Nabasumba Proscovia
Tucked away in the southwestern corner of Uganda, Kisoro District has emerged as a popular tourist destination, thanks to its breathtaking location at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. The district’s undulating terrain, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, makes it a nature lover’s paradise.
National Geographic identified the Virunga Volcanoes as one of the best places to visit in 2012, and since then, Kisoro has been on the rise as a preferred destination for both domestic and international tourists. The district boasts three named mountains, known as the Virunga Mountains: Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Mgahinga.
“Kisoro is the perfect choice for many adventurous travelers,” says Kukiriza Jeremiah, a frequent traveler on the Kisoro-Kabale road. “The spiraling roads and green heights leave you breathless and on edge, the connection with nature is boundless and cannot be escaped. One would stop to wonder how God meticulously laid the terrain, with valleys and great hills filled with life and flora.”
The highest and most prominent mountain in the district is Muhabura, an inactive volcano on the Rwanda-Uganda border, standing at 4,127 meters (13,540 ft). The mountains are located within the famous Mgahinga National Park, which offers breathtaking views and exciting hiking trails.
Gorilla trekking at Bwindi National Park is the main attraction in Kisoro, but visitors can also enjoy coffee-making tours and canoe trekking at Lake Mutanda. The district’s hill ranges are interspersed with six lakes, including Mutanda, Mulehe, Chahafi, and Kayumbu, and the Echuya Central Forest Reserve, also known as the Bamboo Forest.
According to Mr. Bagaragaza Alex, a revenue officer with the Kisoro Municipality Council, tourism has been a great blessing for the local economy. “Kisoro is the Switzerland of Uganda, our weather here is like no other in Africa, the lakes, hills, and mountains have been a great blessing in terms of generating revenue for the local council through tourism, in turn boosting our revenue,” he says. “We are a hospitable people and welcoming.”
The Bafumbira, a Bantu ethnic group, are the indigenous people of Kisoro, and they speak Rufumbira and Rukiga, among other local languages. The staple food in Kisoro is Irish potatoes, beans, and fish, which are cultivated on the hills using a terrace cultivation method.
Historically, Kisoro was part of the Kingdom of Rwanda, but it was incorporated into Uganda by British colonizers in 1910. Ezra Ndagije, an opinion leader and history enthusiast, suggests that Ruganzu of the Nyiginya dynasty could have ruled the vast kingdom of Rwanda between 1510 and 1543, and sought refuge in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda, where he settled.
In a recent discussion on NBS Frontline, Andrew Mwenda highlighted how the current boundaries of Rwanda are significantly smaller than those of the precolonial Kingdom of Rwanda, and Kisoro was part of this larger kingdom. Despite its complex history, Kisoro has emerged as a gem in Uganda’s tourism industry, offering breathtaking scenery, exciting activities, and warm hospitality.
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