There is much more to Kanungu than Kibwetere
Most people in Uganda know Kanungu for the tragic incident where a religious cult burnt about 1,000 people. But there is more to Kanungu, a beautiful area with hard working people, than the Kibwetere incident.
By Chris Baryomunsi
Most people in Uganda know Kanungu for the tragic incident where a religious cult burnt about 1,000 people. But there is more to Kanungu, a beautiful area with hard working people, than the Kibwetere incident.
Many people who have visited Kanungu agree that it is a beauty, and is the shortest route to Bwindi “impenetrable†Forest, the home of mountain gorillas. Bwindi is a habitat to 326 gorillas, almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
About 120 species of mammals and about 30 elephants, about 360 species of birds and 200 species of butterflies have been identified in Bwindi National Park. About 330 tree species have also been recorded, 10 of which occur nowhere else in Uganda.
It is also worth to note that part of Uganda’s most-visited game reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park, is in Kanungu. But more interesting is that the Ishasha sector of the national park, famed for its tree-climbing lions, is right in Kanungu. Nowhere else in the 5000 sq km national park that stretches to Lake George and Lake Edward near Kasese do you find tree-climbing lions.
Kanungu, and Kigezi in general, symbolises the much-acclaimed phrase “gifted by natureâ€. Indeed, Kigezi has been described as the “Switzerland of Uganda†because of its cool temperature, especially on the Kabale and Kisoro side, mountainous terrain and lush vegetation.
It has been suggested that the tea produced in Kanungu and processed at Kayonza Tea Factory is probably the best not only in Uganda but also East Africa. The tea is produced for local, national and international markets.
Although Kanungu is gifted by nature, and a destination for tourists, it has remained a victim of neglect. There are hardly any NGOs in the area, the media rarely covers what goes on there and worse still, some public services like health, banking and road infrastructure are scarce. Some people, including MPs who visit Kanungu, are usually reluctant to come back because of the sad experience of travelling on that poor road from Rukungiri town to Kanungu.
The journey is like one to hell. The sharp escarpment, locally known as “Enengoâ€, and the rough poorly maintained murram road make people look to God as they travel to Kanungu. That is why many travellers, especially the elderly, open Bibles and recite rosaries as they cross Enengo. Probably, there could be a relationship between this and the fatal cult that claimed lives in 2000.
A tarmac road to Kanungu would not only provide the shortest route to reach mountain gorillas but also ease transportation of local produce like lots of tea, coffee, rice and other valuable crops grown in the area. This would boost economic productivity and contribute to prosperity and well being.
There is an international angle to this road. Like the Jinja-Malaba/Busia road which connects Uganda to the east coast and, therefore, the outside world, Kanungu is the gateway to the west coast. Kanungu lies on the border with the DRC and the Ishaha border post is most suited for a transit route for international trade than any other customs post on the Uganda-DRC border.
This is because compared to mountainous Kisoro, Bwera and Bundibugyo, Ishaha is accessible through Queen Elizabeth National Park which is flat and, therefore, ideal for trucks that transport heavy loads across borders. Kanungu people cannot be prosperous when their produce cannot reach the markets.
I have for instance been trying to convince Centenary Rural Development Bank to open a branch in Kanungu town. One of the managers painfully told me that the road to Kanungu (from Rukungiri) poses a risk to transportation of cash since the transit time is very long as the road is almost non- motorable. Currently, because the road from Rukungiri town to Kayonza Tea Factory is narrow and almost impassable in rainy seasons, heavy trucks cannot reach the factory to collect processed tea.
Nobert Mao, the Gulu LC5 chairperson, once amused Capital Radio listeners when he said whoever wants to know how backache feels should travel to Kanungu. The road has indeed contributed to ill health in Kanungu. Some mothers who are referred to Nyakibale Hospital from Kambuga Hospital and other health facilities die before reaching due to transport problems. The road significantly contributes to low quality of life and decreased life expectancy for the regular users.
For years, the Government has been pledging to tarmac the Ntungamo-Kagamba-Kanungu-Ishasha road. In the national budgets about 20 years ago, the road was always mentioned as a national priority. Later, we ceased hearing about it until 2001 when the construction of the road started from Ntungamo. Sadly, everything seems to have ended when the road reached Rukungiri town.
Is it because of lack of money? other new roads have since been constructed? The people of Kanungu are not comfortable with the pain they go through daily to reach home. I have raised this question in Parliament and I have had several meetings with the responsible Ministers on this matter. I have even written a question for parliamentary oral answer to the Minister of Works and Transport who is yet to answer. The answers are not forthcoming. But we are still waiting for them.
The writer is the MP for Kinkizi East in Kanungu district
Most people in Uganda know Kanungu for the tragic incident where a religious cult burnt about 1,000 people. But there is more to Kanungu, a beautiful area with hard working people, than the Kibwetere incident.
Many people who have visited Kanungu agree that it is a beauty, and is the shortest route to Bwindi “impenetrable†Forest, the home of mountain gorillas. Bwindi is a habitat to 326 gorillas, almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
About 120 species of mammals and about 30 elephants, about 360 species of birds and 200 species of butterflies have been identified in Bwindi National Park. About 330 tree species have also been recorded, 10 of which occur nowhere else in Uganda.
It is also worth to note that part of Uganda’s most-visited game reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park, is in Kanungu. But more interesting is that the Ishasha sector of the national park, famed for its tree-climbing lions, is right in Kanungu. Nowhere else in the 5000 sq km national park that stretches to Lake George and Lake Edward near Kasese do you find tree-climbing lions.
Kanungu, and Kigezi in general, symbolises the much-acclaimed phrase “gifted by natureâ€. Indeed, Kigezi has been described as the “Switzerland of Uganda†because of its cool temperature, especially on the Kabale and Kisoro side, mountainous terrain and lush vegetation.
It has been suggested that the tea produced in Kanungu and processed at Kayonza Tea Factory is probably the best not only in Uganda but also East Africa. The tea is produced for local, national and international markets.
Although Kanungu is gifted by nature, and a destination for tourists, it has remained a victim of neglect. There are hardly any NGOs in the area, the media rarely covers what goes on there and worse still, some public services like health, banking and road infrastructure are scarce. Some people, including MPs who visit Kanungu, are usually reluctant to come back because of the sad experience of travelling on that poor road from Rukungiri town to Kanungu.
The journey is like one to hell. The sharp escarpment, locally known as “Enengoâ€, and the rough poorly maintained murram road make people look to God as they travel to Kanungu. That is why many travellers, especially the elderly, open Bibles and recite rosaries as they cross Enengo. Probably, there could be a relationship between this and the fatal cult that claimed lives in 2000.
A tarmac road to Kanungu would not only provide the shortest route to reach mountain gorillas but also ease transportation of local produce like lots of tea, coffee, rice and other valuable crops grown in the area. This would boost economic productivity and contribute to prosperity and well being.
There is an international angle to this road. Like the Jinja-Malaba/Busia road which connects Uganda to the east coast and, therefore, the outside world, Kanungu is the gateway to the west coast. Kanungu lies on the border with the DRC and the Ishaha border post is most suited for a transit route for international trade than any other customs post on the Uganda-DRC border.
This is because compared to mountainous Kisoro, Bwera and Bundibugyo, Ishaha is accessible through Queen Elizabeth National Park which is flat and, therefore, ideal for trucks that transport heavy loads across borders. Kanungu people cannot be prosperous when their produce cannot reach the markets.
I have for instance been trying to convince Centenary Rural Development Bank to open a branch in Kanungu town. One of the managers painfully told me that the road to Kanungu (from Rukungiri) poses a risk to transportation of cash since the transit time is very long as the road is almost non- motorable. Currently, because the road from Rukungiri town to Kayonza Tea Factory is narrow and almost impassable in rainy seasons, heavy trucks cannot reach the factory to collect processed tea.
Nobert Mao, the Gulu LC5 chairperson, once amused Capital Radio listeners when he said whoever wants to know how backache feels should travel to Kanungu. The road has indeed contributed to ill health in Kanungu. Some mothers who are referred to Nyakibale Hospital from Kambuga Hospital and other health facilities die before reaching due to transport problems. The road significantly contributes to low quality of life and decreased life expectancy for the regular users.
For years, the Government has been pledging to tarmac the Ntungamo-Kagamba-Kanungu-Ishasha road. In the national budgets about 20 years ago, the road was always mentioned as a national priority. Later, we ceased hearing about it until 2001 when the construction of the road started from Ntungamo. Sadly, everything seems to have ended when the road reached Rukungiri town.
Is it because of lack of money? other new roads have since been constructed? The people of Kanungu are not comfortable with the pain they go through daily to reach home. I have raised this question in Parliament and I have had several meetings with the responsible Ministers on this matter. I have even written a question for parliamentary oral answer to the Minister of Works and Transport who is yet to answer. The answers are not forthcoming. But we are still waiting for them.
The writer is the MP for Kinkizi East in Kanungu district