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Uganda: UWA in Deal With Tour Operators
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The Monitor (Kampala)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Dorothy Nakawesi
Kampala
UGANDA Wildlife Authority (UWA) has signed concession agreements with three companies for the operation of private boats and launch cruises in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
The three investors who signed the contracts are: Adrift Adventure Co. Ltd- which will be operating along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, G & C Tours Ltd will be operating along the Nile river at Murchison Falls National Park, Marasa Ltd which will be operating at both Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks for their guests at Mweya Safari Lodge and Para Safari Lodge respectively.
UWA made the decision to introduce private launches and boats in order to improve on the quality of services offered to tourists and other clients. The Executive Director UWA Mr Moses Mapesa after signing the contracts on March 19 at the UWA offices said: "The introduction of private launch cruises is expected to boost the capacity and experience of tourists in the two national parks, create more jobs for the communities around, as it will provide more options and this service will be available anytime and day".
He added: "UWA is introducing the private boats at a time when the number of local and foreign tourists to the protected areas is increasing rapidly. We have received inquiries from tourists about these services".
Current figures of visitors to Uganda have gone beyond 600,000 and of these over 120,000 are destined for the protected areas.
The private operators signed a ten-year concession agreement which is renewable every after fives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery for this tourist activity, which is very popular among tourists and always marks the highlight of visits to the parks.
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The companies paid a total sum of $5,000 (Shs8.5 million) as concession lease fees plus UWA $5 (Shs8, 500) from each visitor who will be using these services. On average each visitor is changed $20 (Shs34, 000).
The three companies were selected through a competitive bidding process as provided for by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) a public procurement regulation. However a fourth private operator will also come on board as soon as negotiations are complete.
Private companies operating in Murchison Falls National Park will each have two 40-seater cruise launches and two 10-seater boats, while those for Queen Elizabeth National Park will each have one 40-seater launch and two 10-seater boats.
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