The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade, and Industry has known as for rapid funding in tourism infrastructure throughout key websites in Northern Uganda.
In their report offered throughout plenary sitting in Gulu City on Friday, 30 August 2024, the Committee Deputy Chairperson who doubles because the Northern Uganda Youth Representative, Hon. Boniface Okot highlighted that lots of the websites just like the Barlonyo Massacre Site in Lira District, Abok Massacre Site in Oyam District, and Sir Samuel Baker’s Fort in Gulu are in dire want of growth to draw each home and worldwide vacationers.
“The state of infrastructure at these websites is regarding. Roads resulting in the websites are virtually impassable, and the shortage of fundamental amenities corresponding to electrical energy, water, and sanitation is a significant deterrent to guests,” Okot mentioned.
One of the important thing suggestions of the report is the collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and different stakeholders to make sure that essential infrastructure is developed. This contains bettering street networks and offering important utilities on the websites.
The committee additionally underscored the significance of enhancing the customer expertise by introducing charming options on the websites.
“For websites just like the Barlonyo Massacre Site and Abok Massacre Site, the absence of graphic pictures and artefacts that depict the tragic occasions makes it troublesome for guests to attach with the historical past,” the report famous.
In addition to infrastructure growth, the committee urged the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to expedite the method of amassing and documenting the wealthy verbal historical past related to these websites.
The report warns that the lack of people who possess this information shall be a big blow to the preservation of Uganda’s cultural heritage.
“We can not afford to lose this invaluable historical past. It is crucial that the ministry acts swiftly to doc and protect the tales and recollections related to these websites,” Okot added.
The committee’s findings additionally revealed a scarcity of authorized possession of land on which among the vacationer websites are located posing a danger of third-party pursuits.
The report recommends that the ministry companions with related authorities establishments to expedite the processing of land titles to safe the websites for future generations.
The committee additionally emphasised that with the correct investments, Northern Uganda’s tourism sector has the potential to considerably contribute to the nation’s financial progress.
Following the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in Northern Uganda, a number of bloodbath locations have been changed into memorials the place kin, pals, the group of the deceased go to honour those who had been killed by the LRA. The LRA struggle that lasted for over 20 years noticed 1000’s killed and thousands and thousands displaced.
Some of the opposite websites in Acholi embody, Lukodi Memorial in Gulu and Odek Massacre.
Oyam District Woman Representative, Hon. Santa Alum said that at Barlonyo, the location is poorly managed with very poor roads and sanitation amenities.
“When you attain there, there are not any photos to depict what occurred. The minister is right here; I hope you might have ever gone to the genocide memorial in Rwanda, we will begin from there. There isn’t any fence and persons are vandalising the place,” she mentioned.
Bugweri District Woman Representative, Hon. Rachel Magoola proposed that there needs to be a rise in give attention to cultural tourism as a substitute of concentrating on cultural websites.
“We are likely to give attention to websites and animals, however if you pass over the folks, you might have not noted the principle ingredient that makes tourism price it,” she mentioned.
Gulu City Woman MP, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan mentioned a number of websites have been not noted within the allocation to cultural and historic websites like Aruu Falls and Fort Patiko.
She known as for the inclusion of the 2 and building of amenities to help its progress.
“In Northern Uganda, efforts haven’t been made to develop the tourism websites. I wish to remind the committee on the Aruu Falls which is cherished by the younger folks. We must develop it. Additionally, the Sir Samuel Baker website often called Fort Patiko could be very dangerous,” she added.
Omoro County MP, Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah mentioned that a number of nationwide roads which result in tourism websites haven’t been labored on.
He proposed the constructing of the capability of the nation to be tourism centric.
The Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Martin Mugarra mentioned that of the 19 tourism websites in Northern Uganda, the ministry is simply accountable for 9. He attributed this to restricted sources saying that, extra funding within the tourism business will help higher administration of the location
