The role of Non-governmental organizations (ngos) in promoting sustainable tourism development: a case study of Murchison falls national park, Masindi district.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
This investigation examined the contributions of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the advancement of sustainable tourism, with specific reference to Murchison Falls National Park in
Masindi District, Uganda. The study was structured around three principal objectives: to assess the influence of NGO-facilitated capacity building on sustainable tourism outcomes, to evaluate the role of NGOs in environmental conservation efforts, and to determine the effect of NGO supported community participation on tourism sustainability.
A cross-sectional research design was employed, targeting a population of 65 respondents, from which a sample of 52 participants was drawn using both purposive and random sampling techniques. The sample comprised NGO staff, Uganda Wildlife Authority officials, park personnel, community members, tour operators, tourists, and local leaders. Data collection was conducted through structured questionnaires, and analysis was performed using the Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), incorporating descriptive statistics, Spearman's rank correlation, and multiple linear regression.
The findings revealed robust, positive, and statistically significant relationships between each independent variable and sustainable tourism development. NGO capacity building demonstrated a strong correlation (rs = 0.813, p < 0.01), environmental conservation showed a comparable association (rs = 0.794, p < 0.01), and community participation exhibited a similarly significant relationship (rs = 0.785, p < 0.01). Regression analysis indicated that the three variables collectively accounted for 71.6% of the variance in sustainable tourism development (R² =
0.716). Community participation emerged as the most potent predictor (ß = 0.417), followed by
NGO capacity building (ß = 0.382) and environmental conservation (ß = 0.291).
The study concludes that NGOs fulfill a significant and mutually reinforcing role in advancing sustainable tourism around Murchison Falls National Park through skills development, environmental protection initiatives, and the active integration of local communities into tourism planning and governance processes. It is recommended that NGOs intensify collaboration with governmental bodies and community stakeholders, expand capacity-building and conservation programming, and ensure the equitable diffusion of tourism benefits to sustain the progress achieved to date.
Keywords: non-governmental organizations, sustainable tourism development, capacity building, environmental conservation, community participation, Murchison Falls National Park.
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Mugaya, A K. (2026). The role of Non-governmental organizations (ngos) in promoting sustainable tourism development: a case study of Murchison falls national park, Masindi district. Busitema University. Unpublished dissertation.