UNITED KINGDOM LIFTS TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR UGANDA’S QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARKS

Hon. Tom Butime, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (second left), accompanied by a delegation and a Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) official, visits the Sempaya Female Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park, Bundibugyo District. Semuliki National Park, together with Queen Elizabeth National Park, has been cleared of previous travel advisories, allowing unrestricted visits by British nationals.

The United Kingdom has lifted its travel advisory warning against visiting two of Uganda’s flagship protected areas, including Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park, marking a significant turning point for the country’s tourism sector and restoring confidence among British travellers. The decision, announced by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and effective from 02nd December 2025, removes the previous recommendation against all but essential travel to the parks, which had been in place for more than a year following a deadly security incident in western Uganda.

The advisory had been imposed in October 2023 after an attack on tourists near Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese District that resulted in the deaths of two foreign visitors and a Ugandan guide. The incident sent shockwaves through Uganda’s tourism industry and prompted several countries, including the UK, to issue warnings to their citizens. As a result, bookings dropped sharply, especially from the UK market, which has traditionally been one of Uganda’s most important sources of high-spending leisure travellers.

With the warning now lifted, British nationals are free to travel to Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki national parks without special restrictions tied to security advisories. The move also clears a major hurdle related to travel insurance, as many insurers had either excluded the affected areas or declined coverage altogether while the advisory remained in force. Tour operators in both Uganda and the UK can now confidently reintroduce these destinations into their safari itineraries.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited conservation area, is celebrated for its exceptional biodiversity and dramatic scenery. Stretching across the Albertine Rift Valley, the park is home to tree-climbing lions, large herds of elephants and buffaloes, hippos crowding the Kazinga Channel, dozens of crater lakes, and one of the richest bird populations in Africa. Semuliki National Park, located further north near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, offers a strikingly different experience, characterized by lowland tropical rainforest, rare Central African bird species, and the geothermal Sempaya Hot Springs.

The UK government’s decision followed ongoing security assessments and sustained engagement with Ugandan authorities, who have strengthened patrols, increased intelligence coordination, and reinforced safety measures in and around the affected parks. While the FCDO continues to advise travellers to exercise normal precautions and remain aware of their surroundings, the removal of the formal warning signals confidence in the current security situation.

Tourism stakeholders in Uganda have welcomed the announcement with relief and optimism. Accommodation facilities owners, safari guides, transport operators, and community tourism enterprises in western Uganda say the advisory had taken a heavy toll on livelihoods, with cancellations persisting long after conditions on the ground had stabilized. Industry leaders describe the lifting of the warning as a critical step toward recovery, especially as the sector rebuilds momentum following years of disruption caused first by the COVID-19 pandemic and then by security concerns.

The timing of the decision is also significant. Uganda’s tourism sector has been steadily regaining strength, contributing more than a billion dollars annually to the economy and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. The return of British travellers is expected to boost foreign exchange earnings, increase park revenues, and strengthen conservation programmes that depend heavily on tourism income to support wildlife protection and community development.

Despite the positive development, authorities and tourism operators continue to stress the importance of responsible travel. Visitors are encouraged to use licensed tour operators, follow park regulations, and stay informed about local conditions, particularly in remote areas and near international borders. The Government of Uganda has reiterated its commitment to maintaining security and ensuring that both tourists and local communities benefit safely from tourism.

The lifting of the UK travel advisory restores Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki national parks to their rightful place on the international safari map. It shows renewed international confidence in Uganda as a safe and compelling destination and offers fresh hope to a tourism industry eager to welcome the world back to the Pearl of Africa.