Uganda Gorilla Permits Online

Uganda Wildlife Authority is proposing to put all gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park on line to be accessed by all people within and outside Uganda. According to management of Uganda Wildlife Authority, putting gorilla permits online will increase sales thus more money into Uganda Wildlife Authority coffers to be used in conservation of wildlife in all protected areas.

UWA management also argue that Tour Operators have been complaining about failure to get availability when they call Uganda Wildlife Authority central reservations office in Kampala and that if permits go on line then one can see them instantly

Availing gorilla permits on line is yet to be seen as it has received a lot of resistance from the private sector most especially from Ugandan Tour Operators under their umbrella organization called the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) who argue that by putting gorilla permits online will not only put them out of business since International Tour Operators will be able to buy them directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority offices but will also kill the tourism industry as a whole since clients will only be coming to Uganda for gorillas and then go for wildlife viewing in other neighbouring countries of Kenya and Tanzania that have a competitive advantage over Uganda.

Uganda Tour Operators argue that the role of selling gorilla permits should be left to them since their businesses create employment to several people and that if they are deprived of this, they will run out of business. They further say that the role of Uganda Wildlife Authority is not to market Tourism products such us gorilla permits but is to conserve Wildlife in and out side Protected Areas. The role of Marketing Uganda as a tourism Destination is supposed to be done by Uganda Tourism Board and therefore conflict of interest has been sighted.

Following the above issues, several meetings were convened to discourage Uganda Wildlife Authority from putting gorilla permits online and this ended up attracting the attention of the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife who has institute a committee comprised of representatives from AUTO, Local Communities , Uganda Wildlife Authority to be chaired by The Ministry of Tourism. Out comes of this committee will be communicated later.

The system to put gorilla permits online and also Uganda Wildlife Authority Electronic Card was funded by a grant from USAID.

We’ll keep you updated on the developments but for now, you must want to acquire a gorilla permit, right? Well, don’t sweat it because Encounter Africa Safaris will head up to the UWA offices, join the cues and do all the manual work to get you that precious gorilla permit document.

But before you get a permit to visit the gentle giants in the mist, you should have organised a gorilla trekking trip first. You know – accommodation, transport, meals and some good African entertainment. Take a look at some of the tailor-made gorilla safaris we’ve put together that are so popular with many of our holiday travellers.

You may want to combine the gorilla tour with a savannah wildlife game drive – gorillas and the big game – an adventure you’ll not get anywhere else in this world.