“The former Vice President had a forum on tourism. Can someone tell us what that cost and what it had achieved in measurable terms? Were any of our recommendations ever implemented? Implement the tourism policy, yes, change some of the characters in the tourism ministry who live in the past, and when the UTB has enough resources, they can then attract the brightest marketers from the open labor market.
“Right now the packages cannot make someone leave MTN or AIRTEL or COCA COLA to market the country, but they are doing a very good job in where they are. We have talent in Uganda, but we must be ready to pay for it. They [at UTB] have a marketing plan and strategy but are unable to roll it out for lack of funds. When most of the annual budget barely pays rent and utilities and salaries, what [should be] expect[ed]? Why [do] you think did Roni Madhvani quit as Chairman of UTB but for lack of funding and for lack of political support?” ranted a regular source last weekend, when discussing these challenges.
Another source said: “We just discussed within the IGAD framework a larger regional cooperation and tourism master plan. UNDP is helping to review and rewrite our national master plan. The last one sat on the shelves for a decade. What of it was implemented I wonder? They have no answers and yet we are supposed to play a part in IGAD and COMESA’s tourism plans.”
Challenges galore for sure for a sector as the country celebrates the Golden Jubilee of Independence, an occasion which together with the “Uganda – The BEST destination in 2012” by Lonely Planet Guides could have spurred some serious progress. Instead, there is a sector, which could and should be the engine of economic growth for Uganda and spurring added conservation efforts in the process, growing by less than hoped for margins. As so often in the past have personality clashes between the former and present staff of the Ministry and turf wars, besides never-ending arguments over the implementation of the tourism development levy, its collection and control impacted heavily on the growth of a sector which could for some years sustain 20+ percent growth rates and offer attractive investment opportunities.