Visitor impact management and safety at cultural sites in Uganda: a case study of Wamala Tombs

Abstract

Tourism,is among the largest in the world and is this widely considered to be an important factor in social economic development , particularly in less developed countries like Uganda and has the potential to contribute to world peace in reduce poverty vand develop human resources and culture.the objectives of this study were to describe the activities that visitors participate in at Wamala tombs, to describe the visitor impact management practices and safety strategies at Wamala tombs,to assess the effectiveness of visitor management and safety strategies at Wamala tombs . questionnaires for visitors , interviews were carried out among categories of respondents ,tour operators in Kampala ,site managers and staff at Wamala tombs .Most Visitors are interested in the Wamala tombs because of the ancestral worship of the kings that takes place there for the kabakas family and clan heads of Buganda as weel as they participate in touring the tombs , cultural performance among other activities.it was concluded that the site needs to implement more visitor management practices and safety strategies as well for the protection of the sites cultural and historical significance.the limited local community participations in the tourism of Wamala tombs has affected the enforcement of visitor impact management practices at Wamala tombs .it is therefore recommended that the involved stake holders like government and ministry of tourism, wildlife and antiquities should increase funding for the development of the site, roads, infrastructure and education of the locat community and visitors.