Umukuuka III of the Bamasaaba, Uwelukoosi Jude Mike Mudoma, has piqued the interest of businesses in the United States to participate in the development of tourism at one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders—the Elgon caldera, located on Mt. Elgon.
This volcanic formation, shared between Uganda and Kenya, is the largest intact caldera in the world. Standing as the 7th highest peak in Africa at 4,321 meters, Mt. Elgon boasts an impressive base of 4,000 square kilometers, making it the widest volcanic mountain globally. With a diameter of 8 kilometers, the Elgon caldera holds the distinction of being the widest caldera on Earth.
Despite the region’s extraordinary natural endowments, tourism data reveals a stark contrast when it comes to visitor numbers. While Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda, along with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, attract large crowds, Mt. Elgon National Park in Eastern Uganda has remained a relative secret. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities (MTWA) Annual Report on Visitation to Uganda National Parks for 2019 and 2020, Mt. Elgon received a mere 3,519 visitors in 2019, compared to 103,665 at Murchison Falls and 77,995 at Queen Elizabeth. In 2020, during the pandemic, the numbers were even more alarming—Elgon saw only 1,006 visitors, while Murchison and Queen Elizabeth still recorded thousands.
While attending the inauguration of US President Donald J. Trump on January 20th, Umukuuka III took the opportunity to meet with US businesses, sparking interest in tourism investments in Eastern Uganda, particularly around the Mt. Elgon caldera. According to Uweshirifa Alfred Geresom Musamali, the Umukuuka’s Minister for Information, Media, and Communications, some US businesses have already expressed a desire to send delegations to Uganda. The goal is to explore potential partnerships with the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the Bamasaaba people to enhance tourism around the caldera and Mt. Elgon’s natural resources.
“During his trip to Washington DC, Uwelukoosi Mudoma engaged giant players in the hospitality industry, encouraging them to invest in the tourism sector surrounding the caldera and other parts of Bugisu,” Musamali said. “We are sitting on a massive economic opportunity, and we’re excited about the prospect of US business interest to help develop the tourism products around the caldera. With the right marketing—showcasing our rich cultural heritage and promoting these attractions—this region has limitless potential.”
Umukuuka III’s vision for the tourism sector emphasizes sustainable development, which includes enhancing accessibility, building local capacity, and improving infrastructure. His plan proposes upgrading the existing roads and trails leading to the caldera, establishing shuttle services from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, and Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, and boosting the skills of local guides to accommodate high-value tourism clients.
The tourism initiative also aims to develop eco-lodges and camping sites within the caldera’s vicinity, alongside collaborations with local communities to offer environmentally-friendly homestay services. These accommodations will support local food vendors by providing authentic traditional cuisine, picnic areas, and camping facilities. The project will also emphasize cultural exchange by including nature walks, birdwatching, wildlife spotting, and cultural performances.
“Uwelukoosi Mudoma wants to ensure that visitors can enjoy activities such as guided hiking tours, nature walks, and interactions with the Bamasaaba people through community-led workshops,” Musamali added.
The Bamasaaba people, whose ancestral lands span Uganda and Kenya, are known for their cultivation of Arabica coffee, bananas, and a variety of fruits and vegetables on the fertile volcanic slopes of Mt. Elgon. However, perhaps the community’s most valued tradition is the practice of Imbalu, the public and unanesthetized circumcision of adolescent males as part of their cultural initiation into manhood. This ceremony, a major cultural event, draws thousands of visitors every two years in August at Mutoto, a heritage center near Mbale City, Uganda.
Following the main ceremony, Imbalu celebrations spread throughout the region, with local sub-counties holding their own ceremonies. This tradition, coupled with the unique natural attractions of Mt. Elgon, including caves, hot springs, waterfalls, and wildlife, has traditionally drawn tourists from Europe and China. However, US tourists have been slow to discover the allure of the mountain.
If the Umukuuka’s tourism investment plan is successful, by 2026, when the next Imbalu ceremony is scheduled, both local and international investors will have transformed the tourism landscape around Mt. Elgon.