No need of a dam in Murchsion Falls National Park

If the Government’s proposal for construction of a power dam in Murchison falls is to go by, then Uganda’s prime and most visited National Park-Murchison Falls National Park, is to lose its iconic attraction and the number one reason thousands of tourists visit the Conservation Area.

Only just one month after the court ruled in favor of Hoima Sugar Limited to cut part of the verdant Bugoma Central Forest Reserve (the home to over 24 mammal species including chimpanzees, 350 bird species, 460 species of trees and several butterfly species) for sugarcane growing, another contention over Uganda’s natural resources is brewing even before the dust from the previous scandal settled.

This time, one of the World’s most powerful waterfalls (Murchison Falls) is about to lose its beauty. This comes after a notice published in New Vision (newspaper) shows that Bonang Power and Energy (Pty) Limited, a private company intends to generate and sale electricity from the power plant close to the magnificent Murchison Falls in Nwoya and Kiryandongo districts.  The 7^th June notice was received and acknowledged by Electricity Regulatory Authority and if approved, Uganda will lose another important attraction that draws tourists to Murchison Falls National Park and the country in general.

According to the notice, the South Africa-based energy Company was given a go ahead to undertake feasibility studies as well as other procedures that will make certain that the mentioned power project leading to generation of over 360 megawatts of power is developed. The project is intended to stand within the coordinated of Longitude 2º16’42.6”N and Latitude 31º41’08.8”E and once completed will be sold to Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited and fed to the National Grid.

However, the notice and planned project didn’t go well with the tourism sector stakeholders who view the project as more than destruction than benefit to the tourism industry and Uganda’s beauty in general. Ms. Lilly Ajarova, the Chief Executive Officer Uganda Tourism Board described the move as madness.

Amos Wekesa, Proprietor Great Lakes Safaris and Uganda Lodges showed disappointment and described the plan as nonsense. He described Murchison Falls as Uganda’s best tourist destination and wondered why anyone would think of destroying such a valuable resource. “First it was Bujagali, followed by Karuma and now it’s Murchison falls, how can you destroy everything in one generation”” he wondered.

President Museveni has on the record boasted that Uganda has surplus electricity and Mr. Wekesa believes it’s the reason why new Hydro Electricity plants are not required. He further suggested the Government uses other forms of electricity such as solar energy which pose minimal danger on the environment, given the fact that Uganda also lies within the Equator with plenty of sunshine. Much as the Government has in the recent years increased on investment in electricity which is believed to enable industrialization, it’s time to consider other alternative forms of energy such as solar.

Amos Wekesa also pointed that the now threatened National Park is able to generate up to $500 million per year compared to the wide and diverse Masai Mara National Reserve generating up to $200 million, because the former is endowed with more physical features such as the waterfalls as well as tourist activities. You can do a boat cruise, hike to the top of the falls and trek chimpanzees which you can’t do within Masai Mara Reserve.

The Murchison Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls along the Nile River, where waters of this River force themselves through a narrow gorge of 7 meters and falls for 42 meters below with a roaring sound. This waterfall together with the 76 species of mammals and 450 bird species are the reason tourists visit this 3840 square kilometer National Park.