wishes to inform the public that after consultations with various stakeholders, and putting in place standard operating procedures for the containment of the possible spread of Covid-19, all parks are now open for tourism,” the statement read in part.

Guidelines

According to UWA, there will be mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infra-red thermometers at the key tourism gates of the different protected areas whereas there will be mandatory washing of hands, sanitizing , wearing of facemasks inside the protected areas and observation of social distance.

“All tourists going for primate tracking activities should carry at least two N95 masks or surgical masks or double-layered cloth masks with filters whereas government guidelines of carrying half capacity in order to observe social distancing shall apply to the use of vehicles and boats it the park.”

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According to UWA, saloon cars shall not be permitted to do game drive activities in the protected areas.

Uganda Wildlife Authority also says that their staff have been trained and provided with appropriate wear to protect them and visitors from catching Coronavirus.

The Covid-19 National Taskforce early this week recommended to President Museveni that the airport and country’s borders should be reopened but under strict guidelines.

These have been closed for over six months since March when the first case of Coronavirus was discovered in the country.

However, because Uganda’s tourism sector depends much on Europe and American markets, despite the reopening of the airport and borders, the country will continue depending much on domestic and intra-Africa tourism until Europe and America relax on their aviation restrictions on flying to other areas.

Of recent, domestic tourism had taken shape.

Recently UWA released a host of incentives, including slashed fees aimed at reviving the tourism sector that has been greatly affected by the Coronavirus pandemic that hit the world.

UWA slashes fees in incentive to revive tourism as lockdown eases

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