UGANDA TOURISM NOT READY FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMON MARKET

By Baluku Geoffrey

Kampala, Uganda

Uganda by common consent of travelers continues to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The country not only has a great diversity and profusion of wildlife species but has also had 23 years of dramatic tourism growth. It is not only home to the highest number of mountain gorillas but has also been voted the number one birding destination in Africa.

The tourism sector is however faced with a number of challenges ranging from high cost of finance and constrained access to credit to inadequate opportunities to support technological transfer and low bargaining and lobbying capacity. This is yet to be compounded with a new challenge of the planned common market for the five East African countries.

Tourism in Uganda is known to be built on the natural and cultural resources which are usually the few assets owned by the poor. With the integration of East Africa and planned common market, the poor especially those in tourism related enterprises may end up being pushed out of business. The Ugandan market will for instance be flooded with Kenya and Tanzanian products such as crafts which will in way over shadow our own.

There is an Asian saying that goes, “Tourism is like a fire, you can cook your food with it or it can burn your house down”. It is clear that Uganda has not yet reached the level of Kenya and Tanzania.

Considering the limited facilities characterized by monopolies in Ugandan National parks, opening up the tourism sector to the East African common market may worsen the already fragile industry. Assuming many companies with a strong financial base such as Somak entered the Ugandan market, they would eventually control the entire tour operation business which would make conflict inevitable.

Government should handle the planned process of a common market in phases. This can be done in consultation with the tourism industry players. What is happening at the moment is that industry players have been left at the periphery of the whole negotiation process.

Irrespective of the capitalistic ideas, there is need for an element of “protectionism” for the Ugandan industry players. There is also need for standardization of tourism products and the fast implementation of the Tourism Act prior to opening up to the East African Common market.

Locals need to be empowered so that they are able to compete with counter parts in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. If this is not done, then conflict will always arise.