Naked for Murchison


"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel.

Amos Wekesa, a veteran in the Ugandan hospitality sector sent shock waves when he threatened to strip naked in protest of the planned giveaway of Murchison falls, a top tourist destination, to a South African company that plans to establish a 360 megawatt hydropower dam. The falls are situated in Murchison falls National Park (IUCN category II protected area) named after Sir Roderich Murchison, former president of Royal Geographical Society. The seven-meter wide and forty-three meter high falls is a tourist hotspot because, at this spot, the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge at 300m3 per second, earning the reputation of the most fierce point on the world's longest river. Thereafter, it cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged by hippos, crocodiles, and buffaloes before flowing westward into Lake Albert.

Following a notice in the media about the planned giveaway stakeholders like environmentalists travel companies and hotels came up in arms to criticize the government with many declaring it 'madness'. The project is currently at the stage of an Environment Impact Assessment Audit seeking perspectives from the public but it's already clear that people from all walks of life condemn this decision. Central to this is that the company in question, Bonang Power and Energy Limited was established only in 2014, with only two completed projects. The government, however, claims that the creation of power plants increases overall electricity supply which facilitates the establishment of industries and creation of jobs.

The affected parties include tourism operators, Uganda Wildlife Authority, local businesses that live off visitors, social media users, environmentalists, and indigenous people. The loss would erode the cultural heritage derived by the Acholi people (a tribe in Northern Uganda); disrupt water rafting and other aquatic sports. In 2018, Uganda had 1.8 million foreign visitor arrivals, up from 1.4 million in 2017 yielding $1.4 billion into the economy. Tourism is the single highest foreign exchange earner, and it is places like Murchison Falls National Park, fancied for the spectacular views during the boat rip that draw visitors from all over the world. Another significant reason for opposition against this project is the low absorption of electricity in Uganda. As of 2018, only 755MW out of the available 1094 was consumed.

Therefore the destruction of such iconic falls of both local and international significance would be an unfortunate decision on the part of decision-makers. It would negatively affect the tourism industry and biodiversity in the national park. I call upon all Ugandans to join the campaign to #SaveMurchisonFalls. Follow the link below to support this noble cause.

https://www.change.org/p/ban-ki-moon-secretary-general-of-the-united-nations-save-murchison-falls-national-park

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