The UK government still warns its citizens against visiting some parts of western Uganda. These areas include Semuliki National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The warning also covers places near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the UK, these areas are risky because of past conflicts in the nearby DRC that could spill over into Uganda. Even though Uganda and the DRC now carry out joint military operations to keep the region safe, the UK has not yet changed its travel advice.
This warning has affected tourism and businesses around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Anna Santa Drale, who manages Katara Lodge in Rubirizi District, says many tourists have cancelled their trips because of the advisory. She explains that insurance companies refuse to provide travel insurance for people going to areas marked as unsafe, which leads to more cancellations. Brian Maher, the manager of Mweya Safari Lodge, also confirmed this problem. He said that some UK officials visited Queen Elizabeth National Park in February 2025 with Ugandan tourism leaders to see the situation for themselves. According to a source from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the UK team saw that the park is generally safe, but months have passed and the advisory remains unchanged.
Dr. James Musinguzi, the head of Uganda Wildlife Authority, raised this issue during the UK-Uganda Investment Forum held in London on May 20, 2025. He said the current travel warnings do not show the true situation in Uganda today. He explained that Uganda has done a lot to make sure all protected areas are safe for visitors. He asked for the travel advisories to be reviewed and updated to reflect the current reality. Dr. Musinguzi also said that keeping old warnings harms efforts to help Uganda’s tourism industry recover after past challenges. He called for open discussions between countries to make sure travel advice is based on facts and supports tourism, which is important for both the local economy and wildlife conservation.
Dr. Musinguzi travelled to London on the first direct Uganda Airlines flight to London Gatwick. He was part of a group led by General Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works. Other members of the delegation included Basil Ajer, the Director of Tourism in Uganda, Pearl Hoareau Kakooza, the Chairperson of the Uganda Tourism Board, her deputy Ron Kawamala, and Explore Uganda team member Daniel Irunga.
During the investment forum, Ugandan leaders invited UK investors to explore opportunities in Uganda’s tourism sector. They highlighted how national parks and protected areas are important for Uganda’s growth and sustainable development. Basil Ajer also said that Uganda and the UK had agreed to continue talking regularly as one way to solve the problem of travel advisories.
Semuliki National Park is a tropical rainforest area covering 220 square kilometers. It is located at an average altitude of 700 meters above sea level. The park connects with the Ituri Forest, which stretches into the Congo. Semuliki is home to over 10 types of primates, including chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, black mangabeys, olive baboons, and several other monkey species. Other unique animals found in the park include okapis, forest elephants, leopards, and lowland bongos. There are also over 500 species of butterflies and many kinds of birds. A special attraction in the park is the Sempaya Hot Springs, which are surrounded by palm trees and rainforest. The water comes out at over 100 degrees Celsius and forms steaming pools.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is larger, covering 1,978 square kilometers. It is known for its open savanna and also includes forests, swamps, and valleys. The park is home to 95 different kinds of mammals. These include elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and several types of antelopes like Uganda kobs, bushbucks, topis, and waterbucks. You can also find primates such as chimpanzees, olive baboons, and monkeys. One of the most popular activities in the park is a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. The park was officially named in 1954 after Queen Elizabeth II, following her visit to Uganda.
According to Uganda’s tourism records, 42,545 tourists visited Semuliki National Park in 2024. Queen Elizabeth National Park received even more, with 124,645 visitors in the same year.
Ugandan officials believe that the UK should now update its travel advice to match the peaceful and secure situation in the country. They hope that by working together and keeping communication open, both countries can promote tourism that supports jobs and protects nature.
