Mountain gorilla tourism has contributed billions to the Ugandan economy, helping spur development in the Kigezi sub-region in the south-western part of the country on the border with Rwanda.
Official records show that more than 18,000 gorilla permits are sold annually, with each permit costing Shs2.16 million (US$600), translating into an annual collection of more Shs38 billion.
According to John Justice Tibesigwa, the Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park Acting Conservation Area Manager, mountain gorilla tourism started in 1961 when the area was still a sanctuary.

Tourism, Tibesigwa said, has also enabled the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to contribute Shs900 million annually to communities around Bwindi-Mgahinga for development projects.
The Bwindi-Mgahinga area has more than 14 gorilla groups and only eight tourists are allowed to visit a gorilla group per day. As of September 2016, the estimated number of mountain gorillas remaining in the world was about 880, with Uganda owning more than half of the primates.
This, as a result, has attracted tourists in the area and has had a spillover effect in terms of service development, especially in hotel and hospitality and the transport sector.
More than 100 hotels and camp sites have been established and provide employment to more than 10,000 people.
Hotels such as Accadia Cottages, Bunyonyi Overland Resort Camp, Entusi, Bushara and Sharp Island Gorilla Lodge, among others are a good addition to the Kigezi tourism.
In the transport sector, an airstrip has been established in Kihiihi, Kanungu District and another is under construction in Rubanda District. The two will be an addition to the already existing Kisoro Airfield.
“Tarmacking Kabale- Kisoro road has also facilitated development. However, government should improve internet connectivity, provide electricity, especially in the national parks,” Ivan Mbabazi Batuma, a member of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says.
Other tourism features such as Lake Bunyonyi, Mt Muhavura, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Batuma says, should be promoted to create alternatives as well as establishing a special desk at border points to handle tourists.
Nicholas Byengoma, the vice chairperson of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, says whereas government has injected billions of Ugandan shillings into the tourism sector, more needs to be done.
“Encourage the establishment of domestic air transport to ease movement, especially for tourists visiting different destinations,” he says.
Tourism, as already stated, employs more than 10,000 people in the Kigezi sub-region and this, according to Seith Byarugaba, an investor in accommodation, is a big achievement that government should leverage on.
“There is need to habituate other animal species such as chimpanzees, red monkey and birds to diversify,” he says.
Government, Fideli Kanyamunyu, the director of Wagtail Tourism Investments in Kisoro District, believes should return much more to local communities instead of the current 20 per cent.
“… giving us only 20 per cent of the entrance fees, which is only US$40 out of the US$600 should be revised,” he says and appeals to government to consider giving soft loans to community members to improve the quality of their products.
But beyond looking at government, Akankwasa Barirega, the Acting Commissioner for Wildlife Conservation at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquties, advises local communities and members in the Kigezi Tourism Cluster to be more innovative, especially in regard to creating tourism amenities.
For instance, he says, people should think of establishing facilities such house boats on Lake Bunyonyi, zip lines crossing the interlocking hills, cable cars on Mt Muhavura and hot air balloons, among others.
“You earn a lot because there is a ready market [tourists],” he says.
Silver Baguma, the Vice Chairman of Rubanda District, thinks that stakeholders meetings such as the one held recently, provide good engagement.
However, he argues, for employment opportunities, residents must be given priority consideration.

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The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has intensified the campaign against the sale of fake goods in the country, the latest being the destruction of goods worth Shs900 million at Luweero Industries in Nakasongola District.

The destruction of goods follows countrywide seizures carried out by the UNBS Market Surveillance team and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Uganda Police Force.
The destroyed goods were mainly substandard products which included food stuffs, baby powdered milk, cement, sanitary towels, cosmetics, electronics, steel and steel products, among others.

According to the UNBS Deputy Executive Director in charge of Compliance, Mr. John Paul Musimami, the destruction is part of UNBS’ effort to protect consumers from substandard products. “Substandard products are not only dangerous to the health and wellbeing of consumers, they are also a threat to the economic development of our country,” Mr. Musimami said.

“Our role is to promote fair competition, enhance competitiveness of local industries and protect health and safety of Ugandans and the environment,” he added. The destroyed goods amounting to 4 metric tonnes, the official said, would have otherwise caused increased disease burden and robbed the consumers of their money.

The manufacture or sale of sub-standard products is a criminal offence under the UNBS Act Cap 327, Laws of Uganda.
The UNBS carries out regular market inspections to ensure that traders are selling quality products in right quantities. Any substandard goods found on the market are seized by UNBS Market Surveillance inspectors.

UNBS, last year, inspected 1,090 business outlets and seized goods worth Shs6 billion including solar panels, primary batteries, percolators, sockets, compact fluorescent lamps, tiles, blenders, among others.
“We shall continue to seize substandard products on the market and prosecute traders involved in illicit trade,” Mr. Musimami said, urging the public to report suspicious goods on the market to UNBS.

The UNBS also banned the sale of second hand under garments and beauty products that contain mercury and hydroquinone which are harmful to human health.
However, some of the goods continue to be imported into the Ugandan market by smugglers through porous borders and entry points where UNBS has no presence.
UNBS is responsible for developing and promoting standards and quality of products and services to facilitate fair trade, promote local industries and protect consumers.

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