Ten days ago I took a trip to Kalangala, one of the Ssese islands on Lake Victoria. The last time I had visited the beautiful island was four years ago. The island is three hours ferry ride from Entebbe. On board we had three vehicles from the ministry of tourism and I was curious what function was going take place just a few days before our 50-year independence anniversary.
We later found out that the next day the minister of tourism was launching a ‘tourism master plan for Ssese Islands’, which am told, do not receive that many tourists these days. More than the logistical issues like access to these islands, what left me speechless was the destruction of the rain forests in Kalangala Island.
As you approach the islands you cannot miss the bare hills that were once covered with green dense forests.
Screen shot from BIDCO Uganda Ltd.
The destruction of these forests and biodiversity has been fully backed by government as top regime officials make money off Palm Oil production.
