The Kisoro District Community Development Officer, Sam Niyonzima, has strongly warned tour guides against parading the Batwa community as tourist attractions, stressing that they are human beings, not gorillas.
Speaking during a one-day workshop organized by civil society organizations and the Uganda Refugee Project (URP), with support from the World Bank on Monday, Niyonzima condemned the continued practice, noting that it demeans the dignity of the Batwa and undermines efforts to integrate them into broader society. He urged tourists to appreciate Batwa culture without degrading the community.
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Beatrace Kabihogo, URP team leader in Kisoro, raised concerns about the persistently high school dropout rate among Batwa children, despite the availability of scholarships aimed at supporting their education.
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The Kisoro Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, Nteziyaremye Moses, emphasized that changing mindsets through both formal and spiritual education is key to empowering the Batwa community.
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Representatives from various NGOs also highlighted ongoing challenges facing the Batwa, including poverty, discrimination, insecurity, poor sanitation, and limited funding to sustain development interventions.
