Bugoma Ecotourism site; it’s found in Hoima district and covers an area of about 41,144 hectares. Bugoma Forest Reserve is one of the beautiful natural forests Uganda boasts of. This natural tropical rainforest is among many remarkable forests that host a significant number of chimpanzees in Uganda. Located in Hoima district, Western Uganda, Bugoma Forest Reserve is bordered by Kyenjojo town to the Northeast and Lake Albert in the East.
Gazetted in the 1930s, Bugoma Forest occupies the land area of about 401sq.kms, approximately 155sq.mi. This is also one of the natural forests that the National Forestry Authority manages, a government organ that is mandated to oversee all Uganda’s Central Forest Reserves. Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is strategically positioned on top of an escarpment, East of Lake Albert hence offering jaw-dropping views of countryside rift valley.
The Eco Tourism in the reserve is influenced by African Nature conservation expeditions; it’s an international private firm with vast adventure in tourism development. There are 10 luxury tented camps for the upper market that are present. This place is gifted with lots of tourist attractions like the reptiles, butterflies, birds, chimpanzees, monkeys, as well as the tree species that are endemic to Bugoma. The forest trails total to 30km long divided into the loops of over 200 m each having been developed. Te site is home the buffaloes, elephants, as well as Ugandan Kobs. The reserve can be accesses through a dirt through a dirt road 70 km from Hoima township.
Vegetation
Bugoma Forest has a medium altitude and it is largely a semi-deciduous forest. Half of the forest is comprised of iron wood, also locally called the Muhimbi. About 4 small rivers drain Bugoma Forest and they include River Sonso, River Rubwa, Wake and Waisoke. These rivers empty their water into Lake Albert.
Wildlife
Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is a rich tropical forest, home to more than 34 mammal species. These include 4 globally threatened species of mammals, 9 feature on the IUCN Red List. Bugoma supports diversity of primate species including blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, plus over 600 chimpanzees.
Other than primates, Bugoma Forest also protects several elephants, buffaloes, golden cats, side-stripped jackals and Uganda Kobs. 9 reptile species also exist here, plus 257 species of trees and shrubs, with 14 tree species all recorded on the IUCN Red List. Over 20 amphibian species live Bugoma Forest, and they include endemic Albertine Rift, 292 butterflies, 118 moths and many more.
Birds
Bugoma is truly a birder’s paradise that visitors on Uganda safari should consider a must-visit. More than 225 species of birds live here, and they include many Guinea-Congo Biome species of birds, 2 are globally threatened species including Nahan’s Francolins, Black-eared ground thrush. While on Uganda tour in Bugoma Forest, other attractions not to miss out of your list include River Nkusi and Lake Albert.
Conservation Status of Bugoma Forest
Bugoma Forest Reserve is one of the threatened natural forest due to illegal logging given the high demand for timber, settlement and farming. Around March 2012, over 1500 land invaders were evicted from Bugoma Forest and by December 2013, most of them had returned again and even began carrying out subsistence farming and pit sawing.
In 2020, NEMA issued a certificate to Hoima Sugar Company to turn over 22sq.mi of Bugoma into Sugarcane plantation, an urban trading & settlement center, etc. It should be noted that this is one of the high-water catchment areas, with record of annual rainfall range of 1250 to 1625mm. The forest sits at altitude range of 990 to 1300m.
Getting to Bugoma Forest Reserve
From Hoima city, Bugoma Forest is 70kms away and it is possible to drive to the forest reserve. From Kampala, you can drive through Hoima-Fort Portal route and branch off to Kabwoya sub-country then finally Bugoma Forest passing through Kasindi Forest Station.