Kampala - THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has signed concession agreements with three companies to operate boats and launch cruises in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks.

The contracts were signed with Adrift Adventure Company, which also operates white water rafting on River Nile. Adrift will launch the cruises at Queen Elizabeth.

G and C Tours will operate at Murchison Falls, while MARASA will operate at the two national parks.

MARASA also runs Mweya and Paraa Safari lodges in the two national parks.

"We have seen steady growth in tourism. But we had challenges of providing first-class services on water and we are glad the private sector has partnered with us to enhance tourism," Moses Mapesa, the executive director of UWA, said.

He said they had signed the agreements because of increasing demand for water-based tourism activities and UWA's desire to improve services.

Mapesa said UWA was also driven by the desire to forge functional public-private partnerships.

"The number of local and foreign tourists to the protected areas is growing rapidly with the result that often, demand for tourism services outstrips supply. This partnership is timely," he said.

The new boats, which have 50 seats each, will operate alongside UWA's 40 seater launches, which are operating in the two parks. This will boost the capacity to 200 tourists everyday.

The introduction of these boats is expected to boost the experience of tourists in the national parks as it will provide more options on time.

Mapesa said as demand grows further, UWA may introduce other private providers of launch cruise services.

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