More than 6,000 tourists visited Queen Elizabeth National Park during a three-day Open Park Days initiative aimed at encouraging Ugandans to explore the country’s protected areas.
The event, held from September 25 to 27, 2026, saw the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) waive park entry fees, attracting about 4,000 nationals from East African countries and 2,000 international tourists.
Under the current tariff, Ugandan nationals pay 20,000 Shillings to enter the park, while foreign visitors pay 35 US dollars. For many Ugandans, additional costs such as transport, accommodation, guided activities and boat cruises can make a visit considerably more expensive.
But the turnout recorded during the open park days has renewed calls for greater access to Uganda’s national parks, with tourism officials and local stakeholders arguing that reducing the cost of visiting protected areas could build a stronger domestic and regional tourism market.
Fredrick Eria Kisame, the Chief Warden of Queen Elizabeth National Park, said waiving entry fees demonstrated that cost remains an important consideration for many potential local visitors. He said making the parks more accessible could help Ugandans and other East Africans develop a lasting interest in domestic tourism and better appreciate the country’s natural heritage.
Kisame added that UWA is considering establishing regional zoos that would serve as educational and nature-immersion centres, particularly for communities that may not frequently visit national parks.
Beyond entry fees, UWA is also looking at the cost of activities inside the parks. Paul Godfrey Kiwanuka, the UWA Senior Warden in charge of engineering, said the authority is in the process of procuring two marine boats to support boat-cruise operations.
He said the investment is intended, among other things, to reduce the cost of boat cruises and make the experience more affordable to local visitors.
The push for more affordable tourism comes as Uganda seeks to expand domestic and regional tourism beyond the traditional international market.
Eric Baluku, the Kasese Municipality Tourism Officer, urged communities living around Queen Elizabeth National Park to view tourism as an alternative source of household income, saying the sector presents opportunities in accommodation, guiding, transport, food, crafts and other businesses.
Baluku described Open Park Days as an important marketing tool for the tourism industry and called for the initiative to be extended from three days to between five and seven days to give more people an opportunity to visit and experience the country’s natural attractions.
Brian Kivumbi, a local tour guide, urged the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to consider holding Open Park Days twice a year. He said the benefits of the initiative extend beyond the park gates because visitors spend money on transport, accommodation, food, guiding and other services in surrounding communities even when entry to the park is free.
Henry Kabiriri, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Busongora in Kasese, said visiting several national parks during the Open Park Days initiative was an eye-opening experience. He urged citizens to support peace and security, saying a safe environment is essential if more Ugandans and international tourists are to visit and enjoy the country’s natural attractions.
The strong turnout at Queen Elizabeth National Park suggests that there is significant interest in domestic and regional tourism when financial barriers are reduced. For Uganda, the challenge is now to turn such initiatives into sustained access to protected areas while ensuring that increased visitation supports conservation and benefits communities living around the parks-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
