Contribution of Mt. Rwenzori to human activities

Positive impacts

• It influences the formation of orographic rainfall at Nyabirango, Muhokya and Bwera leading to the growth of coffee, bananas etc.
• Mt Rwenzori’s beautiful scenery such as Margherita peak attracts tourists who bring foreign exchange.
• Rwenzori provides a home for wild animals such as monkeys etc
• Mount rwenzori contains trees used for construction of houses
• Rwenzori is sources of rivers such as Semuliki that are sources of domestic water.
• Mt Rwenzori contains mineral such cobalt that are source of foreign exchange.
• Rwenzori is used for defensive settlement by some tribes pron to insecurity e.f. the Bakonjo and Bamba.
• The lower slopes of Mt. Rwenzori such as Kilembe, Mobku are used for crop cultivation such cotton, yams etc.
• Source of honey and fruits for local people.
• Source of stones for building and decoration
• For research and study purpose such as in geophysics.

Negative impact

• Rwenzori has created a rain shadow in Kasese which discourage farming.
• Rwenzori slopes are prone to landslide, stone fall, soil erosion a danger to settlement.
• It encourage political istability due to many hiding places on the mountain
• It is a habitat to dangerous animals and vermines such as tsetse flies that transmit Nagana and sleeding sickness.
• Lower parts of the mountain experience seasonal flooding leading to loss of properties e.g. Nyabirango
• Rugged slopes limit development of transport and communication networks.
• Tourists have lead to acquisition of social evils such prostitution.