State Minister for Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, has confirmed that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will persist in charging vehicles passing through Murchison Falls National Park.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, Mugarra clarified that the charges are not unique to Murchison Falls, countering claims that other national parks do not impose similar fees.
He explained that the Kichumbanyobo Paraa Tangi-Pakwach bridge road was specifically designed as a tourism route and not for general public use.
“The tarmacking of this road does not alter its status as a park tourism road. The upgrade to bitumen was primarily aimed at enhancing tourism within the park,” Mugarra stated, noting that the park was created for both administrative and tourism purposes.
His remarks came in response to concerns raised by several MPs from northern Uganda, led by Gilbert Olanya of Kilak County, who argued that charging travellers heading to northern Uganda is unjust, especially when those travelling through other parks like Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth do not face similar fees.
“The road through Murchison Falls National Park was developed for tourism and administrative use. Travellers to West Nile and Northern Uganda can use an alternative route through Kiryandongo via Karuma Bridge at no cost, despite also passing through Murchison Falls,” Mugarra added.
Recently, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) closed Karuma Bridge for three months for repairs after it sustained cracks, prompting travellers to use alternative routes. However, the UWA has been charging fees at the Kichumbanyobo gate for access to the newly tarmacked road. Mugarra reassured that access to the park is still available through the Bugungu gate at no cost.
While acknowledging the need for transit through the park, Mugarra emphasized the importance of balancing this with wildlife conservation efforts. “UWA has provided a free alternative route through the Bugungu gate, which adds approximately 30 kilometers to the journey to Kampala if travelling via Hoima. In contrast, the Kichumbanyobo route adds around 50 kilometers, but both routes will take a similar amount of time to traverse,” he explained.
The cost for accessing Murchison National Park varies based on vehicle size, ranging from Shs20,000 to Shs500,000.
