Mandate

The mandate of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage (MTWH) is derived from Article 189 and Sixth Schedule the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995), Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 200, Uganda Tourism Act, 2008, Historical Monuments Act 1967, Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2006.

Our Mandate is:

“To formulate and implement policies, strategies, plans and programs that promotes tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage conservation for socio-economic development and transformation of the country”.

Our Vision is:

“Sustainable tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage contributing to the transformation of the Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous one”.

Our mission is:

“To develop and promote tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage resources for enhancement of Uganda as a preferred tourist destination, with accelerated sector contribution to the national economy”.

Values and Principles

We the members of Management and Staff of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage hereby commit ourselves to the above Mandate, Vision and Mission to provide services of the highest standards and quality based on the values and principles below:

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(a) Compliance with policies, legislations and standards                          
We shall have respect for policies, legislations and standards of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage
 

(b) Integrity
We shall show the highest standards of integrity and, shall not place ourselves under any financial or other obligations to individuals or organizations that compromise our professional behavior in performance of our duties.
 

(c) Selflessness
We shall put public interest above personal interest without consideration of any financial or material benefit and gains.
 

(d) Partnership
We shall engage our partners in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating our programs.
 

(e)  Objectivity 
We shall make decisions based on merit, professional codes and other codes of good practice.

(f)  Honesty
We shall conduct our duties and provide services with truthfulness, diligence and sincerity.

(g) Client focus
We shall put the interests of our clients as our first priority. We shall always seek to meet our clients’ lawful needs and expectations.
 

(h)  Optimal use of resources
We shall endeavor to optimally use resources in the attainment of the Ministry objectives and targets.
 

(i)Transparency and Accountability
We shall be transparent and accountable for our decisions, actions and inactions.

(j) Professionalism
We shall adhere to the professional codes of conduct while executing our duties.
 

(j) Responsiveness:
We shall respond to our clients effectively and efficiently when ever called upon.
 

(k)  Impartiality
We shall provide services to all clients without discrimination of gender, race, color, political affiliation, and religion or creed.
 

Key Result Areas
Our Key Result Areas are the following:

• Formulation, Implementation and Monitoring of Tourism, Wildlife and Cultural heritage Policies, Legislations, Plans, strategies and standards.

• Sustainable management of wildlife and cultural heritage conservation areas

• Tourism Product Diversification

• Promotion and marketing of Uganda as a preferred tourism destination

• Human resource capacity development in Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage sector

• Education and awareness creation of the sector

• Regulation and Quality Assurance of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage programs and services.

• Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Research, information management and dissemination 

• Negotiation, conclusion and implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements on Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

Commitments
As a Ministry responsible for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage we commit ourselves to the following;

1 Formulation, Implementation and Monitoring of Tourism, Wildlife and Cultural heritage Policies, Legislations, Plans, strategies and standards.

We shall
Formulate tourism and hospitality services standards and guidelines
Formulate Museums, Research and Monuments Guidelines
Provide timely and relevant policy information and advice within our mandate.
Formulate and adhere to performance plans and budgets.

2 Sustainable management of wildlife and cultural heritage conservation areas

We shall

Maintain ecological integrity of wildlife protected areas
Maintain integrity of gazetted sites and monuments
Enforce wildlife and cultural heritage conservation laws and regulations
Enforce tourism laws and regulation
Maintain safety and security in wildlife protected areas
Reduce incidences of human wildlife conflicts by 50 percent
Monitor impacts of oil and gas, tourism, mining and hydropower development in wildlife and culturally protected areas
Respond to all incidences of wildlife disease outbreaks
Increase benefits accruing to local communities by 10 percent

3 Tourism Product Diversification

We shall

Introduce hot air balloons and canopy walks
Developand butterfly watching trails in wildlife protected areas
Habituate 3 more gorilla groups and promote gorilla tours in Uganda
Build more cultural Centres
Continue developing heritage trails, sports tourism, Faith based tourism, marine tourism

4 Promotion and marketing of Uganda as a preferred tourism destination

We shall

Attend all major regional and international tourism expos
Attend annual UNESCO conference
Develop a national tourism web portal
Produce and distribute tourism promotional materials
Undertake quarterly tourism promotion campaigns domestically,and internationally
Participate in bilateral and multilateral tourism to promote Uganda tourism
Use embassies to market tourism
Organize world tourism day exhibition nationally

5 Human resource capacity development in Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage sector

We shall

Train and tour guides in nature interpretation and visitor handling
Train and graduate students in wildlife management annually
Train and graduate students in hotel and tourism management annually
Undertake regular in service training for MTWH staff
Issue training awards on the day of graduation
Encourage universities to introduce heritage management courses
Train in-service holders, tour operators and conservation personnel
Consider diversifi9cation of languages in tourism development and promotion.

6 Education and awareness creation for the sector

We shall

Undertake conservation education tours country wide
Support the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda
Sensitize the general public about conservation and tourism
Support the National Tourism Clubs

7 Regulation and Quality Assurance of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage programs and services.

We shall

Register, classify and grade accommodation and hospitality facilities in Kampala, Entebbe, Mukono, Wakiso and other parts of the country
Inspect wildlife and culturally protected areas quarterly
Undertake annual inspection of tourism facilities in the country
Undertake quarterly inspection of wildlife use rights holding facilities
Register Private and Community Museums

8 Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Research, information management and dissemination 
 

We shall

Conduct surveys for key wildlife species
Keep an updated database of tourism and hospitality facilities
Carry out inbound, domestic and outbound surveys to compile tourism satellite account
Carry out tourism project appraisals
Provide basic Tourism, Wildlife conservation and heritage information within seven working days from the date of request.
Conduct scientific research into the history of the country
Up date database of heritage resources on a yearly basis

9 Negotiation, conclusion and implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements on Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

We shall

Accede to the CMS/Gorilla Agreement
Ratify the 2005 UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity
Ratify the 1970 UNESCO Convention on illicit trafficking of Cultural materials
Ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention on protection of underwater cultural heritage
Pay commitment dues to UNESCO, ICOMOS,AWHF, AFRICOM and CHAD
Negotiate and sign the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration Treaty
Finalize domestication of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES)
Clear all outstanding arrears to Lusaka Agreement, World Tourism Organization, World Heritage Convention and other bodies.
Implement EAC Sectoral council decisions on tourism and wildlife management.