Bushenyi District
Bushenyi district is one of the districts which make up the western Uganda tourism trail or circuit. Bushenyi district gets its name from the major town in the area, which is Bushenyi town. Bushenyi is the major town of the district and holds the major administrative units, such as the district headquarters, and the major business hub for Bushenyi district, among others. Bushenyi is set in a location bordered by Buhweju district in the north east, rubirizi district in the North West, Mitoma district to the south, sheema district in the east, and rukungiri district which borders Bushenyi to the west. The largest town in Bushenyi district is ishaka town which is just about 75 kilo meters north of mbarara town, by road. Bushenyi is one of the growing districts in Uganda, with an estimated population growth rate of about 2%, and a population of approximately 251400.
Bushenyi district, just like a part of the pearl of Africa,it is naturally gifted with a lot of natural resources, ranging from the forests, water bodies, hot springs, rivers, highland areas among others. Agriculture is the major economic activity done by the people in Bushenyi. Perhaps, it is the reason as to why the district has low level relative poverty among the local people who stay in the districts’ rural areas. It is the same as the whole country situation, Bushenyi district’s economy is basically agriculture and it is also the livelihood of almost all the people. The local people in Bushenyi are mainly agriculturalists and subsistence farmers; it is agriculture that enables the people of Bushenyito get food, and a small subsistence income for the most families in the area. Other people of Bushenyi are also directly and indirectly employed in agricultural firms and farms; in Bushenyi district, agriculture employs about 87% of the whole district’s population. It is still agriculture that supplies the raw materials to the few industries and factories in Bushenyi. Most of the local people are Bushenyi district carryout subsistence farming, whereas other grows some cash crops, such as, the few tea out growers, coffee growers, among others. The crops produced by the farmers in Bushenyi include, coffee, tea, sweet bananas, matooke among other.
The solid reason as to why the west is called the land of milk and honey, it is because the people also carry out ranching for beef and dairy farming for milk. The livestock farming in Bushenyi , is partly subsistence and also commercial for some people who can afford it. Mainly cattle are kept for beef and milk in Bushenyi district. Hybrid cattle are one breed which is greatly kept by the farmers in Bushenyi district. The reason as to why the hybrid cattle breed is kept is because they produce a lot of milk compared to the local long horned breed. They also make a lot of beef when slaughters at the butcheries in Bushenyi district. The fact that the hybrid is indeed a cash cow, Bushenyi district is the leader in the production of milk and beef in the country.
Attractions in Bushenyii district
There are a number of good attractions in Bushenyi district, which you will love to see during your visit to the land of milk and honey. Being part of the western tourism circuit, it is true to call Bushenyi or busheyi town a tourist town. A number of travellers to the west, make a stop at Bushenyi to enjoy the culture, the milk, goof food from the restaurants, hospitable people among other attractions, however, the following make the greatest attractions of Bushenyi district.
Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the key attractions in Bushenyi. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home for almost all the wildlife safaris in Uganda. About 50% of the district is occupied by Queen Elizabeth national park. The actual feature of queen Elizabeth national park which belongs to the Bushenyi district includes; the ishasah sector in the southern part of queen Elizabeth national park, kyambura gorge, a part of lake Edward and the kazinga channel, makes Bushenyi district a great part of the great queen Elizabeth national park.
Kalinzu forest reserve is another feature found in Queen Elizabeth national park. Kalinzu forest reserve is also known as the eco-tourism center in western Uganda. Kaliznu forest is found on the Bushenyi – kasese high way and almost all the forest reserve is found in Bushenyi. Kalinzu forest is a home for primates like the chimpanzees, monkeys, such as the black and white monkeys among others, you can also enjoy camping inside kalinzu eco-tourism center or kalinzu forest. A forest walk in kalinzu offers youa chance to understand the different bird species, the different tree types, plus enjoy the water falls in the forest among other interesting features with in the forest.
Bunyaruguru crater lakes in Bushenyi district are part of the great western crater trail. There are two crater lakes which fall in Bushenyi, found in about 50 kilometers from Bushenyi town, branching off from the Bushenyi – kasese high way. The lakes offer beautiful scenic viewing to the travellers to western Uganda. The bunyaruguru crater lakes reflect the clear blue ski end they look blue. The crater lakes offer great opportunities for hiking, nature walks, biking, cycling among others.
The kitagata hot springs are one of the legendary features of attraction in the Bushenyi district. The kitagata hot spring is found in about 15 kilometers, in the southern part of Bushenyi. The Bushenyi hot springs cover up a ground area of about 50 square kilo meters of the total land in Bushenyi. The hot springs at affiliated with strong beliefs from the local people, such as healing powers among others.
When in buhenyi district, you can also enjoy visiting the crafts and souvenirs shops which are found in all the town and along the highway to kasese. The crafts industry of Bushenyi district is growing and due to the increasing number of stopovers by the travellers to western Uganda, it is another business venturing in Bushenyi. There are also great accommodation facilities where you can take your weekend getaway. There are about 25 accommodation facilities found in Bushenyi, within the town and the tourist towns such as ishasha among others. Other accommodations are part of Queen Elizabeth national park, such as jacana safari lodge among others.
