The president of the Uganda Tourism Association, Mr Herbert Byaruhanga has described the fake tour operators in the country as a curse to the industry.
Byaruhanga’s comments come weeks after two quack operators were arrested for allegedly defrauding tourists of over Shs170million.
“It’s unfortunate, but we shall arrest all these fake operators and the country will be clean,” Byaruhanga, also Managing Director of Bird Uganda Safaris Ltd, said.
Earlier this month, tourism police in Kabale arrested Didan Atukunda of Mamba Gorilla Safaris for allegedly defrauding $27,000 from a Dutch tourist. In October 2018, tourism police arrested Mugerwa Ahebwa for allegedly defrauding an American tourist Mendy Payne of over $18,000.
Speaking to watchdog Uganda, Mr Byaruhanga said there are so many fake tour operators in western Uganda, and especially in Kabale district, and that they would soon be arrested and charged. Byaruhanga added that the tourism security committee will soon sit and discuss on the matter further.
“Many tour operators in Kabale are fake. They aren’t registered or licensed. They should train, get licenses and get registered or else leave the tourism sector,” Byaruhanga said.
The tourism sector contributes more than $1.4 billion a year in Uganda.
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