Bwindi Impenetrable National Parka world heritage site and home to more than a half of the surviving mountain gorilla population stands to benefit from connectivity to hydro electric power supply and improved access roads according to State minister for Tourism Hon. Serapio Rukundo.

During his recent tour of the BINP offices at Buhoma where he also presided over a community event organized by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) through its Friend-a-Gorilla (FG) initiative, at Gorilla Forest Camp, the minister said he would discuss the issue of power supply with his colleague in the ministry of energy to expedite the process.

Hon. Rukundo who earlier in the day trekked mountain gorillas of Rushegura family and friended an individual currently known  as Rukundo baby, observed that “ with tourist lodges boasting of over 100 bed capacity, community projects like hospitals, orphanages and  schools, extension of cheap dependable power which is only 15 kilometres away from the park’s main  entrance, was justifiable”.

He said “I can safely say we are going to get power here and there will be no more noise from generators”. Most of the hotels use solar and generated power for light and other energy needs.

Concerning the roads which the park management said were a nightmare, Rukundo promised that after tackling the issues of security and power supply, the central government was concentrating on roads for the last two years ,adding that next financial year ,the bulk of the budget will be allocated to the road sector.

He assured the community that soon the roads leading to and from the national park which is important to Uganda and the world, will be more accessible.

The minister hailed the Holly wood actor Simon Curtis and his colleague Corey Gibson of MOJO entertainment who partnered with Ugandan artistes to promote the cause of Uganda’s mountain gorillas.

He said the ministry will go further to partner with the universities through the whole education system to promote conservation of gorillas and the entire wildlife in general.

Mr. Sam Mwandha the acting Executive Director, UWA, had also assured the Bwindi community that UWA would work with the Uganda National Roads Authority(UNRA) to improve the access roads.