Ssezibwa Falls gets sh1.4b resort

Feb 26, 2009

A $700,000 (about sh1.4b) tourism resort is being built at Ssezibwa Falls in Nakisunga sub-county in Mukono to harness the area’s natural beauty and cultural tourism potential.

By Gerald Tenywa

A $700,000 (about sh1.4b) tourism resort is being built at Ssezibwa Falls in Nakisunga sub-county in Mukono to harness the area’s natural beauty and cultural tourism potential.

The project, under a 10-year tourism development plan, started last year and will be undertaken in three phases.

Emmanuel Barigo of Bush Trail Safaris, said the first phase, comprising a kitchen, restaurants and an information centre, had already been completed. He added that accommodation facilities (bandas) to cater for either single visitors, couples or families, were also in place.

He said the resort can ccommodate 20 people and has a camping area.

Baringo said a tourism trail had been set up to take tourists through the forest to the top of the falls and huge rocks that act as viewing points.

Buganda kings and locals make sacrifices to the gods at Ssezibwa falls for blessings.

Standing prominently near the falls is an ancient tree estimated at 120 years, which was planted by Kabaka Mwanga and not far from it was a tree planted by the reigning king, Ronald Mutebi. But Mutebi’s tree was recently cut down by unknown people.

The architects of the resort are also constructing a ‘community walk’ that will take visitors to plantations of sugarcane, tea and rural settings where tourists can also eat traditional cuisines.

Barigo points out that this will empower the communities because the proceeds will directly go to the communities living along the ‘community walk.’

In addition to this, the communities benefit from employment and provision of market to their food crops.

The resort is located about 40 kilometers away from Kampala and only 20 kilometers from Mabira forest reserve.

“Tourists intending to visit Mabira or the source of the Nile can spend a night at Ssezibwa can spend a night and then move the nearby eco-tourism destinations,” said Barigo. Each person intending to go for the community walk will pay sh 25,000.

Others are entrance fee is shs1,500 for Ugandans and 3,000 for non Ugandans, guided nature walks at 15,000, bird-watching is 25,000, hiking is 20,000, mountain biking goes for 25,000, boating is at 15,000, camping is $15 per person and a Safari tent is $35 per person.

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