The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has procured new executive boats to ferry tourists on Lake Mburo National Park of Kiruhura district. Local residents neighboring the Park, last week sowed humor and excitement, during the inauguration ceremony of the newly imported boats.
For the first time, scores of Ugandans, mostly those nearby the Lake Mburo National Park were entitled to a free entrance to the park, according to UWA. The park open day that started with a wild run within the park and attracted many area residents. The runners did the 5 and 10 kilometers run, from the Nshara gate along the Kiruhura- Mbarara highway to the park main entrance.
Among the runners, was State Minister for Tourism in Uganda, Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi who graced the heat, to complete the 10km race.
The day was to allow locals have a feel of what transpires in the park, including seeing animals such as zebras, buffaloes and elands.But the main excitement was when the locals were ushered into the newly imported UWA executive boats. The boats with a 45 seating capacity shall be used for boat cruise along the Lake Mburo.
Kiwanda said UWA has purchased three boats to serve the parks with lakes and rivers such as Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
“Our target is to boost local tourism and attract revenue. That is why we have purchased these executive boats. Similarly, we also recently ordered for five executive buses to ferry Ugandans interested in visiting the parks from Kampala to the various parks,” said Kiwanda.
He told the gathering at Lake Mburo National Park that the executive buses will come full with free wifi and internet services, a restaurant and bar as well as state of the art digital screen complete with a GPRs to show the occupants where they are and where they are heading too.
Kiwanda further said the open park days will be held annually in all the 10 national parks of Uganda that is Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley, Mt. Elgon, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibaale, Semiliki, Pian Upe, and Rwenzori Mountain.Kiwanda in addition urged Ugandans to enjoy the beauty of the parks; especially at this time when there is peace and security.
He hailed the Federation of Uganda Tourism Initiative (FUTI) for organizing the wild runs. FUTI team leader, Abdul Muhiire said they have so far held similar wild runs in Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kidepo, with a view of sensitizing the communities neighboring the parks to love nature and be part of the conservation. Muhiire said they have organized similar wild runs in all the parks for the entire one year.
UWA public Relations Officer, Gesa Simplicious, said the management would sit and come up with a national park open day calendar, to be followed for all national parks spread across the country.
