Assessment of the tourism potentials of Kagulu Hill as a rural tourism destination in Buyende district

Abstract

Tourism is considered as one of the sectors of the country’s economy that can enhance its income through tourist flows. Similarly rural tourism is a popular development tool in both developed and developing countries. Thus scenic features in the rural setup that are of geographical nature such as hills, falls, mountains among others have been used as tourism icons to attract tourists. Similarly the study was under taken to assess the tourism potentials of Kagulu hill as a Rural Tourism Destination in Buyende district. The research was carried out through primary and secondary sources of data that included questionnaires, interviews and observation methods, journal articles and government publications. The study established that Kagulu hill has various tourism potentials that can be used to promote it for rural tourism development. These potentials include; the hill itself, history attached to the hill, local community culture, sports activities and wildlife. Results also show that if aggressive marketing, road networks and accommodation facilities are improved and human resource at the hill skilled in tourism, Kagulu would be a vibrant rural tourism destination. In spite of these the hill faces a number of challenges such as high market competition, insecurity, absence of clean water among others. Based on these, the study recommends for pattern ship with tourism agencies such as Uganda Tourism Board and other stakeholders such as tour operators to provide expertise on development and promotion. There is also a need to further lobby the central government to improve the infrastructure in order to increase visitation of stay at the hill.