The former Prime Minister Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi has congratulated the founders and leaders of Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association for coming together and harness conservation of wildlife.
Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi remarks were contained in a speech read for him by Kinkizi West Member of Parliament Hon James Ruugi Kaberuka who represented him as Guest of Honour at the 27th Annual General Meeting for Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association which tool place today at Mukono Primary School in Bohoma Town Council in Kanungu District.
Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi noted that the decision by the founders of Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association has lasted the test of time and has become community model leadership.
In the speech, Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi noted that the Association has demonstrated that conservation revenues can be well used by the community which is a true meaning of development and the people are not spectators but real beneficiaries of conservation.Â
Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi thanked the residents living at the border with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for accepting the conservation strategies which has turned into job opportunities, translating into incomes, developmental projects which are not small achievement.
He applauded the current leadership led by Ashaba Medard and noted the Annual General Meeting is not formality but a measure of capability and and accountability and their local action has contributed to global development and reaffirmed commitment to work and support communities who are ready to use their resources for development.
In his own words, the Kinkizi West Member of Parliament Hon James Ruugi Kaberuka has hailed the Management of Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association for reviving the organisation which is now making headway for new developments and opportunities.
Hon Kaberuka who represented the former, thanked Buhoma Town Council LC 3 chairman Moses Basheija for having used his political influence to esure that the 27 year old organisation resolved its internal issues and has now agreed to work for transformation and development of the area.
Hon Kaberuka who was recently re-elected for another 5 year political term as Member of Parliament, said that he will support continue to support Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association because it has helped him to know what the residents want in terms of development.
Hon Kaberuka who was accompanied by his wife Sharon Kaberuka said that he is ready to work with a team that is focused on development and asked the residents of Buhoma Town Council to avoid elections of division and work towards the development of Kinkizi West and Kanungu District at large.
He promised that Mukono Areas which have no electricity will be considered in the next phase and ensure that both electricity and water are connected to the area.
The meeting was also attended by the newly elected Kanungu LC 5 Chairperson Francis Byamukama Kapesha who pledged support to the organisation in fulfilling its objectives and Buhoma Town Council Chairperson Moses Bashaija, development partners, external auditors and legal partners to the Association.
Meanwhile Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association have re elected Ashaba Medard as their Board Chairperson for the year 2026 to 2029 a period they hope to transform the organisation into one of the best community based organisations around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The meeting that took place February 14th 2025, also confirmed the election of Atuheire Victor as General Secretary, Magoba Moses as Treasurer, Friday Dickens as Vice Chairperson, Nduhukire Laban as Vice Secretary, Kamukama John as Board Member and Asiimwe Annet as Board Member representing Women.
Ashaba said that the Board is committed to ensure sustainable conservation of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and promote responsible tourism as key pillars of of long term community development.
Buhoma Mukono Community Development has a total of 4,665 members in 12 villages and consist of 1,925 households and Ashaba promised to mobilise all the families to continue promoting environmental education and protection, conserve the biodiversity and climate resilience while ensuring that tourism benefits benefit local livelihoods directly.
“We belive that conservation and tourism must go hand in hand with Community empowerment, safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations while creating sustainable income and employment opportunities for our people ” Ashaba said.
In the year 2025, Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association has registered significant progress in education, infrastructural developments, community welfare and institutional strengthening.
Some of the achievements include the installation of Solar Powered system at Haven Lodge which is one of the income generating projects, worked on Iraaro Bwashwa Road, extension of gravity water and support of a family that produced triplets in Nyakeina village.
Despite all the achievements, Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association is facing declining support from the donors, competition from organisations offering similar services in the hotel and hospitality business, limited electricity supply to the institutions they operate and limited access to medical services.
Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association was founded by a group of residents from the area in 1993, with an aim to harness the power of conservation and tourism for community transformation.
The founding members recognised that the youth education was essential to sustainable development and established Buhoma Community Rest Camp and later Haven Lodgeswjere revenue generated is re-invested in the community initiatives development projects.
The revenues and other donations resulted into the establishment of Buhoma Community Primary School and Buhoma Community Secondary School which have provided affordable and close access to education to their children which has had a multiplier effect on the development in the area.
