UWA, Breathtaking Uganda seek to deepen domestic tourism through Open Park Days, private-sector Partnerships

August 10, 2026 in Business, Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Breathtaking Uganda is mobilising tourism businesses and corporate partners to participate in the 2026 UWA Open Park Days, seeking to turn the September 25–27 campaign into a stronger platform for domestic tourism and wider business linkages across Uganda’s tourism value chain.

 

Uganda’s tourism sector is looking to turn the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Open Park Days into a broader commercial opportunity for local travel, with accommodation providers, transport companies, experience operators and corporate brands being encouraged to plug into the three-day national tourism activation.

The 2026 UWA Open Park Days are scheduled for September 25–27, with Breathtaking Uganda, trading as Fleetline Tours and Travel Ltd, among the private-sector players supporting the coordination of accommodation, transport and tourism experiences.

The initiative comes as Uganda seeks to deepen domestic tourism and capture more value from its natural and wildlife assets by encouraging Ugandans to visit the country’s protected areas.

“We want travelling Uganda to become normal, says  Isaiah Rwanyekiro, the CEO Breathtaking Uganda. “We want friends planning national park weekends instead of asking whether tourism is “for them.” We want families saving towards annual Ugandan holidays. We want young people creating memories in Kidepo, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo. We want brands competing to participate in domestic tourism experiences. Most importantly, we want Ugandans to understand the simple truth that Uganda is breathtaking.”

Rather than treating the open days simply as a promotional campaign for wildlife parks, the private-sector push seeks to connect visitors with businesses operating across the tourism value chain, potentially creating additional demand for hotels and lodges, transport operators, tour companies, guides and experience providers.

Breathtaking Uganda is also exploring partnerships with reputable financial institutions around dedicated travel-saving schemes and responsible micro-lending solutions that would allow travellers to save gradually towards holidays or access manageable financing for selected travel experiences.

“Why shouldn’t structured financial products also help people experience their own country?” Asks Rwanyekiro. “Travel should increasingly become something households and individuals deliberately budget for rather than an occasional luxury funded entirely from disposable cash.”

According to Rwanyekiro, Uganda already has the attractions and what is required is to build the distribution network, products, financing mechanisms, storytelling and excitement required to get more Ugandans consuming those attractions.

Breathtaking Uganda is calling on accommodation facilities, transport providers, tourism operators and corporate companies to participate in the campaign, positioning the initiative as an opportunity for businesses to access domestic travellers while supporting the wider tourism ecosystem.

“The UWA Open Park Days are an opportunity to make Uganda’s protected areas more accessible to Ugandans while creating stronger commercial linkages across the tourism value chain. By bringing accommodation providers, transport operators, experience providers and corporate partners together, we can build a more connected domestic tourism market that delivers value for both travellers and businesses,” Breathtaking Uganda CEO Isaiah Rwanyekiro said.

The campaign is being undertaken in collaboration with UWA, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and the Uganda Tourism Board, alongside private-sector tourism stakeholders.

Domestic tourism remains an important buffer for the industry, which has traditionally depended heavily on international visitors and is exposed to external shocks affecting cross-border travel, aviation and global tourism demand.

A stronger domestic market could also help tourism businesses build more predictable demand outside the traditional international tourism seasons.

The challenge, however, will be converting a three-day activation into repeat travel.  The economic significance of such initiatives lies in whether increased access to protected areas can translate into sustained domestic travel and greater spending beyond park entry fees.

That requires competitive tourism packages, reliable transport, affordable accommodation and experiences that appeal to different segments of the Ugandan market. It also requires stronger coordination between public agencies and private operators so that increased visitor interest translates into actual bookings and spending.