Tour Operators Bitter With Plans To Construct Power Dam On Murchison Falls.
By.Our Reporter.
The Uganda tourism association has given government and its relevant agencies 14 days to give their stand on the proposed physibility hydro power study on Murchison falls.
Addressing a press conference today in Kampala, the board of the association led by its president, Pearl Hoareau Kakooza and their chairman, Everest Kayondo state that they are planning to write to the president, parliament, ERA, energy and tourism ministries objecting to the plans and warning govt on the dangers in case they give a green light to the project.
The further warns that if nothing is done, they are to stage a massive demonstration which will involve all stake holders.
“Just thinking about the physibility study tantamounts to committing a sin.” Said Kayongo. He then calls for those behind the mega plan to apologise to the nation and the entire tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the vice president Uganda tourism association, Herbert Byamhonya and Brian Mugume expressed fear and anger saying, “They have lost their smiles ever since they heard about the proposed plans to carry out a physibility study on the falls with future plans to construct a hydro power dam.
Electricity Regulatory Authority publicist Julius Wandera refers the operators’ statements and planned actions to shadow boxing and advises them to write to the relevant authority as advertised in the local dailies.
Bonanga is a South African company which applied for permission from ERA to carry out a physibility study on whether a hydro power dam can be constructed on Murchison falls which are located in Murchison falls national park.
Elephants which account for the biggest number of wild animals in Murchison falls national park (3000) have most of their lives dependant on water. An with the construction of a hydro power dam on the falls will mean a reduction in the amount of water the comes down stream for their consumption.
The tourism sector contributes 25% to Uganda’s foreign exchange earnings and 10% to the country’s GDP with Murchison falls national park taking a third of the total foreign tourists who come to Ugandan, but it only allocated not more than 0.39% in the 2019/20 budget and employs more than 10,000 Ugandans.
END
