From 1960 to 1971, tourism grew faster than any other sector of the Ugandan economy. In the peak year of 1971 over 85,000 tourists came to Uganda and helped make tourism, after coffee and cotton, the third largest foreign exchange earner. However, the violent upheavals and political turmoil that followed Idi Amin's coup in January of 1971 all but destroyed the tourist industry. Rebels ransacked and destroyed hotels, and a lack of personal security and civil order made Uganda's national parks, whose wildlife was decimated, dangerous for tourists.

The Museveni government recognizes the importance of tourism to Uganda's economy and has repaired the international airport at Entebbe and has contracted with an Italian company to build new tourist hotels. In 1988, tourism earned Uganda an estimated US$4.2 million. [1] In 1995, 159,000 tourists visited Uganda's 10 national parks and it's game and forest preserves. [2] In 1997, tourism accounted for 1.8% of the gross domestic product and is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. [3]

1. Byrnes, Rita M. (ed.) 1992. Uganda A Country Study , Library of Congress: Washington D.C 129-130.

2. Encyclopedia of Africa South of the Sahara v. 4: 302.

3. The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1998-1999. Country Profile, Uganda . London: The Unit pg. 25.