The Uganda Wildlife Authority has announced the 2026 Open Park Days, offering free park entry from September 25th–27th for Ugandan citizens and East African residents at selected national parks and wildlife reserves.
To many Ugandans, the Country’s iconic wildlife is more familiar from the images printed on banknotes or social media than from personal encounters in the wild.
While international visitors travel thousands of kilometres to experience Uganda’s national parks, many Ugandan citizens have never witnessed a lion prowling the savannah, elephants crossing a game track, or the mighty Nile exploding through the narrow gorge at Murchison Falls.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) hopes to change that narrative through the return of its Open Park Days initiative, a campaign designed to make Uganda’s protected areas more accessible to local communities and encourage greater appreciation of the country’s natural heritage.
The Commissioner for Tourism and Business Development, Ms Dorcus Rukundo told journalists recently that the National park entry will be completely free from September 25th to September 27th, 2026, for all Ugandan citizens and East African residents.
The initiative marks the third edition of the Open Park Days and forms part of activities leading to World Tourism Day which will be celebrated on September 27th in Mbale City under the national theme “Explore Uganda” campaign and during the open park days locals will get a chance to see the unique tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda is widely recognised as one of Africa’s most biodiverse destinations, but despite this reputation, domestic tourism has traditionally lagged behind international visitation.
It is known that high park entrance fees, transport costs, accommodation expenses and the perception that safaris are only for foreign visitors have discouraged many Ugandans from exploring their own national parks.
Uganda Wildlife Authority believes open park days can help reverse this trend by removing one of the biggest barriers to travel; park entry fees.
The Organisation believes that by allowing free access during the three-day campaign, the authority hopes more families, students, youth groups and first-time visitors will discover the country’s exceptional wildlife and landscapes.
The initiative also reinforces the government’s efforts to strengthen domestic tourism as a pillar of Uganda’s tourism industry, therefore encouraging citizens to visit protected areas not only creates memorable experiences but also builds a stronger conservation culture among local communities.
It should be remembered that the free park entry dates intentionally coincide with activities leading to World Tourism Day, celebrated globally every year on September 27th and this year’s national celebrations will take place in Mbale City, bringing together stakeholders from across Uganda’s tourism sector to promote sustainable tourism and domestic travel.
To officially launch the campaign, Uganda Wildlife Authority has already flagged off a team comprising musicians, journalists and social media influencers led by renowned Ugandan artist Ykee Benda for a promotional visit to Murchison Falls National Park.
The campaign aims to inspire more Ugandans through storytelling, photography and digital content showcasing the country’s wildlife attractions.
Uganda has the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park, while selected wildlife reserves include, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, Katonga Wildlife Reserve and all these protected areas represent some of Uganda’s most diverse ecosystems, offering visitors opportunities to experience savannah wildlife, birdlife, scenic landscapes and unique conservation areas.
Murchison Falls National Park remains Uganda’s largest national park and is famous for the spectacular waterfall where the River Nile squeezes through a seven-metre-wide gorge.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers game drives, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise and the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Kidepo Valley National Park provides one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness experiences, while Lake Mburo National Park offers excellent opportunities for walking safaris, cycling and wildlife viewing within easy reach from Kampala.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Kibale National Park Mt Elgon National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park are excluded from open visits and the exclusion of these parks is understandable given the specialised and highly regulated tourism activities they offer.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga, for example, operates under strict permit systems that limit visitor numbers to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and similarly, Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park requires advance booking and permits to minimise disturbance to wildlife.
Mountain parks such as Rwenzori and Mount Elgon also involve specialised hiking activities that require logistical planning beyond standard park entry.
While park entrance fees will be waived during Open Park Days, visitors should note that special tourism activities such as guided game drives, boat cruises, accommodation, transport and any premium experiences will continue to attract their normal fees.
Visitors are therefore encouraged to plan their trips in advance by arranging transport, accommodation and any optional activities through licensed tour operators or directly with service providers.
Uganda Wildlife Authority noted that the Open Park Days campaign goes beyond tourism promotion seeks to foster a deeper connection between Ugandans and their natural heritage and for many young people, this may be their first opportunity to visit a national park.
Its known that experiencing elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes and countless bird species in their natural habitats can inspire lifelong appreciation for conservation.
Campaigns like this also remind citizens that Uganda’s protected areas belong to everyone and they are national treasures whose survival depends not only on conservation agencies but also on public support and responsible tourism.
The return of the third edition of Uganda Wildlife Authority Open Park Days demonstrates the authority’s continued commitment to making conservation more inclusive. By removing park entry fees for three days and UWA is inviting Ugandans to rediscover the landscapes and wildlife that have made the country one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.
As World Tourism Day approaches, the campaign serves as a timely reminder that exploring Uganda does not always require travelling abroad because sometimes, the greatest adventures lie within the country’s own borders.
