BUGONDO ECO-TOURISM AND

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
PROJECT:

A CONCEPT PAPER TO REPLANT &

MAINTAIN FOREST COVER IN BUGONDO
FOREST FOR ECO-TOURISM:
PREPARED FOR

PILGRIM AFRICA
P.O. BOX 2782, KAMPALA. UGANDA
info@pilgrimafrica.org

BY

Anthony A. Esenu
anthony.esenu@gmail.com

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Organization:

PILGRIM AFRICA.

Name of Project:

Bugondo Eco-Tourism and Environmental Conservation Project

Location:

Serere District, Eastern Uganda

Target Area:

Serere District.

Project Benefits:
Benefit directly & indirectly over 2,000 beneficiaries in the villages who will
benefit through reforestation activities.
Supply of timber, fruit, and fodder for cattle apart from crop production
Prevention soil erosion
Helps better retention of water
Shields crops from excessive wind and sun damage
Benefits the overall environment
Aim:
To contribute to the restoration of forest cover in Bugondo Forest Reserve for ecotourism.
Objectives:
1. To develop economically viable and sustainable community forestation programs in
the surrounding community and districts
2. To stimulate and support household and community income generating activities in
the district of Serere that enhance environmental conservation
3. Reforest and manage Bugondo forest.
Key Interventions:
The proposed Ecotourism Conceptual Plan for Bugondo Forest Reserve will help plan
and build a viable and meaningful Ecotourism Sector in Bugondo, Serere District
within the immediate future. All key ecotourism stakeholders in Serere, Teso sub
regioin and Uganda must become aware of the principles of ecotourism, must share a
vision for ecotourism, and must appreciate the potential benefits derived nationally
from ecotourism activities. This Ecotourism Concept clarifies the steps to be taken to
achieve this understanding, the joint expertise required to successfully prepare an
Ecotourism Plan, and the technical advantages the proposers have in having the direct
practical ecotourism experience in a Ugandan context.
This Concept focuses on rural communities living around the forest reserve, by
including them to commit to sustainable living practices and by relying on direct
practical ecotourism experiences from other parts of Uganda.
The scope of the Project will be focused on tree planting and the enabling support
initiatives, with the intention to allow the area to produce fuel and wood and other
intermediate biomass fuel as quickly as possible from the introduction of fast-growing
wood species. The project initiatives are highly relevant in the context of the current
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demands for timber and fuel wood; and in accordance to the Governments priorities
to address the increasing pressure on existing forest resources.
Ecotourism can become Bugondos best environmental management tool, a
development catalyst for preserving the the Itesos cultural heritage, timely in settingup ecotourism infrastructure, is justified for addressing the economic and
developmental aspirations of rural communities, and can serve an educational role in
raising environmental awareness culturally, biologically, physically, socially and
economically while complementing existing tourism practices in eastern Uganda
It is the proposers firm belief that Bugondo Forest Reserve has the vital ecotourism
assets, and cultural opportunity to be a leader in Teso ecotourism development. This
concept explains how tourism has been shown internationally to be an effective
development tool if applied correctly. Finally, this Concept highlight existing
opportunities and tourism-related activities that could quite simply and cost-effectively
be packaged as ecotourism activities.
The proposers submit the following Ecotourism Concept and welcome the
opportunity to jointly explore new ecotourism developments and look forwards to
discussions of how to develop ecotourism in Serere and Teso Sub region.

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION:
Sir Winston Churchill called Uganda The Pearl of Africa for its beauty and
abundance of resources. The planned wildlife reserve will reflect this richness, and will
be one of Africas very few privately owned and operated parks, entirely independent
of government control. It is specifically tailored to meet the needs of the eco-tourist
hoping to gain maximum non-intrusive exposure to Africas rich bio-diversity without
the frustration and congestion of safaris in the established National Game Park.
Ecotourism is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry worldwide, and more
and more travelers are demanding ecotourism holidays. By definition, eco-tourists are
interested in 7 key activities or experiences, namely:
(i) village development projects (Developmental Tourism)
(ii) a wide range of adventures (Adventure Tourism)
(iii) communing with nature (Nature Tourism)
(iv) immersing themselves in the culture (Cultural Tourism)
(v) a travel learn experience (Educational Tourism)
(vi) spending their tourist dollars wisely (Economic Tourism) and
(vii) helping to protect the environment (Environmental Tourism)
Ecotourism, by its very definition, attracts a different subset of travelers, not the usual
resort tourists who are primarily interested in sun, sand, scenery and surf. It also
appeals to domestic tourists willing to participate in an Ecotourism activity
Bugondo Forest needs to offer visitors an eco-travel itinerary that offers all 7
experiences: ecotourists want to have a holiday, it must be an educational experience,
and they also want to make a positive contribution to their holiday destinations.
Nyero Rock painting in Ngora visitors may be an existing potential ecotourism
market: some targeted ecotourism itineraries need to be developed, and the Office of
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) would need to market such ecotourism activities to the
foreign tourists and local tour operators.
The Bugondo Ecotourism Concept is designed to fulfills two important criteria:
(i) to be achievable and implementable, so that ecotourism becomes the best
environmental management and community development tool
(ii) to help bring about sustainable tourism development in Bugondo and
(iii) to meet the high expectations of international travelers, eco-travelers, as well as
residents of Bugondo or Teso or Uganda who become involved in the Ecotourism
Program as domestic tourists (e.g. experiencing the key ecotourism assets and activities
within their own country for leisure and educational purposes i.e. Domestic Tourism).
Success from Bugondo can be emulated with similar results. Ecotourism is, therefore,
simply a vehicle for delivering sustainability and cultural enhancement whilst
combining an adventurous holiday with a travel/learn experience.
1.1 Possibilities for Bugondo Ecotourism
Uganda has a young and growing ecotourism sector. There is none in Teso sub region
and this absence of any known and organized ecotourism activity in the Teso sub
region provides enormous opportunity for investing in this sector.
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The first step in building an Ecotourism in Bugondo is to identify and highlight the key
ecotourism locations, activities, experiences, opportunities and relevant projects.
Once this task has been completed, then there is sufficient foundation on which to
build viable ecotourism businesses. In this respect, the proponents of this project will
feature seven components of the ecotourism industry, namely:
1. Developmental Tourism
Ensure that Eco-travellers are left with a feeling that they have made a positive
contribution to the places they visited, or that they have made a positive contribution
to the peoples they visited, or that they have contributed to the success of a number
of village development projects (i.e. Developmental Tourism). On that basis, the
Bugondo Ecotourism Project will expose visitors and residents to relevant Community
development projects and plans.
2. Adventure Tourism
Ensure that Eco-travelers who are generally either very adventurous by nature and/or
enjoy experiencing new activities for the first time have opportunity to engage in
adventurous activities like canoeing, forest tours, birdwatching, handicraft making
demonstrations, etc. in Bugondo and neighboring areas/communities. Ecotourism is
about offering new experiences, things that make a holiday successful and memorable,
opportunities that bring the two cultures together, thus helping to exceed the
expectations that travelers may have had. Adventure Tourism is just one such process
and trained ecotourism guides encourage such adventurous experiences. Therefore,
appropriate ecotourism itineraries will be cleverly designed with this in mind.
3. Nature Tourism:
Ensure that Eco-travelers who are attracted by pristine ecosystems abundant with
wildlife, unique savannah and wetland/lake Kyoga flora, are offered both the pristine
and majestic scenery, as well as a unique biodiversity thereby enjoy the sheer beauty
and variety and abundance of both terrestrial and marine species in Bugondo. Ecotravelers are generally interested in plants and animals and welcome the opportunity
to learn about the biodiversity of the different locations that they visit. Biodiversity
reference books will be invaluable to ecotourism guides and visitors. Biodiversity
research must be encouraged to help assist the Ecotourism Industry, but also to assist
the customary landowners whose assets the Ecotourism Industry is reliant on.
4. Cultural Tourism
Ensure that international eco-travelers who are generally interested in learning about
different cultures are given a tour/experience or education on the culture and ways of
the people of Teso. Living in a new culture for them can be a rewarding holiday
experience. Community tourism is an integral component of ecotourism providing the
perfect cultural experience (i.e. Cultural Tourism). Surrounding communities and
villages will be recruited and trained to be part of this cultural tourism, i.e., to offer
home stays and other ways to showcase the Teso Culture.
5. Educational Tourism
Ensure that ecotourism is treated as a science, becomes more of an educational
experience for visitors, villagers, ecotour operators and tourism industry stakeholders
alike as well as an ongoing research opportunity for students, academics and
researchers as we learn to do tourism better, locally and internationally, i.e., a
travel/learn experience. The project will engage and attract partnerships with local
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educational institutions, universities, professors of tourism, and research bodies to all

have an important role to play in formulating an Ecotourism Plan for Bugondo (i.e.
telling us how to do tourism better).
6. Economic Tourism:
Ensure that Ecotourism spreads the economic benefits of tourism into the rural areas
with considerable benefits. In some communities, ecotourism alone may be
responsible for over USD$500,000 of tourism receipts annually. If Bugondo can
attract just 1,000 eco-travelers annually, each spending USD$ 1000 (i.e., USD$ 1
million annually), with a typical multiplier effect of about 4, then $USD$ 1 million
becomes USD$ 4 million as this money changes hands 4 times within the communities
involved before it leaks out of these communities. This can be a significant injection
into rural economies that are otherwise somewhat depressed, lacking employment
opportunities and lacking business investment opportunities. Through the efforts of
worldwide movements i.e. Pro-Poor Tourism, ecotourism can help address local
poverty by encouraging expenditure of global tourism receipts in the impoverished
regions in the world and help create the correct travel ethic that is developing
amongst genuine eco-travelers, directly benefitting the less privileged rural
communities.
7. Environmental Tourism
Ensure Eco-travelers who are generally interested in environmental issues and
welcome the opportunity to learn about local efforts to protect the environment (i.e.
Environmental Tourism). All the environmental challenges facing Bugondo and Teso
sub region will be incorporated into the Ecotourism Plan, and steps taken to ensure
that eco-travelers actually help protect the environments that they visit. Whether it is
the cultural environment, the economic environment, the biological environment, the
social environment, the physical environment or even the political environment, ecotravelers are encouraging sustainable livelihoods in peaceful and equitable
environments. Eco-travelers both international and national, want to learn about
local environmental issues, and they want to participate in environmental programs
that actually improve the holiday destinations that they visit.
In conclusion, the Bugondo Ecotourism Project will build an Ecotourism Industry by
exposing eco-travelers to all the above components of ecotourism, introducing them
subtly to one component at a time, within a 7-Day Ecotour itinerary, thus giving
ample time and opportunities to witness firsthand all 7 components of ecotourism.
The challenge lies in designing a comprehensive half-day/full-day ecotour tailor made
to be informative and participatory, affordable and safe.
1.2 -An Ecotourism Vision for Bugondo & Teso Sub Region:
As the expertise in ecotourism increases in Teso, a visionary approach to ecotourism
planning is warranted. While there may be numerous ecotourism assets and facets
required for a comprehensive and complete Ecotourism Program in Teso, some
compromises may need to be taken initially. However, an Ecotourism Vision for 2010
will at least highlight some planning and implementation outputs, and will also allow
all the stakeholders to realize how important it is to strengthen the Ecotourism
Program in Teso by including some of the following draft visions. The following list of
ecotourism outputs/assets is in no order of priority.

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Construction of a dedicated ecotourism website, organize annual ecotourism festival

in teso, deploy ecotourism marketing brochures in strategic locations in Uganda, setup
an ecotourism display site in kampala/soroti, recruit and train specialized ecotourism
guides, train communities on participation in ecotourism activities, develop detailed
ecotourism itineraries/packages, develop and engage in ecotourism research and
conservation, replanting and regeneration of trees in Bugondo, incorporate
ecotourism in the economic, social and environmental management for
Bugondo/Serere, attract 1,000 ecotravellers annually spending about US$ 1,000.00
each, carryout an environmental assessment and audit plan, create specialized Center
for Ecotourism excellence.
1.3 Location:
The Teso Region is situated in North Eastern Uganda, and lies between 1000m 1800m above sea level with a weakly bimodal rainfall of 1000 mm 1100 mm per
annum. The terrain provides an excellent home for wildlife, and ranges from dry
savannah in the North East to woody savannah in the South West. Teso region
consists of four districts: Amuria, Ngora, Serere, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kumi and
Soroti.
Bugondo forest reserve is located in Serere district, on Bugondo hills, close to the
shores of Lake Kyoga in Bugondo Sub county. It used to be densely populated with
trees but that changed when the community cut all trees after collapse of the Amin
and Obote regimes. Today it is a bare piece of property used by cattle keepers and
some farmers to raise their animals and produce crops respectively. The land is bare,
soil is being washed away through erosion, plant cover is gone, and fertility in the
surrounding areas has also declined.
Pilgrim Africa is a local NGO engaged in community development, relief and recovery
activities in Uganda with a focus on education, conservation, and resource
mobilization. Pilgrim has been key in the resettlement of people of Teso after the
cessation of war in 1992, development of education, health programmes, and socio
economic activities and conservation.
1.4 Marketing Ecotourism:
Given that an in depth understanding of ecotourism is required to successfully market
ecotours to the international markets, the project will develop a list of existing
ecotourism locations, activities, experiences and components in Bugondo will be
compiled for the proposed Ecotourism Plan for Bugondo and formalize these
activities and opportunities into marketable ecotourism holidays.
In addition, genuine free independent eco-travelers are interested in professionally
organized ecotours, possibly run in conjunction with local tertiary education centers.
A list of proven key international ecotourism wholesalers, educational tourism
websites and Internet booking sites will be developed, targeting universities and
colleges which are interested in both a travel-learn experience as well as an overseas
study experience.
An informative website will be developed as a valuable educational skilling-up and
marketing tool as the majority of eco-travelers are booking on the Internet with
specialist ecotourism sites. This website can also offer links to important educational
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websites, to websites that promote responsible tourism, and to travel trade websites
that are simply Internet Booking Sites.
Success of the Ecotourism will be reliant on effective marketing of high quality
ecotourism services, activities, itineraries and products in target locations and
audiences across both Uganda and the world and include the feedback from such
ecotours. Other marketing channels include word-of-mouth marketing, contact
agents, educational school tours, internet etc to advertize the ecotourism services
being offered.

CHAPTER 2: OBJECTIVES:
2.1 Aim:
To contribute to the restoration of forest cover in Eastern Uganda through
reforestation and eco-tourism.
2.2 Objectives:
1. To develop economically viable and sustainable community forestation programs in
the surrounding community and districts
2. To stimulate and support household and community income generating activities in
the district of Serere that enhance environmental conservation
3. Reforest and manage Bugondo forest.
CHAPTER 3: TARGET AREA/BENEFICIARIES
The project will target and benefit different categories of people in Serere and the
neighboring districts for different purposes:
3.1 Project Coverage:
Bugondo hill and the surrounding the villages in Serere district. It will focus on tree
planting, training and supporting communities to plant trees and conserve nature.
3.2 Community Outreach Programs:
These programs are designed to sensitize the community around Bugondo forest
reserve to engage in economically viable conservation activities, to value trees and
environmental conservation, and promote and protect the conservation work of the
project. Reforesting is a positive effort in curbing the over-use and destruction of
natural forests. If done with proper planning and at appropriate sites, it can become a
commercially viable solution for many human needs without harming the balance of
nature.
CHAPTER 4 - The 4 Phases of the Ecotourism Plan
The Bugondo Ecotourism Project consists of 4 phases, namely:
PHASE 1 - Consultation and Fact Finding Phase
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Seeking direction and guidance from the NFA, UTB, & NEMA, on the preparation of
the proposed Ecotourism Plan
PHASE 2 Community/Stakeholder Participation Phase
Seeks to coordinate public meetings on ecotourism, assist with the presentation of the
positive and negative impacts of ecotourism, and coordinate public hearings on
ecotourism.
PHASE 3 - Strategy & Guidelines Development Phase
Involves participate in expert panel meeting to help determine policies and strategies
for the Ecotourism Plan
PHASE 4 - Plan Preparation Phase
Involves organizing and developing the draft Ecotourism Plan including (a) statement
of existing conditions, (b) analysis of the issues confronting ecotourism development,
(c) analysis of the issues endorsing ecotourism development, (d) forecast of probable
conditions/events that will impact tourism, (e) forecast of probable conditions/events
that will endorse tourism, (f) statement of existing ecotourism
assets/proposals/opportunities (e.g. World Heritage Listed Area, South Pacific Whale
Sanctuary), and (g) develop an implementation plan.
Phase 5 - Additional Principal Tasks
5 additional principal tasks have been included in the Schedule of Tasks, namely:
(i) Construct an Ecotourism Public Display
The development of the proposed Ecotourism Plan could be both an educational
process for the stakeholders as well as an opportunity to up-skill for all involved in
the development of the Plan. On that basis, and in order to attract more public
participation, the ongoing design and gradual construction of an Ecotourism Public
Display may encourage more public participation.
(ii) Participate in an Award-winning Ecotour
Experiencing an existing award-winning ecotour in Teso with Ecotour Teso Ltd. could
be another potential additional principal task. These proven ecotour itineraries (see
Appendix 4 for Ecotour Teso brochures) have attracted a number of ecotourism
awards over the past 6 years (see Appendix 5).
(iii) Constructing an Ecotourism Website
All 4 Phases of the Ecotourism Plan could be featured on an interactive website during
the course of the development of the Plan, thus allowing all stakeholders at all times
to remain abreast with the issues, debates and progress of the proposed Ecotourism
Plan. In addition, another website could be designed to directly market ecotourism
holidays in Teso to the international markets
(iv) Trialing a virtual ecotour
Upon completion of the draft Ecotourism Plan for Teso, it would be advantageous to
trial a virtual ecotour of Teso to see if all the recommended components of
ecotourism can be satisfactorily included. This may also provide the opportunity to
inform the private sector of the real potential of ecotourism business opportunities in
Teso.
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(v) Trialing an ecotour to suit the needs of cruise ship visitors

There may be some justification in trailing an eco-tour during the course of the
preparation of the Ecotourism Plan, using the cruise ship market. This would allow for
considerable feedback to be obtained and would assist the proposed Eco-traveler/
Visitor Survey. In addition, it would provide the ecotourism stakeholders with an
excellent training opportunity, thus encouraging their added commitment to adopting
the principles of ecotourism and related Best Practices.
CHAPTER 5: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY:
The implementation strategy is defined on the following principles:
5.1 Phased Interventions:
The project will be established in two main phases, Phase I and Phase II.
Phase I: (2017-2020):
Phase I will focus on securing all the boundaries of the reserve, gaining public
cooperation in reforestation, setting up operational base in Bugondo, establishment of
tree nurseries, clearing the land for tree planting, and setting up community education
program for reforestation. In addition, well establish necessary infrastructure for
forest planting, management, and protection.
Phase II: (2021-2025):
Phase II will focus on management of the forest trees and seedlings, educating the
local population on environmental conservation, supporting community agro-forestry
and conservation efforts, and setting up sustainability programs.
These phases are not exclusive and activities in one phase could overflow into or from
the other phase
5.2 Start small but grow progressively:
Aware of the need to build on existing best practices and other peoples local
experiences, the project is designed to grow strategically in an incremental basis,
starting from one corner to the last part over a five-eight year period.
5.3 Alternative Economic activities for Communities:
Conscious that the survival of this project will depend eventually settling former
squatters and users of the reserve for economic activities, the project will design and
support alternate economic activities that will benefit communities that drew
sustenance from the reserve. These will include small holder economic activities and
support for health care and education for vulnerable households.
The entrepreneurial strategy will be followed by a community service component to
bring the community to a level of understanding and economic activity that will
guarantee their support and protection of the reserve, thus garnering community
support and stake in the project.
CHAPTER 6: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN/ACTIVITIES:
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1. Secure the land and its boundaries (legal and practical)

2. Survey land for landscape design and planning of the reforestation program
3. Hold community meetings to educate them of the projects activities,
conservation and benefits to society to gain public support for the project
4. Establish project base and nursery beds
5. Clearing land and preparing it for tree planting
6. Plant trees, weed, thin, and manage security of the plantations
7. Establish infrastructure for forestry planting, weeding, and management
8. Develop infrastructure for ecotourism including lodging facilities and
information center
9. Establish groundwork for development and management of gazette forests and
forest reserves in Teso region conscious of the neglect, mismanagement and
destruction of gazetted forests and forest reserves in the entire Teso region, the
project will offer to take on the reforestation, development and economic
management of these of these forests with a community outreach and
participation strategy. This will be possible with the support of the local district
authorities in the above named districts. The purpose will be to take
conservation practices out of the park.
CHAPTER 7: BUDGET:
The Proposed Budget for the project is to be estimated in partnership with UTB over
a period of five years.
7.1 FINANCING PLAN:
The contributions to the budget are expected to be from any of the following
agencies and institutions:
Government of Uganda
Bilateral & Multilateral donors and private foundations/individuals.
Donations from individual within Ugandan and outside the Country
CHAPTER 8: EXPECTED OUTPUTS & RISKS:
The expected outputs for Phase I will be:
1. A forest reserve restored to its original glory in Bugondo, Serere district
2. A community educated and supported to engage in afforestation and
commercially viable conservation projects
3. A Learning and Cultural Center outside the wildlife reserve established for
community sensitization
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4. Forests in the park and gazette areas in the district re-afforested and
maintained
8.1 Envisaged Risks:
1. Failure to raise adequate funds on time owing to global economic recession
2. Reduced eco-tourism activity arising from terrorist activities
3. Attempt by opportunists to duplicate or derail this process
CHAPTER 9: SUMMARY & CONCLUSION:
The Bugondo Ecotourism and Environmental Conservation Project is an indigenous
idea that seeks to promote reforestation, eco-tourism and community conservation
programs in Teso starting with reforestation of Bugondo Forest reserve in Serere
District, Teso Sub Region, with an initial investment cost of Shs 1.2 billion.
Land to this purpose needs to be acquired. With a carefully developed strategy that
combines caution, entrepreneurship and community outreach programs, the project
intends to initiate and successfully establish a man made eco-park in Teso, Uganda.
The fact that there is no serious tourist attraction in the whole of Eastern Uganda begs
the implementation of this project. With the timely funding and adequate inflow of
tourists, the project will provide tangible contributions to tourism and economic
development of eastern Uganda.
In conclusion, the proposers believe that the benefits of true ecotourism include:
(i) long term economic benefits to local communities,
(ii) direct and indirect environmental management inputs,
(iii) direct contributions to long life learning,
(iv) direct contribution to gender equity,
(v) ability to improve land-use practices,
(vi) likelihood of encouraging domestic tourism within Teso, and
(vii) potential in ensuring sustainable living for all future generations in Teso.

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