Museveni Waives Fees for Non-Tourist Travelers Using Murchison Falls National Park

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has waived fee charges for non-tourist travelers using the Murchison Falls National Park as a transit route. This decision comes after the closure of Karuma Bridge, which is undergoing rehabilitation, led many to use the park as an alternative passage to and from Northern Uganda.

In a directive issued yesterday, Museveni instructed the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to halt the collection of fees from those traveling through the park for non-tourist purposes. The move follows complaints that non-tourists, using the park only for travel due to the bridge closure, were still being charged, a practice the President strongly opposed.

“On the use of the park by the people who are traveling to and from Northern Uganda during the time of the closure of the Karuma Bridge, I totally forbid the charging of money from travelers who are not tourists. It’s nonsensical; it’s not correct,” Museveni stated while addressing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus at State House Entebbe.

The park, which is typically a paid-access site for tourists, became a vital link for Northern Uganda when the Karuma Bridge closed for repairs. UWA had previously communicated its intent to continue charging fees to all travelers, sparking controversy.

With this new directive, the fees for non-tourist travelers have been officially waived, offering relief to daily commuters and transporters affected by the bridge closure. However, the park remains open for tourists, who will still be subject to normal park fees.

This intervention is expected to ease the financial burden on locals and promote smoother travel during the ongoing construction works at Karuma Bridge.