Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and his wife recently hosted visitors from Portugal and Maldives for a memorable gorilla tracking experience in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Ruhija Sector. The group enjoyed an exhilarating encounter with the Bitukura family of mountain gorillas, whose DNA shares a remarkable 98.4% similarity with humans, making them our wild cousins.
Tayebwa expressed his gratitude to the Uganda Wildlife Authorit and the Bwindi community for their dedication to protecting and conserving these endangered species. He emphasized the need for the government to invest more in improving the road network, telecom communication, and marketing to fully exploit the tourism potential of this national treasure.
During the excursion, Tayebwa also interacted with tourists from Germany and the Netherlands. They praised Uganda for its hospitality, favorable climate, and well-conserved parks. They also commended the professionalism of the game rangers from Uganda Wildlife.
The Deputy Speaker had a meaningful exchange with Mr. Cristian Alvarado Tamayo, a research fellow from Columbia, who has been conducting a research project in the park for the past two years. Alongside his research assistant, Mr. Joshua Kyobe from Makerere University, Tamayo has gathered critical data that will contribute to the conservation efforts of the mountain gorillas.
Tayebwa extended special thanks to the Uganda Wildlife Authority staff, led by Director of Field Operations, Mr. Charles Baryamwisaki, for providing an unforgettable experience. He also appreciated the warm reception from the community of Ruhija, underscoring the importance of community involvement in conservation efforts.
