By Andrew Irumba
Last week but one, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Tanzania by road, with KRC-Uganda under the leadership of Sharif Mohamed, where he led a team of over 100 of his staff and Board members to go and unwind the year in style, as they reflect on the new prospects for 2025.
As someone from Uganda, the trip gave me time to reflect on the contrasts between our two nations—particularly in how we treat and relate to nature. The differences were striking, and the experience left me with profound reflections on our attitudes toward the environment.
In Mwanza, Tanzania, nature and humans seem to exist in a harmonious relationship. The city’s design and infrastructure reflect an intentional effort to coexist with the natural environment. As I walked through the streets of Mwanza, I was captivated by the beauty of Lake Victoria and the enormous, ancient rocks that dot the landscape. These massive stones, some as large as small buildings, are not seen as obstacles to development but as essential parts of the city’s identity. Instead of destroying them, people build around them, incorporating them into their structures and preserving them as part of their heritage.
This is in stark contrast to what I experience in Uganda, where nature is often seen as something to conquer, clear, or exploit for development. The deforestation happening across our country, particularly in places like Hoima where a businessman was allowed to cut down a forest to plant sugarcane, highlights how we often prioritize short-term economic gain over long-term sustainability. In Uganda, NEMA and NFA can issue permits for cutting down forests to make way for luxurious mansions. But in Mwanza, I learned that even the stones are left untouched; they are protected, treated with respect, and integrated into the city’s design. Infact, citizens in Mwanza can not allow the equivalent of NEMA in Tz to issue such an obnoxious authorization, they won’t allow the implementation on ground if you maneuver the office in charge.
My journey from Uganda to Tanzania further highlighted these differences. On the drive from Fort Portal to Mutukula, the road conditions were shockingly bad. However, once we crossed into Tanzania, the roads were smooth and well-maintained. The contrast couldn’t have been more apparent. It’s clear that the leadership in Tanzania has prioritized infrastructure and environmental preservation, whereas in Uganda, this often feels secondary to immediate economic development.
In Mwanza, the streets were impressively clean. I barely saw any litter or waste along the roads or in Lake Victoria, and it was easy to see the collective pride and responsibility the residents felt for their environment. The cleanliness wasn’t just the work of the local government but of every individual who shared in the duty to preserve their surroundings. Back home in Uganda, littering is a persistent issue, and our cities often struggle with waste management.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Mwanza was its commitment to preserving nature while encouraging growth. The Tanzanian government and citizens seem to understand that development does not have to come at the cost of the environment. It is possible to preserve natural beauty while also modernizing, a lesson that Uganda urgently needs to learn. Nature is not a resource to be exploited or destroyed for human benefit, but a partner that supports and enriches life.
On my return, I met a lady working with Uganda Immigration at the Mutukula border, Anyuu Christine, who asked me to compare my experience in Tanzania with that of Uganda. She was eager to hear what lessons we could take from our neighbors. I shared my observations with her honestly, hoping that those in positions of power would take these lessons to heart. There is no doubt that we have much to learn from Tanzania, especially in how we view nature and our relationship with it.
KRC’s initiative to recognize and appreciate Mwanza’s natural beauty is a testament to their forward-thinking approach. While other developments might prioritize buildings and urban sprawl, Mwanza’s government and people recognize the importance of protecting their environment. In fact, as we left Tanzania, we were gifted tree seedlings to bring back to Uganda, symbolizing their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Leaving Tanzania, I felt a renewed sense of hope. The beauty and harmony I witnessed in Mwanza are not out of reach for Uganda. All it takes is a shift in our mindset—a collective decision to live with nature, not against it. By embracing this change, we can create cities and communities that future generations will be proud to inherit, just as the people of Mwanza do today.
I observed that the KRC team went to Mwanza smiling and returned smiling until they reached at Mutukula border checking in back into Uganda, all of a sudden all their smiles on their faces evaporated! They had returned to grapple with the obvious… first was the juggles at the immigration on the side of Uganda, not Tanzania please! Hon.Alex Ruhunda, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at KRC had to ‘clear’ his vocal voice first to gather energy to respond to a female police officer at the entry point into Uganda who was trying her level best to find anything to fault on the car so as to start the ‘conversation’. Ruhunda wasn’t willing to yield to anything in that lane. He needed to be in Kampala to catch up with Parliament the next day….
Below is pictorial evidence showing how KRC staff connected with Nature in Mwanza……
