The Commission of Inquiry into the misuse of $33m that was meant for the Protected Areas Management for Sustainable Use (PAMSU) has been brought to a grinding halt by the Minister for Tourism, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu.
However, Prof. Justice George Kanyeihamba the head of the Inquiry has vowed to continue with the investigations which the Minister says has overstayed its mandate. The commission was initially given three months to carry out its investigations and make a report into the misuse of the funds which was mainly donor money from the World Bank. However due to delays the inquiry was given an additional one and half months to finalize its investigations into the project which was under the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Justice George Kanyeihamba however says it is only the president who can stop him and has vowed to carry on with the investigations. He further says it is the corrupt officials who are trying to protect one another and stall the investigations.
According to the constitution the Minister can only play an advisory role to the president and it is thus the president who can stop him from carrying out investigations. The inquiry which has been running for some time now has unearthed a lot of rot within the Ministry of Tourism and Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The head of the Commission of Inquiry at the time of writing this article is conducting a press conference at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters on Kitante Road and will reveal most their findings thus far.
According to the Minister during a cabinet meeting in which there was a unanimous decision to stop the inquiry, the Commission had failed to deliver a comprehensive report on their findings, it had also failed to meet the timeline set out for its investigations and had even after consultations failed to give a definite timeline for finishing its investigations.
Uganda’s tourism unlike that of its counterparts is lagging behind due to lack of proper management and failure to market and sell Uganda so as to make it the destination of choice. Uganda has plenty of tour attractions that have been left to run down.
The Wamala tombs which is cultural heritage site is a case in point. The tombs have been neglected by the body responsible for marketing tourism and the marketing has been left to individuals and the Buganda Kingdom. Even the repairs is done by volunteers in the local community.
Another tourist site the Nyero rock paintings is an area that has no protection whatsoever and is managed by locals. The guides are mainly children with little knowledge about the value of the area. Archeologists and some curious tourists are the only people who visit these ancient paintings.
Bugala Island on Lake Victoria has appeared on the tourism products from Uganda Tourism Board and it is a shame there’s no mention of Speke’s Fort which was built in 1862 in it. These are historical sites and has a lot of tourism potential.
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the World and contributes 12% to the global GDP, but Uganda has placed little emphasis on the industry which is mainly being marketed by individuals and local tour operators.
Rwanda for instances puts $5m in marketing and showcasing its tourism potential and despite the fact the half the World’s mountain gorillas can only be found in Uganda. Rwanda gorilla trekking is current doing better than mountain gorillas in Uganda. Kenya spends $23m and Tanzania $10m in marketing Kenya safaris and Tanzania safaris respectively compared to Uganda’s $330,00.
