Assessment of the Framework for Tourism Revenue Sharing Schemes in Uganda.

A case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, South Western Uganda

This report presents findings on a study that assessed the framework for tourism revenue sharing schemes in Uganda: A case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), South Western Uganda. Adopting a cross-sectional design, the study a) ascertained communities’ perceptions of the benefits of tourism revenue sharing (TRS), b) measured the relationship between tourism revenue sharing and livelihoods, c) determined the effect of TRS sharing projects on socio-economic well-being and e) investigated challenges associated with processes of tourism revenue access, management and monitoring among 367 respondents from frontline communities in villages bordering BINP. The tourism revenue sharing schemes investigated were; the 20% gate collection fees paid by tourists and the US$10 gorilla levy fees shared in parishes bordering Kanungu, Rubanda, and Kisoro districts. Preliminary findings indicate that (72.4%) of the 367 respondents who were involved in tourism-sharing programs propose changes in the tourism revenue-sharing legal framework to ensure efficiency in the implementation, monitoring, and management of Tourism Revenue Sharing Projects around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (r = .784, P˂0.05). There was a significant relationship between the construction of schools, and the socio-economic well-being of communities bordering BINP (β = .164, P<0.05). Fewer health centers were supported through TRSF, and this negatively affected expenditure in terms of income spent by communities bordering BINP on healthcare services (β = -.098, P<0.05). At the household level, involvement in TRSPs resulted in an improvement in household income by directly addressing household needs by 73.5% (r=0.735, P<0.05) and indirectly improving income by 89.5% (r=0.895P<0.05). The main challenge associated with TRS processes around BINP is delays in the disbursement of funds from the local government to implement and monitor TRSP at 52%. Communities around BINP suggested that future investments in TRSPs should focus on road construction (30%), and construction of more classroom blocks at the different schools within the frontline parishes (17.71%). Based on the findings, the following strategic recommendations are proposed: 1. Uganda Wildlife Authority should manage the Tourism Revenue Shared Funds (TRSF) rather than disbursing TRSF to the Local Government. This shall require an amendment of the legal framework governing tourism revenue-sharing schemes in Uganda. 2. District Procurement Committees should involve communities in procurement processes and decisions on the choice of projects to be supported under TRSF. This could require amended of the project procurement processes at the different levels. 3. All stakeholders should actively get involved in TRSF management and monitoring processes to avoid delays in the disbursement and implementation of agreed-upon projects between Local Governments and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.