Communities Predict Tough Times under new NCDF Leadership

A section of Park communities with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Bukimbiri County, Kisoro District have said the newly elected leadership of Nkuringo Conservation Development Foundation (NCDF) is likely to seek personal interests over serving the larger communities of Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils.

NCDF, formerly Nkuringo Community Conservation Development Foundation was founded in 2004 with the sole objective of supporting the communities of Nkuringo and Rubuguri town councils to benefit from the booming Mountain Gorilla tourism in the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

NCDF has since accumulated a number of financially profitable projects including Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, schools and other ventures that provide livestock to communities and scholarships to selected community members.

A new Chairperson by the names of Tumuhairwe B John was on Thursday last week elected by 21 people at a low-key election held at Tourist Hotel in Kisoro Municipality.

Beinomugisha Zoveriyo, a resident of Nteko cell in Nkuringo town council says that locals have now lost trust in the organization and fear that some projects that benefitted the community will soon fade away because the public did not participate in the electoral process.

Twesiime Giridasi, a Resident of Kikobero says the signs that the organization has been hijacked have become clear for all people to see.

Giridasi noted that it is unfortunate that communities were only permitted by Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to elect councilors.

CUE IN… GERIDAS ON NCDF…

NCDF Chairperson, Tumuhairwe John assured the community members that the organization will remain committed to serve the interests of the people and those peddling lies about the new leadership are only seeking to destroy and not develop Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils.

CUE IN… TUMUHAIRWE ON NCDF…

Nkuringo Town council Mayor, Atanazius Kajibwami asked NCDF leadership to carefully plan for Nkuringo and Rubuguri Town Councils because it is a strong voice to advocate for improved roads and transport network which will attract development to Bukimbiri County.