Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS)
Since the rediscovery in modern times of
the Rwenzori Mountains people come to Uganda from all over
the world to experience their wonder and mountaineering challenge.
Whereas in the early part of the last century there might
have been just a few hundreds or less per year, the number
of visitor increased markedly in the last 15 years.
In response to this trend, and motivated
by a desire to preserve the mountain environment which provides
their livelihood, in 1987 seventy Bakonzo people got together
and founded the Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS). Many
of them had served as mountain tourist guides and porters
(escorts) for a long time before and after Uganda’s
independence in 1962. RMS is an indigenous Non Government
Organization registered by Uganda’s Non Government Organization
Board.
RMS headquaters in Nyakalengija
In December 2005 RMS successfully obtained
a 30year concession for the Central Circuit of the Rwenzori
Mountain Area, concerning the use and improvement of the huts
and for the provision of guides and porters services for the
tourists. Today Rwenzori Mountaineering Services has a membership
of more than 1000, which are mainly Bakonzo and include both
female and male, the largest number is of the age between
18-35, though it also claims a good number of the elderly
group.
The Board of Directors is composed by 15 members: seven from
the Foundation Board (the 70 founder members) and 8 from the
General Membership. The Board governs the organization and
nominates a Managing Director for the executive work. An annual
general meeting by the whole members is conveyed in order
to discuss and take action on policies and development of
the organization.
Profit from tourism activities are ploughed back into the
community to do community work like the construction of schools,
churches, roads, bursaries to students, lower range bridge
construction, development of health facilities within the
community, training of the community on conservation, improved
sustainable agricultures etc.
In summary, RMS has the following
objectives:
-Protection of the physical and biological mountain environment
-Promotion of tourism as a vehicle to drive community development.
The store of RMS with climbing equipment
Contacts
Ezra Kabukobi, Chairman Board of Directors
Rwenzori Mountaineering Services
P.O Box 933, Kasese Saad House Tel +256 (0)483 44936
Email: rwenzorims@yahoo.co.uk
Bigo bog vegetation
Map of Rwenzori Central Circuit trial, from "Uganda
Rwenzori- A range of images", by David Pluth 1996.
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