UTB suspends 18 tourism companies on fraud claims

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has issued a public notice announcing the suspension of operating licences for at least eighteen (18) tourism companies.

“This notice serves to inform the general public that the following tourism companies have been suspended from conducting any tourism-related activities with immediate effect pending investigations of allegations of fraudulent practices associated with their operations,” the notice reads.

The suspended companies are Makaayi Tours and Travel, owned by Kayongo Yosius and Mutumba Thomasius; Travel Times, owned by Tarent Arinaitwe; Akia Quest Tours, owned by Sekimuli Andrew; and Vendoros Safaris, owned by an unknown director.

Others include Varitus Resourcing (U) LTD, whose directors are Nakasanje Irene Kawuma and Emmanuel Nabuora, Saso Uganda Safaris Limited, owned by Bisaso Willison; Primate Journeys Africa Limited, owned by Rukundo Samuel and Kago Joshua Michade and Mohan Tours and Travel, owned by Lukyamuzi Muhammad and Namiyango Naema.

Also suspended are Gotovate Tours and Travel, solely owned by Lawrence Rwebishengye; Karumuna Safaris Limited, owned by Kisembo Riachard; Dreams Bandas Uganda Limited, owned by Jurwa Emmanuela; and Birchill Expeditions Limited, owned by Koburunga Rauka and Walugembe Eddie.

Uganda Tourism Board has also suspended licences for Azas Safaris (U) LTD, owned by Azarwagye Simon and Karamaare Clare; Dorabo Tours and Travel LTD, owned by Nandala Micheal Eddie and Mpumwire Doreck. Others include Brooklyn Safaris Limited, owned by Stephen Ochaya, Gorilla Holidays (U) Limited, owned by Mark Ahimbisibwe Kikune and Niwahereza Gabriem.

All Budget Gorilla Safaris LTD, owned by Bisaso Wilson, Nassali Gladys and Roita Oliver and Beyond Frontiers Travel (U) LTD, owned by Godfrey Thomson Pule, have also been suspended.

On Monday afternoon, one of the UTB officials at the Board’s headquarters on Plot 42, Lugogo House in Kampala termed the public notice and suspension as “authentic.”

Fraud and tourism

Wheares the UTB has not disclsoed the specific frauds the suspended companies have been involved in, fraud in general has significant harms on tourism.

Fraudulent activities such as rental scams, fake holiday packages, among others, cause financial losses for travelers and businesses.

According to Emerald Insight, tourist scams are severe threats to the tourist experience and may result in lower revisit intention.

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organisation established by the Uganda Tourism Board Statute of 1994 and later reconstituted in the Tourism Act of 2018.

UTB is responsible for the sustainable promoting of Uganda tousim sector and Uganda as a Competitive Tourism Destination for Inclusive Development (CTDID).