Expanding the ‘ATM sector’: Uganda designates new parks to attract high-value tourists

KAMPALA, Uganda — Seeking to transform its natural landscapes into a high-yield economic engine, the Ugandan government has approved the elevation of several wildlife reserves to national park status, a move designed to court high-spending international travelers and secure the country’s conservation future.

The Cabinet recently cleared a proposal to upgrade the Katonga, Toro-Semliki, Echuya and Kigezi wildlife reserves. The decision, announced by Tourism Minister Tom Butime, is the latest move in an aggressive strategy to treat the tourism industry as one of Uganda’s primary “ATM sectors”—strategic areas capable of generating rapid, consistent foreign exchange.

Under the new policy, the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, a vital corridor within the Queen Elizabeth National Park ecosystem, will also be upgraded, while the Bukaleba Forest Reserve in Mayuge District will be formally designated as a wildlife reserve.

The reclassification is more than a name change. By designating these areas as national parks, Uganda raises their international profile and strengthens their legal protections, making them more attractive to the luxury eco-tourism market. The government has set an ambitious long-term goal of generating $50 billion from a sector it believes is currently punching below its weight.

“This is not business as usual,” Mr. Butime said during a recent briefing with sector leaders. “It demands that tourism must transform, compete and succeed in the increasingly global environment.”

The strategy aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040, a national development blueprint that envisions tourism as a cornerstone of a modern, middle-income economy. By expanding its inventory of national parks, Uganda hopes to diversify its offerings beyond its world-famous mountain gorillas, encouraging “high-value” tourists to stay longer and spend more across a wider variety of landscapes.

However, the expansion has not been without its hurdles. The Cabinet declined to approve the elevation of the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and the Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, two areas that have long been at the center of conservationist concerns regarding land encroachment and industrial pressure.

Mr. Butime acknowledged these setbacks but insisted the government’s appetite for expansion remains high. “The struggle will continue until Pian Upe becomes a national park and until Bugoma is declared a national park,” he said.

As the proposal moves to Parliament for final approval, the focus shifts to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Tourism Board. New leadership at these agencies will be tasked with turning these newly minted parks into “premium products” that can compete with the safari circuits of neighboring Kenya and Tanzania.