The discovery of oil and gas in Uganda is proving to be a poisoned chalice, as exploration activities in the greater Albertine Graben now threaten tourism, which is the region’s major foreign exchange earner.

Tourists, who are not made aware of the oil and gas sector activities in this pristine region, are uncomfortable with the two economic activities happening side by side.

Of concern to the tourists is the use of the same entrances and tracks by the oil workers and tourists; the numerous “no entry” signposts that lead to oil wells inside the park, and the sharing of a ferry by tourists and oil workers to cross the Nile River.

All these concerns are captured in a 2014 survey conducted by the World Bank and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, intended to provide insights into the potential impact of oil exploration activities on tourism and possible mitigation measures —one of them being formation of an oil and tourism communication unit. 

It was found that 72 per cent of the tourists surveyed did not know about the oil activities in the park prior to their visit.

Oil and gas activities will intensify when oil companies begin moving in machinery and workers to install the facilities necessary for oil production — slated for 2018.

The survey report, titled Leveraging the oil and gas industry for the development of a comprehensive private sector in Uganda, draws linkages between tourism and the economy, with the Murchison Falls National Park as the case study.

“Tourism and oil related activities need to be separated as much as possible to ensure that Uganda can benefit to the fullest from both sectors. More weight needs to be given to the development of tourism activities in the Murchison which will not be impacted by oil,” reads the report.

Uganda’s national parks form the core of the tourism industry. Recently, the industry has become a major contributor to the economy. According to the World Bank, every dollar spent by a foreign tourist generates $2.5 of gross domestic product. Last year, the sector earned more than $1 billion.

The dilemma is the Albertine Graben, which makes up 70 per cent of the country’s conservation area with wildlife, lakes, rivers and natural forest. The same area also has oil and gas. Uganda has reserves of 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil with 1.4 billion barrels recoverable.

Murchison is home to elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloe and a variety of antelopes. The Rubongo Forest within the park is home to chimpanzees and other rainforest creatures. Unfortunately, 40 per cent of the oil discoveries are also located in the park.

The Nile River too passes through the lake, and it is home to hippos, crocodiles and water birds such as the the rare shoebill. It also offers sport fishing and boat rides and the spectacular falls. This is the most visited park in the country.

Generally, the Albertine Rift is home to 52 per cent of all birds found on the continent; the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, for instance, has hundreds of endemic bird species. A variety of mammals are found in the area, including chimpanzees and gorillas.

The Albertine Graben is also home to reptiles, butterflies and amphibians.

Tourism has been registering steady growth. The travel and tourism industry growth is forecast in Uganda for 2013-2020 is 5.2 per cent over the next six years. That growth may be hampered if no proper balance is attained between conservation and other economic activities.

Uganda currently ranks 13th on the regional ranking in travel and tourism competitiveness index, behind Kenya at eight, Rwanda at nine and Tanzania at 12.

“Oil is a finite resource and tourism is going to be one of the top sectors driving Uganda’s economy in the longterm. It is essential for Uganda to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to minimise disruption of tourism in the Murchison while oil activities are ongoing,” warns the report.

Some of the qualitative comments arising from the survey indicate that many tourists are deeply concerned about the consequences of oil exploration in the park for animals and nature in general.