Uganda Reassures Tourists Amid Violence Outbreaks

Ugandan authorities are trying to assure international tourists that the country remains a safe tourist attraction.



"We are appealing to regional and international tourists and visitors coming to visit Uganda that it is safe, secure and well protected," Minister for Internal Affairs General Aronda Nyakirima told a press conference Friday.



"We wish to assure our visitors that their stay in the Pearl of Africa is secure and out of any harm's way," he said.



On July 5, a group of armed men attacked police stations and military barracks in Western Uganda, leading to the deaths of over 90 people in the Rwenzori region.



Minister Nyakirima said "a few isolated acts of violence" in Western Uganda "have been contained and business is going on as usual."



The Rwenzori region is home to some of the country's major national parks that are favorite touristic destinations.



"Our national parks are safe. We have not had any incident inside the parks," said Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director Andrew Seguya.



"We have plenty of security inside the parks offered by the rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Tourism Police, the Special Wildlife Force and the army," he added.



"We have plenty of rangers that you can take in your vehicle if you feel you need to do that and they will give you additional security if you need it," Seguya told future visitors.



Nearly one million tourists come to Uganda around this time of the year.



"There have been some cancellations by some tourists," Uganda Tourist Association President Herbert Byaruhanga told Anadolu Agency.



"We've been having a lot of negative reports for throughout the year," he noted. "But it is too early to quantify until we finish the season."



By Halima Athumani



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