Uganda allocates Shs177 million to transform Tororo Rock into a world-class tourist attraction

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has earmarked Shs177 million towards developing a master plan that will guide in the transformation of Tororo Rock into a World-class tourism destination.

This development aims at unlocking the tourism potential of one of Uganda's most iconic rock landmarks which has been untapped for ages, despite being the defining feature of Tororo District.

While unveiling the proposed architectural designs before the Tororo municipal council leaders today, James Moijana the principal tourism at the ministry noted the significance of the development adding that the firm helped come up with a comprehensive master plan to guide planning.

He said under the proposed designs, the master plan the tourism board proposes includes a cable car, hiking trails, camping sites, restaurants, infrastructure for persons with disabilities among others.

‘’For start the ministry has allocated only this 177 million shillings to facilitate the consultant to come up with the detailed master plan of the rock which will guide the amount that will be required to transform the rock into a World class tourist site however the ministry through Uganda Tourism. Board plans to develop it in a phased manner due to the limited resources’’ he explained.

He highlighted that in the entire Africa, Tororo rock is among the three iconic rocks with the two others being in Nigeria and South Africa of which the two are serving as tourism sites while Tororo Rock has not been utilized.

He added that ‘’the rock’s strategic location at the border positions it as a top-tier destination in the region; it has a potential to boost local revenue and create employment opportunities for our people’’.

He added that the initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing plans to profile and identify potential tourism sites in the country to promote the tourism industry.

The new development has brought a new smile on the faces of the leaders who are valuing the investment as a turning point for the council’s economic development.

Apollo Yeri Ofwono, the Tororo municipality Member of Parliament is among those who have expressed optimism, highlighting that transformation of Tororo Rock will be a big boost to improving the rock’s status as well as protecting it from human activities that may lead to its extinction.

‘’whereas we are proud of this rock, we are not reaping from it because few people can access it but once its accessibility is improved I think there is no doubt that many will be interested and it will improve our economic status’’ he noted.

He said he is optimistic that once completed, Tororo Rock is expected to attract tourists from within Uganda and beyond Africa hence strengthening relationships and he called upon leaders and locals to embrace the opportunities that the project presents.

The Tororo municipality mayor Mr. Kennedy Orono Nyapidi, asked the government to consider increasing financial allocation would boost the tourism sector which they said would also increase in local revenue collection.

He added that: “Other than being a battlefield for the predominant tribes of Iteso and Japadhola, the rock can be monetized.

He said council is aware of individuals who have encroached into the buffer zones of the rock but they have written to them to relinquish ownership to council

"We have written to all individuals who have encroached into the buffer zones as one of the strategies towards reclaiming the encroached buffer and to enable council title the land to avoid further encroachments," Orono said.

According to him, the funding will help to fix the existing gaps to enable council authorities to start reaping from the rock once it’s improved, especially if the grounded cable car is replaced.

"The rock is underutilized. With its current status, the division is fetching Shs1million which is remitted as user fees from Majestic Tours," said the mayor.

The genesis

The minister of Tourism and Antiquities Tom Butime in 2023 unveiled the government's plan to transform Tororo rock into a tourism site while presiding over the national celebrations to commemorate World Wildlife day held at King George Memorial stadium Tororo.

He was responding to the appeal made by the Iteso Cultural leader Papa Emormori Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng asking the government to demarcate the Tororo buffer zone to protect it from any further encroachment.

‘’Tororo Rock is a major cultural site with many ancestral caves and various rock paintings on its slopes. Add this to the inspiration of climbing the rock and the aesthetic breath-taking views from the rock’s peak, which attract tourists to the town. Most importantly, the rock is home to a species of aloe (aloe tororoana). This means that any interference with the natural conditions on the rock expose this plant to extinction ’’ said the King.

The King expressed worry at the rate at which the green belt of the rock is being threatened yet it’s the only rare physical feature that Tororo and Bukedi region is proud off.

‘’I suggest that Tororo Rock be declared a site of national importance and accorded formal protection to ensure that human activities around the rock are regulated’’.

He identified the activities which are threatening the natural habitat conditions of this site and pose a threat as the rock mining and construction of telephone masts, among others.

In response, the minister said the government will use the Museum and monument act to gazzette the rock into a heritage site.

Butime directed the district and municipal council authorities to halt establishment or any continuity of developments in the demarcated green belt and initiate a petition to have all land titles cancelled.

He equally challenged the district authorities to identify all beautiful sceneries that they think can be potential for tourism attraction.