Rejection of budget cuts by Mps in Tourism sector.
“Uganda Tour is a key contributor to foreign revenue and a remedy to debt burden” members of parliament said in rejection of budget project cuts in Tourism sector.
From Shs195 billion in 2022/2023 Financial Year to Shs89.29 billion, Legislators dismayed the government in move to cut the tourism budget.
Mwine Mpaka, the Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry said that with these cuts, the budget for the Uganda Tourism Board reduces from Shs26.45 billion to Shs4.3 billion. Budget cut will contradict the government’s focus on promoting and marketing the country’s tourism to earn more foreign exchange and create jobs.
On Tuesday, 17 January 2023, Mwine Mpaka made these remarks as he presented his committee report before the Budget Committee.
In the next financial year, Mr.Mpaka had planned to collect Shs10 billion from tourism activities, the budgetary cuts of Shs8 billion will constrain the authority from running its operations from Shs21 billion.
Mwine Mpaka said that UWA will not sustain itself, its revenue targets will not be realized. Wages for UWA alone are Shs44 billion. UWA has just recruited 900 rangers, these will not be sustained if the cuts stand.
Besides UWA, UWEC budget has been reduced from Shs9 billion to Shs1.9 billion.
“He hoped government would in the next financial year address the infrastructural challenges faced by the sector” Sheema Municipality MP Dicksons Kateshumbwa.
What are challenges faced?
- poor infrastructure.
- No piped water extension.
- No internet to the national parks.
Kateshumbwa said the quality and reliability of internet in parks is a problem, in Tanzania, they can do live streaming on Mt Kilimanjaro. They are talking of upgrading hotels, how are you going to upgrade a hotel when there is no water? When you go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest hotels, there is no water and internet,
” The flourishing tourism sector seen in the neighboring countries is largely tagged to the quality of infrastructure.” Sheema County South MP, Elijah Mushemeza.
Mushemeza said that the visitors are more or less the same but the amount of money that will go to Tanzania will be more because of lack of facilities, a tourist will stay more days in Tanzania and stay in Uganda for like two days.
Although the potential is not sufficiently utilized, MPs recommended a more comprehensive marketing strategy for the sector.
