Tribes Around Mount Rwenzori – People living around Mount Rwenzori have greatly benefited from the park, and their attitude towards visitors has changed over time. The Bakonzo and Bamba people live within and around the mountains, seeing them as a source of blessings for their social and economic well-being. They believe that the snow, which they call Nzururu, is the father of the Bakonzo deities, while Kitasamba and Nyabibuya are responsible for the continuity of human life and its welfare.
Other tribes you may encounter include the Vanoma, Babwiisi, and Balungu. Visiting these groups makes a safari more educative as you learn about their cultures and sacred sites where they worship. Most of the people here are cultivators because of the fertile soils and heavy rainfall. They grow cassava, maize, beans, and potatoes, and they also keep livestock to supplement their diet. In these tribes, men are considered heads of families, while women are responsible for giving birth, raising children, planting, weeding, and harvesting crops.
The Bakonzo rely a lot on traditional doctors for health care. These herbalists use medicine from trees, which is believed to cure many diseases. Traditional rituals are also practiced, including building hunters’ shrines for animal sacrifices, holding ceremonies to remove evil spirits, and burial rituals. These cultural practices attract many tourists, although some of them may be considered illegal in other countries.
The mountain provides many benefits to the local people. They fetch water for domestic use from small rivers in the park, such as River Mubuku. Communities also live around places like Mount Nyambwamba and Rwimi, where water is abundant because of orographic rainfall in areas such as Nyabirongo, Mujokya, and Bwera. River Mubuku is also used for generating hydroelectric power at Mubuku Power Station, which supplies electricity to Kasese, Kilembe mines, and surrounding areas for both domestic and industrial use. In addition, lumbering provides income to local people, helping them improve their living standards.
The tribes of Rwenzori are worth interacting with during a cultural tour, offering an unforgettable experience.
