NICHOLAS A
Authorities in the tourism sector in Rukungiri district have said there’s a need to rectify challenges that are hampering the sector in Rukungiri, noting that these challenges are not only jeopardizing tourism but are also pulling back development in Rukungiri.
In an interview with our reporter yesterday at Heritage Country Club in Rukungiri Municipality, Onyete Bingana confirmed that tourism in Rukungiri is being let down by some challenges, especially the poor state of tourism roads such as the Bikurungu–Rwenshama road that goes to the Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenshama fish landing site, among other roads; invasion of wild animals into people’s homes and gardens; and failure of people neighboring tourist sites to take care of them.
He also said that there’s a lack of funding to support the sector, especially to develop the already available tourism sites, noting that the government should come up and fund the sector.
Onyete highlighted some of the main tourist sites in Rukungiri such as the Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Rwenshama fish landing site, and the Ihimbo hot spring, all in Bwambara Sub County; Lake Kimbugu; the Minera hot spring; the Rubabo hot spring; hills; and caves, among other beautiful sceneries.
He said that there’s a need for funding to develop some of these sites to make them better.
Blessed Nahurira, the Tourism Queen of Rukungiri district, said that leaders in Rukungiri should always work hard to ensure that tourism roads are worked on to foster development, since some tourists bring foreign exchange to our area.
She said that as the Tourism Queen, she will use her authority to visit higher offices so that some of the challenges hampering the sector in Rukungiri are rectified.
Simon Asaasira, the Mr. Tourism Rukungiri district and the 2nd runner-up Mr. Tourism Kigezi region, said that if we’re to have tourism developed in Rukungiri, youths should have a hand in developing tourism, especially by being involved in public awareness on the importance of safeguarding our tourism sites.
