Feud over gorilla tracking permits
A ROW has erupted between investors in the tourism sector and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over the allocation of exclusive gorilla tracking permits to Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation.
By Gerald Tenywa
A ROW has erupted between investors in the tourism sector and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over the allocation of exclusive gorilla tracking permits to Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation.
UWA granted six permits to the foundation, leaving two to be shared among several tour firms.
Everyday, eight permits are given to tourists to track the gorillas at Nkuringo, on the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Tour firms accuse UWA of encouraging a ‘monopoly’ and threatening the survival of their businesses.
The foundation was formed by the local community of Nkuringo, which is made up of Nteko and Rubuguri parishes.
Out of a population of 30,000, at least 3,000 are members of the foundation.
According to the UWA executive director, Moses Mapesa, the permits were given to Nkuringo as compensation since the gorillas graze on their land.
The foundation, which has a partnership with the Uganda Safari Company, recently secured $250,000 (sh425m) for the construction of an eco-lodge at Nkuringo.
Uganda Safari Company will invest $750,000 (sh1.275b) for operating the eco-lodge for 10 years but the facility will remain a property of the local community. The eco-lodge is expected to be ready by July 1.
The chairman of the foundation, Cryisostom Sabiti, said the revenue from the project would be used to improve the livelihood of the community.
According to the agreement with Uganda Safari, the community will receive an annual fee of $5,000, which is the ground rent for the luxury eco-lodge.
However, firms which wanted to establish accommodation facilities at Nkuringo criticised UWA’s move.
Sources in the International Gorilla Conservation Programme said negotiations with Philemon Mateke, who was building a hotel at Nkuringo, had been concluded and that his investment would be compensated. The Kisoro Tourism Development Association, recently petitioned the tourism state minister, Serapio Rukundo, over the matter.
Rukundo said he would write to UWA to the cancel the deal, saying “You cannot have all people complaining and think that the investment is going to be secure.â€
A ROW has erupted between investors in the tourism sector and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over the allocation of exclusive gorilla tracking permits to Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation.
UWA granted six permits to the foundation, leaving two to be shared among several tour firms.
Everyday, eight permits are given to tourists to track the gorillas at Nkuringo, on the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Tour firms accuse UWA of encouraging a ‘monopoly’ and threatening the survival of their businesses.
The foundation was formed by the local community of Nkuringo, which is made up of Nteko and Rubuguri parishes.
Out of a population of 30,000, at least 3,000 are members of the foundation.
According to the UWA executive director, Moses Mapesa, the permits were given to Nkuringo as compensation since the gorillas graze on their land.
The foundation, which has a partnership with the Uganda Safari Company, recently secured $250,000 (sh425m) for the construction of an eco-lodge at Nkuringo.
Uganda Safari Company will invest $750,000 (sh1.275b) for operating the eco-lodge for 10 years but the facility will remain a property of the local community. The eco-lodge is expected to be ready by July 1.
The chairman of the foundation, Cryisostom Sabiti, said the revenue from the project would be used to improve the livelihood of the community.
According to the agreement with Uganda Safari, the community will receive an annual fee of $5,000, which is the ground rent for the luxury eco-lodge.
However, firms which wanted to establish accommodation facilities at Nkuringo criticised UWA’s move.
Sources in the International Gorilla Conservation Programme said negotiations with Philemon Mateke, who was building a hotel at Nkuringo, had been concluded and that his investment would be compensated. The Kisoro Tourism Development Association, recently petitioned the tourism state minister, Serapio Rukundo, over the matter.
Rukundo said he would write to UWA to the cancel the deal, saying “You cannot have all people complaining and think that the investment is going to be secure.â€