Uganda: Tourism Development Under NDP III

Mildred Tuhaise

Tourism development is one of the 20 NDPiii programmes contributing to the attainment of NDPIIi objective of increasing production and productivity of key growth sectors, aimed at increasing Uganda's attractiveness as a preferred tourism destination.

The program's main objectives are targeted at Promoting domestic and indound tourism, increasing stock and quality of the tourism intrastructure including road network, flights, hotels/accommodation among others.

Developing, conserving and diversifying tourism products and services, developing a pool of skilled personeel along the tourism value chain and ensure decent working conditions for example tour guides, waiters/waitresses etc and above all enhance regulation, coordination and management of tourism.

"This is the third time the staff of this hotel have been attacked in broad daylight . We are cognizant of commercial disputes between the parties however we can not allow hooliganism and lawlessness to be a way of solving commercial disputes in this industry. Such actions dents the very destination we invest heavily to showcase and market," Owino asserted.

The sector is yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that almost crippled it, due to strict movement restrictions imposed across the world.

The stakeholders have called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to intervene, so that the suspects and those behind the attack are apprehended and charged in court.

"While we appreciate the tourists police for their response during the attack ,we wish to also convey our disappointment with local security apparatus, we expected the local security to have intelligence of impending attack or even respond , not even local senior security leadership nor local police responded in time when the staff and guest were attacked and clobbered, no arrest has been made since then. It really raises serious concern," he said..

Similar calls for justice were made by locals living around the hotel- which has been a source of living for many.

"We can't afford to lose all these jobs. We want the government to ensure the incidents are arrested," one of the residents said.

An intended takeover of the hotel by the Kenya Commercial Bank was stopped through court order, pending hearing and determination of a suit challenging the move.

Mombasa High Court set January 9 as the mention date for the case.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua has since condemned the incident and called for a stern action against the perpetrators.

"Consequently a hotel that was full is now struggling at a time when the tourism business is at its peak , some staff are still nursing injuries with the majority traumatized. The staff are locals here and attacking them is an attack on the local community and the livelihoods," Owino said.

During the attack, the hotel was hosting 60 tourists from the United Kingdom.

"We are a county governed by law, we must therefore not allow such anarchy to prevail, worse is within the delicate hospitality sector," the stakeholders said.

November 30, 2023