UWA unveils ‘Open Park Days Influencer Campaign’ to inspire more Ugandans

What the report says

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has launched an “Open Park Days Influencer Campaign” in Kampala, with the initiative kicked off at Murchison Falls National Park. According to The Independent Uganda, the effort brings together social media influencers and bloggers to promote domestic tourism through digital storytelling and first-hand experiences in Uganda’s protected areas.

UWA says the campaign is meant to encourage more Ugandans to visit national parks and wildlife reserves, while building support for conservation. The authority’s acting executive director, Charles Tumwesigye, urged participants to share Uganda’s conservation story accurately and work closely with UWA staff. The launch also included remarks from Uganda Tourism Board chief executive Juliana Kagwa, who backed the campaign and said domestic tourism is important for strengthening the sector. The article says UTB provided vehicles to help move the influencer teams between sites.

The Open Park Days are scheduled for 25–27 September, when selected protected areas will be open to the public. Parks named in the report include Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley, while the primate parks are excluded. Several wildlife reserves are also listed as part of the initiative, including Ajai, Pian Upe, Katonga and Toro Semliki.

The broader aim, as presented by UWA and UTB, is to make Uganda’s natural heritage more accessible to citizens and to deepen appreciation for wildlife conservation. More generally, tourism officials in many countries use influencer campaigns to reach younger audiences, but the specific focus here is on Uganda’s domestic market and protected areas.