Analysing the residents’ perceptions and attitudes of tourism in Wamala tombs in Wakiso district

Abstract

Tourism, is the third largest sector in the world and is thus widely considered to be an important factor in socio-economic development, particularly in less developed countries like Uganda and has the potential to contribute to world peace reduce poverty and develop human resource and culture. The major objective of this study was to analyse how the local communities’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism affect tourism development in Wamala tombs in Wakiso district. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were carried out among categories of respondents; local community members, tourists, management and staff of Wamala cultural heritagesite.Most tourists are interested in the Wamala tombs because of the ancestral worship of the kings that takes place there for the Kabaka’s family and clan heads of Buganda.It was concluded that most of the residents didn’t perceive the site as a tourism site. The limited local community participation in the tourism of Wamala tombs has affected their perception and attitudes towards tourism development since most of them feel they do not benefit from it. 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 roads, infrastructure, and education of the local communities as a way of attracting more tourists.