UWA Steps In Rwenzori Woes

By Hamis Kaheru and John Nzinja THE executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Dr Robbie Robinson, has intervened in wrangles over the management of treks in the Rwenzori Mountains. Robinson said on Wednesday he was to meet with UWA board chairman, the Rev. Ongora Atwai, and senior board members over the matter. ARTM, a consortium of two foreign companies and a local NGO, was on July 2 awarded a 10-year concession to manage treks in the Rwenzoris. ARTM comprises AfrikAlpine, Top Trek and Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS). Robinson said he was requested by a director in AfrikAlpine and ARTM, Paul Tremmel, to cancel the concession because of wrangles which have received wide coverage in the press. Press reports this week linked ARTM to Joan Kamya, wife of Uganda Tourist Board boss and owner of Let's Go Travel, a local tour firm. ARTM increased fees for visitors to the park from $350 to $900 and directed tour operators to pay the new fees on Let's Go Travel account. Meanwhile, executive members of the Rwenzori Ranges Guides and Escorts Association (RRGEA) have refuted reports that the organisation is owned by Tom Stacy, a British journalist. "Our association is an indigenous community- based organisation and duly registered with the Registrar of Companies more than five years ago," Secretary General Jerome Kabalisya said. Kabalisya, who on Wednesday led his group to The New Vision office in Kasese town, criticised the RMS leadership over "misinforming the public" that RRGEA was owned by Stacy. The New Vision on Wednesday carried a story quoting the RMS Secretary General, Charles Amanyire, as saying that RRGEA was owned by Stacy. Ends