KIRYANDONGO, UGANDA: Kiryandongo District Council sitting on June 30, 2023, approved a Shillings 1.9 billion Tourism Development Plan which will run for five years to uplift the tourism sector in the district.
According to Mr Ronald Rimbosh Okello, the Kiryandongo Tourism Officer, the plan will help in improving the stock and quality of tourism infrastructure, developing & diversify tourism products, developing a pool of skilled personnel along the tourism value chain and promoting domestic and inbound tourism an enhanced regulated, coordinated & managed tourism in the District.
Mr Okello however decried that for the fiscal year that ended June 30, only Shs 2 million had been budgeted for tourism works in the district which leaves the the sector unable to undertake any substantial physical development or make a significant impact on tourism improvement.
“The money cannot adequately support the development of the tourism sector in our district. We urgently require increased funding in the next financial year to unlock the full potential of our tourism offerings,” he emphasized.
The plan according to him targets to increase tourism foreign exchange earnings from 1.45 billion to 1.862 billion Ugandan Shillings, tourism share to GDP from 7.3% to 8.5% and direct employment of youth from 5% to 50% by 2025.
The development comes amidst a significant setback in the district’s tourism sector which has been largely attributed to inadequate funding from government and stakeholders.
Kiryandongo District boasts of a variety of tourism potentials ranging from flora and fauna with three-quarters of Murchison Falls National Park to cultural and historical sites and this informed the development of the District Tourism Development Plan.
Additional reporting by Emmanuel Murungi / Communications Officer, Kiryandongo District Local Government
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