Kigezi Tourism Stakeholders Push for International Airport and Better Infrastructure

Tourism players in the Kigezi sub-region are intensifying calls for the government to construct an international airport and establish airfields in districts near Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks. The appeal aims to attract high-end visitors and significantly boost the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

Speaking at a one-day tourism summit in Kabale town, Kigezi Tourism Cluster Chairman Canon Ivan Mbabazi Batuma emphasized that the region deserves an international airport just like Bunyoro received one for its oil resources. He described Kigezi’s mountain gorillas as the region’s green oil, generating crucial foreign exchange for Uganda.

Beyond air transport, stakeholders renewed demands for the fulfillment of a presidential pledge to upgrade critical tourism roads. Frequent mudslides during the rainy season often block these routes, severely inconveniencing travelers whose itineraries depend on strict timing.

Batuma outlined a vision to transform Kigezi from a mere gorilla-tracking stopover into an extended holiday destination. He urged stakeholders to embrace joint marketing, improve service standards, and protect the environment while preserving cultural heritage.

Local leaders and officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) pledged to present the raised concerns to relevant line ministries. Meanwhile, investors like Fidelis Kanyamunyu encouraged colleagues to develop modern highway rest centers to encourage tourists to stay longer.

Read more about this story on the Daily Monitor.