About us

The genesis of Nkuringo Conservation and Development Foundation (NCDF) is in the habituation of Gorillas in Nkuringo for tourism, which Started in 1997.  In 1999 after Gorillas habituation, they started coming out from the forest (BINP) entering into community land.  As a result communities affected negotiated with UWA and IGCP about living in harmony with Gorillas and animal Problem control. In the agreement UWA,IGCP and Communities created a buffer zone where UWA, IGCP and Communities (NCDF) are conserving Gorillas in the buffer zone. The communities adjacent to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park on Southern Edge of the Park in Nkuringo started the Idea of establishing Community tourism such that people can get access to benefits  from Tourism for their livehood improvement.  Nkuringo area comprises of communities in Nteko Parish in Nyabwishenya Sub-county and Rubuguri Parish in Kirundo Sub county.

To support this goal UWA(Uganda Wild Life Authority) and Its  Partner AWF(African Wild Life Fund)/IGCP(International Gorilla Conservation Program)  in 2002, with support from USAID project embarked on Development of  the Nkuringo Tourism Development plan.  This Plan was completed in early 2003.  A memorandum of Agreement was signed in 2004 between NCDF and UWA, UWA gave a concession of 6 out of 8 gorilla permits per day in Nkuringo Gorilla Family to NCDF for 10 years.

In the tourism plan, it was highly recommended that for the communities in Nkuringo area to benefit from Gorilla tourism, It was necessary to establish a high end community tourism lodge (Clouds).   The tourism plan further recommended that instead of having communities directly managing the lodge, it was highly advisable to form a partnership with the private sector operator after considering the level of professionalism required to manage a high end-eco lodge.  All these recommendations were made in line with government policies for the benefit of the communities in Nkuringo.

Since the production and adoption of the Nkuringo tourism plan, AWF/IGCP working with UWA and the local leaders in Nteko and Rubuguri parishes helped form a community Organisation known as Nkuringo Conservation and Development Foundation (NCDF), a company limited by guarantee to spearhead Development of the community eco-lodge in Partnership with a private Operator.  The operator was selected through a competitive bidding process where Uganda Safari Company won the bid after a thorough bid evaluation and due diligence from among firms.

Legal status

NCDF is an association registered under the companies’ act of the Republic of Uganda.  It is a company limited by Guarantee. 
It was incorporated in 2004.  A company limited by guarantee is where the promoters/subscribers of the company guarantee to pay a certain amount of money, in case the company becomes bankrupt/insolvent, as stipulated in the Articles and Memorandum of Association.  In case of NCDF the subscribers have guaranteed the company to a tune of Shs.50,000 Uganda Shillings.

Goals

The role of NCDF is to develop community capacities and competencies in the parishes of Rubuguri and Nteko so that they are able to generate a sustainable stream of direct financial benefits through the development of profitable, tourism and non tourism based enterprises thereby contributing to incentives for effective natural resource Management and Gorilla conservation in BINP.

Objectives

1. Objectives under livelihood of NCDF

1. To increase social services delivery in Rubuguri and Nteko by 30%
2. To undertake atleast 15 collective development projects that will benefit the community
3. To provide employment and capacity building to at least 55 of the population.
4. To establish a revolving fund for seeds, Animals and credit finance for Nkuringo Community.
5. Promote Education facilities in 2 parishes

2. Objectives under conservation of NCDF

1. To carryout conservation sensitization workshop in all 23 NCDF villages involving the stake holders.
2. To promote community and nature based tourism at least 10 villages
3. To promote high end tourism by providing accommodation facilities
4. To create harmony between park and Communities through controlling problem animals.

Membership

NCDF membership is restricted to the adult members 18 years and above living in the two parishes of Nteko  in Nyabwishenya Sub-County and Rubuguri in Kirundo Subcounty.  Each village elects 10 people to represent it in the general assembly.  Each of the parishes caters for the minority groups especially the Batwa(5 Batwa) and is gender Balanced.

Each village has 1 person representative in the board and 2 Batwa (pygmies)  from

each parish.