Kampala, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Ministry of Finance to expedite the signing of a commercial contract with DOTT Services as part of a renewed push to fix the long-delayed roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In a February 17, 2026, letter seen by this publication and addressed to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, the President expressed concern over delays in implementing a 2019 directive to engage DOTT Services to upgrade roads to key gorilla trekking gates.
“In 2019, I directed that DOTT Services be engaged to urgently upgrade the roads leading to all the trekking gates of Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija sectors of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Seven years later, the commercial contract is yet to be signed, and the roads have continued to be notoriously poor and impassable, particularly during the rainy season when they become muddy and slippery,” Museveni wrote.
“At times, landslides completely block the roads, causing significant delays and forcing tourists to walk long distances or spend nights in vehicles,” he added.
While Bwindi generates over $20 million annually in direct permit sales for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Mr Museveni noted that the country is losing “over $40 million by selling permits at half price compared with other markets, which is partially attributed to poor accessibility.”
He attributed part of this loss to poor accessibility, with tourists often forced to walk long distances or spend nights in vehicles due to impassable roads, especially during the rainy season. “At times, landslides completely block the roads, causing significant delays,” the directive states.
Bwindi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, acts as a catalyst for tourism across the country, driving visitor numbers to other national parks.
The President directed the Ministry of Finance to expedite “the signing of the commercial contract with DOTT Services and to use part of the loan acquired from Vitol Bahrain to finance the contract.”
In addition, he directed the expedited construction of 9 kilometers under the same arrangement from Kabale NTC to Kakomo via Arcadia Lodges, where Serena Hotel is planning to establish a five-star hotel.
He also ordered the urgent construction of a 9-kilometre road stretch from Kabale NTC to Kakomo via Arcadia Lodges, where a five-star hotel is planned.
In a sweeping directive, Museveni ordered the removal of what he described as “embarrassing and unplanned shanty trading centres” located within 500 metres of key trekking gates at Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo.
“All the embarrassing and unplanned shanty trading centres located within 500 metres of the gates of Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo trekking gates must be removed after compensating the owners and replaced with trees,” Museveni ordered.
“Souvenir and Artcraft shops for local artisans must be established at all gates under the same funding.”
The presidential directive raises fresh questions about delays in implementing key tourism infrastructure projects, particularly given that the original order was issued in 2019.
The continued inaction, despite the sector’s critical contribution to Uganda’s economy, is likely to trigger scrutiny over procurement processes, inter-agency coordination, and project execution timelines.
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