Uganda Urges Tourists to Follow Gorilla Tracking Rules as Conservation Efforts Intensify
Hotel and lodge operators in Uganda are being urged by the IGCP and UWA to educate tourists on gorilla tracking guidelines to prevent disease transmission to endangered mountain gorillas. The initiative aims to strengthen responsible tourism and ensure compliance with conservation and environmental regulations. Uganda's tourism sector is currently thriving, offering diverse benefits while maintaining affordability.
Uganda's wildlife authorities have renewed calls for strict compliance with mountain gorilla tracking guidelines, warning that human-transmitted diseases remain one of the greatest threats to the endangered primates.
The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) recently held a sensitisation workshop for hotel and lodge operators in Kisoro Municipality, stressing their critical role in educating tourists before gorilla tracking expeditions.
Key guidelines include maintaining a seven to ten-metre distance from gorillas, wearing face masks during tracking, avoiding visits when unwell, and refraining from using flash photography.
Conservation officials also urged tourism operators near gorilla habitats not to plant crops that may attract the animals, warning that contact with human food increases the risk of disease transmission.
Local communities have been advised to report stray wildlife to authorities rather than attempting to harm or handle the animals. The measures are part of efforts to strengthen responsible tourism practices around Uganda's mountain gorilla populations.
Uganda's tourism sector is currently experiencing peak season following the country's successful discharge of its last confirmed Ebola patient. Authorities say accommodation providers remain an important link between visitors and conservation efforts and have encouraged operators to stay updated on tourism regulations through the UWA Information Centre.
Tourism businesses were also reminded to comply with environmental regulations, including obtaining Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approvals and NEMA compliance certificates before undertaking construction projects.