Challenges in Buhoma — Daily Life Between Tourism and Basic Needs

Buhoma, the village at the main entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, depends almost entirely on gorilla trekking. When tourists stop coming, many residents lose their only source of income. During our 11-day stay in January 2026, we experienced just how fragile this balance is — and what challenges the people of Buhoma face every day.

Tourism Dependency — When Guests Stop Coming

Norman Noel, a BodaBoda driver in Buhoma, puts it plainly:

“We survive on tourism, and we have got a problem here. Tourists are few because of the Ebola, and as me, Norman, I was… I have spent a week riding, but no customers at all.”

Norman Noel, BodaBoda Driver, Buhoma

This dependency does not only affect drivers like Norman. Lodge staff, tracking guides, souvenir sellers and restaurant owners — the entire economic ecosystem of Buhoma relies on a single industry. When Uganda makes international headlines, whether through disease outbreaks or border closures, the people in Buhoma feel the consequences immediately.

A quiet moment in Buhoma — somewhere between arrival and moving on

No Way Up — Missing Economic Alternatives

Norman's story reveals a second challenge: the lack of opportunities for advancement.

“If I can get a chance of getting a driving license, I will have to expand my business of driving. At least I advance from a motorcycle to a car. I meet my friends from USA, UK, Germany, everywhere. I start exploring Uganda as my dream for exploring.”

“I lack enough capital to start with, because I have no support at all.”

Norman Noel, BodaBoda Driver, Buhoma

The path from BodaBoda driver to tour guide or taxi driver often fails due to a lack of resources — for a driving licence, a vehicle, or training. Without access to credit or support programmes, many young people in Buhoma remain stuck in informal work, even when they are ambitious and motivated.

Basic Food Supply — Beans and Maize Flour

In a small shop in Buhoma, sacks of beans and maize flour lined the shelves — the staple foods here, as in many other rural regions of Uganda. Together with rice and cooking oil, these basics form the daily diet for most families. The selection is modest, the supply dependent on local traders and transport along unpaved roads.

Basic supply in Buhoma: beans, maize flour, rice and oil — the foundation of daily life

What looks like an ordinary shop at first glance reveals a deeper reality: fresh produce, dairy products or processed food are a luxury. Diets are monotonous, especially for children.

The Local Market — Heart and Mirror of the Economy

We visited the local market in Buhoma, where clothing and everyday items were being sold. The market was bustling — everything needed for daily life was available. At the same time, it shows the limits of the local economy: most goods are second-hand or basic, margins are thin, and the vendors are often women supporting their families.

The market in Buhoma — clothing, everyday goods and the heart of local supply

Initiatives like the Bwindi Women Bicycle Project, which offers bicycle hire, repairs and sales, show that women in Buhoma are carving their own paths — quietly but effectively.

Bwindi Women Bicycle Project — female initiative in Buhoma (January 2026)

Youth Without Digital Access

At Nicholas's orphanage, right in Buhoma, we photographed teenagers on the sandy yard in front of the building. It was charming how they put on a little show — posing confidently for the camera. Children and young people in Buhoma are very interested in photos, since hardly anyone owns a smartphone. The teenagers certainly do not.

A moment in front of the camera — teenagers at the orphanage in Buhoma (January 2026)

What begins as a fun moment reveals a deeper challenge: without digital access, young people miss out on education, information and communication that are taken for granted elsewhere.

The Batwa — A People Without Their Forest

We visited the Batwa, and one of them showed us how they have lived for millennia. In the photo, he built an animal trap — the materials came entirely from the forest, without any mechanical tools.

Millennia-old knowledge — a Batwa man builds an animal trap using only forest materials

The Batwa, Uganda's indigenous forest people, were relocated when Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established. Their ancient skills — trap-building, medicinal plants, rainforest navigation — have no economic value in their new daily life. Many Batwa families now live on the edges of villages, without land, without regular income. Community walks, where they share their traditions with visitors, are one of the few ways to combine income and dignity.

What Gives Hope

Despite these challenges, you meet people in Buhoma with real determination. Norman dreams of becoming a tour guide and showing Uganda to visitors from the USA, the UK and Germany. Women's projects are creating alternatives. And initiatives like HopeKitchen bring community development and tourism together, without creating dependency.

A real encounter in Buhoma — connection happens where you actually go (January 2026)

During our five visits to Buhoma between January and May 2026, we experienced that the greatest strength of this place is its people — their openness, their entrepreneurial spirit, and their willingness to take change into their own hands.