Gorilla trekking is that one unique wildlife experience that makes Uganda safaris complete. It is such a magical experience that shouldn’t miss out in your bucket list. Imagine that moment after a long hike and finally, you bump into a group of mountain gorillas! Ideally, it is such a magical encounter that brands this adventure lifetime. Where on earth can you have such a rare experience if not only in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
When planning to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, expect to pay a visit to only Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These two parks are situated suitably in southwestern Uganda on the Albertine rift just at a border with DR Congo. While here, you have the opportunity to realize your dream in any of the habituated gorilla families and about 17 of them have been habituated and readily available for visitors to track each day in this magical country. In Bwindi National Park, gorilla treks are conducted in any of the 4 main trailheads that include Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija area. Each of these sectors has habituated families with Buhoma area comprising of Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, and the newly introduced Katwe group; Rushaga sector is composed of groups like Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye and Bweza; Nkuringo region features Nkuringo and Christmas family. In Ruhija, the available groups for you to trek include Bitukura, Kyaguliro, and Oruzogo. Actually, packages like 3 days Bwindi gorilla trekking tours are the most selling trips in Uganda. For those of you who may wish to trek gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, Nyakagezi is the only habituated group that set for this adventure.

When to do gorilla trekking in Uganda
For any plans to track mountain gorillas in Uganda, the dry and wet/rainy seasons are the two most significant seasons you have to put into consideration. The longest dry season for this case is experienced from June to September and the short begins from December to February. This period experiences very low rainfall amount and the habitat is kept relatively drier thus making it easier for you to hike through the dense vegetation and steep slopes. The rainy/wet or off-season starts from March to May and from October to November. This season is characterized by heavy rainfall and it is usually challenging for one to hike through the dense vegetation and slippery steep slopes while in search for these creatures.

How much are gorilla permits in Uganda

In order for you to be allowed to track gorillas in Uganda, you will need to have a permit. You can obtain a permit in Uganda at $600-for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. You are encouraged to book your permit early enough at least 3 months or even a year earlier before the actual trek given the high demand and the fact that one habituated group is only limited to 8 visitors per day. Permits in Uganda can be obtained through a trustworthy and recognized tour operator or through reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority.

What to wear for the gorilla trek
For any plans to take part in this life-changing experience in Uganda, you have to be well-prepared especially on which items to consider in your packing list. To guide when packing for your trip, you will need good waterproof hiking boots that are lightweight, insect repellent, gardening gloves, a camera with no flashlight, bottled water, and energy giving snacks, long sleeved shirts/t-shirts and many others.

What to expect on a gorilla trek
Usually, gorilla trekking comes with lots of imaginations and expectations. But what is important and what you should expect is that you need to come along with a valid passport as it will be required at the park headquarters plus a gorilla permit. These are mainly required for verification purposes and after, you have a briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. It is from this time that you will be assigned to 1 habituated group to track in a group of 8 visitors. Each group is accompanied by 1 well-trained and experienced park ranger guide and upon finding these creatures, you have only an hour of the magical encounter.

Where to spend a night while on a gorilla safari in Uganda
While planning a gorilla trip to Uganda, accommodation is that one thing you have to put into consideration. The most interesting part of it that Bwindi and Mgahinga national park where gorilla treks are always conducted in Uganda feature a number of safari lodges in and around that you can choose to make your trip successful. If you are heading off to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the midrange safari lodges for you to spend a night include Gorilla Mist Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Nkuringo gorilla camp, Silverback lodge, Engagi Lodge Bwindi and many others. The budget options include Broadbill Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, Nshongi Camp a mention but a few. Luxury safari lodges, on the other hand, include Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge and many more. In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the notable accommodation options include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro and Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp. Most importantly, the cost for these lodges differ and usually range from $70 to $900.

How to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park
Both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park are reachable by road and air. By road, the options include the Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma route that takes you on a tarmac highway till Kabale for approximately 414 and this is about 6 to 8 hours’ drive. You then connect via Kanungu and Kanyantorogo to Buhoma. You may also start your journey from Kampala via Kabale to Nkuringo and this is ideal for those you who wish to explore habituated families within the Nkuringo sector. The other route takes you from Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri then to Kihihi and Buhoma. This is one of the most rewarding routes given the fact that it takes you via Queen Elizabeth National Park where you have a chance to catch a glimpse at the rare tree-climbing lions at Ishasha sector.
If your plan is to track mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, you can take the Kampala-Kabale-Kisoro route and this can take you approximately 8 hours. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and you land into Kisoro Airstrip where you can connect by road to either Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. A road trip to any of these parks requires a 4 wheel drive safari vehicle.

Rule and regulations for gorilla trekking
When it comes to gorilla trekking, a number of measures apply and while on a gorilla trek, every trekker is required to observe them at all times. They play a significant part both in safeguarding these endangered creatures and you the trekker while in the wild. They include no touching a gorilla, no flash camera is allowed while taking photos of gorillas and if your camera has a flashlight, you are requested to turn it off; do not go to track gorillas if you are sick, cover your mouth when coughing or noise when sneezing, do not smoke, eat or drink when you are with gorillas, maintain a distance of 7 meters away from gorillas at all times, only 8 visitors are allowed to track only 1 habituated gorilla family, only an hour is given to you to strike your imaginations with gorillas.
In conclusion, gorilla trekking is that one remarkable primate adventure you should consider in your travel plan. In Uganda, you can take part in this experience in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga National Park.

Today the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will mark 33 years after the end of the liberation struggle that brought the incumbent government in power.

This year’s celebrations are to be conducted in Tororo district at Muwafu primary school in West Budama Constituency. 200 selected individuals will be awarded with medals for their distinguished service towards the development of the country.

The celebrations have been organized under the theme “A moment of glory that set a new chapter for unity, peace and prosperity in Uganda”. President Yoweri Museveni will preside over the ceremony.

In 1986, the National Resistance Army (NRA) rebels led by president Museveni took over power after 5 years of fighting in the bush war overthrowing the military government of Tito Okello Lutwa.

Mr. Museveni declared the bush war in 1981 after being dissatisfied with the results from the presidential elections in which he accused the then president Milton Obote of rigging the votes.

After his victory, Mr. Museveni was sworn in into power on 26th January 1986. In his inaugural speech, the president promised that his government was going to be different one from all African governments and promised to bring about fundamental change in the country.

After 33 years in power, the NRM government has been trying to deliver to fulfill the promises the president made to Ugandans as he came into power.

Some of the key achievements NRM has registered include the restoration of peace in the country after putting an end to civil wars that had destabilized the country since gaining independence in 1962 up to when NRM took over power in 1986. Others include improvements in the education sector with the introduction of free education at Primary and secondary level, free medical care in public hospitals and infrastructural development featuring distribution of electricity in urban and rural areas as well as the construction of various roads around the country, among others.

However, the NRM government has been sharply criticized for the failure to live to its promises in various sectors of the country. Among the major points of criticism include widespread corruption almost in every sector, high rates of unemployment especially among the youth, high poverty levels among citizens, failure to organize free and fair elections, President Museveni’s overstay in power, among others.

Nevertheless, the NRM government continues to reign in Uganda under mixed feelings among the nationals with some still commending it for the achievements registered so far while others have totally lost trust in its rule thus staging sharp opposition. It is increasingly becoming clear that the government’s popularity among the people is reducing each day as more accusations of mismanagement of the state are continuously directed towards the leaders.

Waterspout hit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda
Residents of Kabale and Rubanda districts were yesterday 20th January 2019 frightened by the waterspout that hit lake Bunyonyi. The incident happened a few minutes after a heavy down pour that rained at 4:00pm. Waterspout is a rare occurrence, which happen once in very many years. For instance, its believed that the last waterspout happened over 20 years back meaning that it was a new experience for all people aged 25 years and below in kabale district. The incident was scaring but at the same time exciting especially to those who had never seen it. Lots of videos for the funnel-like shaped whirlwind that molded a vorte from the thick cloud over the lake close to Harutinda landing site.Due to fear, some people were seen trying to relocate from near the scene to further areas while those with motorcycles and cars drove to kabale town for safety. Waterspout is locally known as “eshata” in rukiga which natives believe can be chased by screaming loud. For that case, local people in the nearby areas were heard and seen shouting loud to scare it away and avert the dangers likely to come with it.

Was it a tornado or waterspout?

Much as some people were calling it a tornado, the incident that happened at lake Bunyonyi was a waterspout. A waterspout is a category of tornado, a whirling column of air and water mist which form when cumulus clouds grow rapidly rising hundreds of feet into the air. It is normally weaker and do not suck up water. Regarding tornado, it mostly occurs on land and is much stronger that it destroys the whole area damaging properties and gardens leading to death of people and animals. Waterspouts differ depending on their formation some connected to cumulus congestus cloud, others to cumuliform cloud and others to cumulonimbus cloud. A waterspout is therefore a non-super cell tornado over water. Waterspouts Eyewitnesses reported that the visible white colored funnel from the water surface to the overhead cloud appeared at about 6pm lasting for over 30 minutes.

What happened before?
The whole afternoon of 20th Jan 2019 was rainy for that people of Kabale and Rubanda districts which share borders of lake Bunynonyi. Rain started at around 4pm accompanied by lightening’s and thunderstorm. It poured for roughly 2 hours stopping at 6pm. This was followed by a waterspout when the cloud contacted the water surface; a circular light-colored disk appeared with spiraling movements for close to 2 minutes, which called for an alarm from locals. The cloud then reduced slowly in thickness before disconnecting from the water surface.

About lake Bunyoyi
Leaving alone the waterspout, lake Bunyonyi is one of the must visit travel destinations in southwestern Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is known as a home for “little birds” which reside on the shores and swamps around the lake. The lake was formed as a result of laves flow that emerged from the eruptions of the Virunga volcanoes and is the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. Lake Bunyonyi comprise of 29 islands each with a unique history and interesting facts. The islands on lake Bunyonyi include Bushara Island, Akampene Island, Kyahugye island, Njuyeera island, Bucuranuka island, and Bwama island among others. Some of these islands are occupied b local people and others used for agriculture.

What to see and do on lake Bunyonyi
Travelers to lake bunyonyi have a variety of unique attractions to see and tourism activities to take part in. These include swimming, community visit, canoeing to islands, bird watching, batwa pygmy visits, bamboo walk and chilling among others. Experienced local guides who have been born and raised in lake Bunyonyi help you explore the community and tell you detailed facts about this wonderful lake. Most people on Uganda safaris visit Lake Bunyonyi as a complement to gorilla watching trips in Bwindi forest national park a home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. For more Uganda safaris, contact

In conclusion, witnessing a waterspout on lake Bunyonyi was an exceptional but scaring experience for the local people. The incident will be one of the stories told to future travelers to lake Bunyonyi and kabala district as a whole.

President Yoweri Museveni has issued a directive to stop issuing trade licenses to new betting companies that want to open business in Uganda while licenses for existing companies will not be renewed.

According to the state minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr. David Bahati, the President says that betting has diverted the attention of the youth from hard work.

If implemented, the ban will not only affect betting companies but also those who participate in betting majorly the youth that had resorted to the practice as an easier way of earning income.

Football is the major sport where most of Ugandans who participate in betting place their bets mostly on European Leagues while others include games like wrestling, boxing and horse race.

Sports betting companies have become so numerous in Uganda with over 20 companies operating in the country. There has been a rising trend in the number of betting companies since mid 2000s when the business first hit the ground in Uganda.

The president’s directive to ban sports betting companies comes in the wake when several Ugandans have been crying foul of the exploitation of these companies. Among these include the parents whose children who are mostly university student have lost their tuition through betting. Most of these opt to first channel the money meant for tuition into betting with hope of making more money out of it, unfortunately surrendering the whole of it after losing the bet.

Other major out-cried distractions of the practice in Uganda include causing laziness especially among the youth who wake up early to go to the betting centres to start analysing which bets they can win. Poverty is also another dangerous associated feature as people keep betting almost all the income they earn from other activities and they end up losing it all.

However, on the positive side, there have been some beneficiaries of betting in Uganda and these among others include those employed by the betting companies as tellers, cashiers, technicians, among others. We can’t forget the lucky stars of the gamble who have won cash ranging from as low as UGX 10,000 to over UGX 100,000,000. Such people have gone on to establish developmental projects out of the money won including setting up businesses, constructing houses, buying land, among others.

On top of all that, betting companies have been one of the top tax payers to the Uganda Revenue Authority and the body has been increasing the tax charged these companies every year. Owners of premises where these betting companies operate from have also been receiving huge amounts of money through rent.