Rukiga District is missing out on tourism revenue and related economic opportunities because several of its attractions remain undeveloped, with poor road access, limited investment and inadequate accommodation cited as major obstacles.
The concern was raised by District Tourism Officer Praise Nshabaruhanga during consultations on the Kigezi Regional Development Plan held at the district council hall.
Nshabaruhanga said the Kigezi sub-region was known for attractions such as mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Mount Muhabura, but Rukiga had not fully benefited from the region’s tourism potential despite having sites that could attract visitors if developed.
“Kigezi is renowned for its tourism potential, including mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Mount Muhabura, Rukiga has not fully benefited despite having several sites that can attract tourists if developed,” Nshabaruhanga said.
Among the sites he identified is Muhumuza Stone, perched on Rugongo Hill in Rugongo Village, Rwenyangye Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county. The historical attraction bears footprints believed to belong to Muhumuza, described in local accounts as the head of the Bachwezi clan in Rwanda.
According to the account presented, Muhumuza reportedly used the hill as a stopover in the 1880s while travelling from Rwanda to Mpororo in the Ankole region.
Another potential attraction is Mukombe Cave, a three-roomed cave in Murutunga Village, Kitunga Parish, Kashambya Sub-county, which reportedly sheltered homeless people in the 1880s.
Other sites include Kibayu Caves in Kitanga Parish, the Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland, which supports various bird species and the sitatunga antelope, locally known as Enjobe, and Lake Kanyabaha in Kahooko Village, Kashambya Sub-county.
Nshabaruhanga attributed the limited development of these attractions to poor roads, inadequate investment and a lack of hotels and other accommodation facilities for visitors.
“Developing tourism requires concerted efforts from district leadership, government, private investors and other stakeholders to improve access to the sites and establish facilities that can attract both local and international visitors,” he said.
Rukiga District Speaker Oscar Akampurira said the regional development planning process had come at an important time, when districts in Kigezi needed to work together to address shared development challenges.
He said regional cooperation would enable local governments to identify common priorities, coordinate development activities and find lasting solutions to problems that individual districts could not address alone.
Rukiga District Planner Henry Muhwezi said the consultations marked an important step towards coordinated development, noting that it was the first time the region was developing a regional development plan.
He said the plan would strengthen connections among districts in Kigezi and encourage them to pursue common development priorities rather than operate independently.
On tourism, Muhwezi said poor roads leading to potential attractions would be raised through the regional planning framework, giving district leaders an opportunity to jointly lobby for infrastructure improvements.
He expressed hope that presenting a common position would strengthen the region’s case before relevant government agencies and development partners.