As the clock keeps ticking, I have been spending my last few days on the water – a little teaching and plenty of playing. I went back down to the Hairy Lemon for a few relaxing days surfing on the Nile Special and the Club Wave, and now back to Bujagali. With the big plans of doing a Silverback run this afternoon, we arrived back at NRE and were delighted to read the sign: “Blasting on 18/4/08. Stay clear all afternoon.”
I cannot help but wonder the long-term effects of the Bujagali Dam; after completion, it will likely wash out all the whitewater down to Silverback. This will definitely affect the local community, most likely more bad than good. It will probably lead to a decline in rafting and kayaking tourists, and therefore show a decrease in clientele at NRE; most of Kyabirwa village is employed because of this heavy traffic in Bujagali: raft guides, safety kayakers, shuttle drivers, staff at NRE campsite, bar, local restaurants, boda drivers, chapatti stand, etc.
After flooding out the river, I would not be surprised to see an increase in malaria and bilharzia because the lake will serve as a perfect breeding site. Of course, there are arguments that the dam will benefit the local community with more electricity; however, my guess is that the electricity will likely be sold to neighboring Kenya and the private dam companies will benefit rather than local communities. Few people in these rural villages actually have electricity anyway. The power of money is disturbing, especially when the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, yet again. It is funny how we have started to remove dams back in the States because of the lack of sustainability; however, back here in Uganda, they keep on building new ones. Someday we will learn.
I cannot help but wonder the long-term effects of the Bujagali Dam; after completion, it will likely wash out all the whitewater down to Silverback. This will definitely affect the local community, most likely more bad than good. It will probably lead to a decline in rafting and kayaking tourists, and therefore show a decrease in clientele at NRE; most of Kyabirwa village is employed because of this heavy traffic in Bujagali: raft guides, safety kayakers, shuttle drivers, staff at NRE campsite, bar, local restaurants, boda drivers, chapatti stand, etc. 
After flooding out the river, I would not be surprised to see an increase in malaria and bilharzia because the lake will serve as a perfect breeding site. Of course, there are arguments that the dam will benefit the local community with more electricity; however, my guess is that the electricity will likely be sold to neighboring Kenya and the private dam companies will benefit rather than local communities. Few people in these rural villages actually have electricity anyway. The power of money is disturbing, especially when the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, yet again. It is funny how we have started to remove dams back in the States because of the lack of sustainability; however, back here in Uganda, they keep on building new ones. Someday we will learn.
