Govt asked to develop tourism sites in Acholi

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Local leaders in Acholi have asked the Government, through the tourism ministry to develop the different tourism sites in the region.

The call was made before tourism state minister Martin Mugarra Bahinduka during the ongoing Explore Uganda — a domestic tourism campaign aimed at encouraging more people to explore Uganda’s diversity of tourism experiences.

Rwot Collins Atiko Mutu, the Chief of Patiko Clan, asked the tourism ministry to construct lodges and restaurants at Fort Patiko tourism site: “The money generated from the lodges and restaurants would trickle down to support the chiefdom, learning institutions, as well as the Government health facilities neighbouring the site”.

Atiko also appealed to the Government to speed up the process of signing a memorandum of understanding with Patiko Chiefdom of the management of Fort Patiko.

One of the health workers attached to Patiko Health Center III in Gulu district said they have been registering cases of injuries of some tourists who tripped and fell while traversing Fort Patiko.

He, therefore, appealed to the tourism ministry to collaborate with the health ministry to establish a response unit at Fort Patiko to manage such accident cases before they are referred to the health facility.

Pader District Chairperson Col. (Rtd) Fearless Obwoya, however, revealed that poor road network is still one of the challenges affecting tourism not only in Acholi, but also in other parts of the country.

He appealed to the Government to tarmac the road that veers from Gulu–Kitgum highway to Aruu Falls for easy access to the tourism site.

Tourism State Minister Mugarra with Local Leaders of Pader district. (All Photos by Jesse Johnson James)

Nancy Lawino, the finance secretary of Pader district asked the ministry to advocate for the increment of funding for trade, industry, and local economic development departments in the different local governments to enable them to promote tourism.

Lawino cited that in Pader, the department only has about shillings 77 million each financial year against their budget of more than shillings 500 million, something that cripples the execution of tourism-related activities.

Bahinduka said the Government is doing its best to develop and promote the tourism sector in a bid to attract more tourists both local and internationally.

“Very soon, we are going to unveil a multi-billion plan and design for the Fort Patiko tourism site,” he said during their meeting at Fort Patiko.

Mugarra also added that the Government has earmarked shillings 800 million for developing Aruu Falls saying, “The money shall be used for building a safe walkway to the water point as well as establishing guardrails along the walkway.”

“We have plans for developing other tourism sites across the country and the work shall be done in phases,” he said.

Acholi has several tourist sites including Fort Patiko in Gulu, Aruu Falls, Amuru Hot Spring and Guru–Guru Hills in Amuru.

All the sites carry some historical significance but are currently not being properly managed hence, affecting tourism.