About Us

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Who we are

The Rurambira community conservancy [RCC] is located in south-western Uganda, and was formed in 2013 by landowners in the region that borders lake Mburo National park -LMNP to its west [36,000 hectares] and the Nshara Dairy Crossbreeding Ranch [3000 hectares]to its north. Since 2013, the conservancy has expanded to a membership that includes 194 registered landowners covering a total of 9,297 hectares. The area is primarily settled by the Banyankole people, with some small fishing villages along lake Kakyera consisting of other tribes mainly Baganda.

The Banyankole people are predominantly pastoralists and have a deep economic and cultural connections with Ankole cattle, the iconic longhorn breed of the region. Traditionally the Banyankole do not eat game meat, which is in part why wildlife thrives in co-existence with the cattle within the conservancy.

It is an area of wildlife owned and managed by an association of private landowners within, the common law of Uganda and incorporated with the objectives and powers of a corporate body including owning of the assets and the right to conduct a legal proceeding in its own name.

Our programs

Wildlife
management

Livestock
management

Infrastructure
development

Tourism

Enterprise

Land/natural resource
management

Peace and
security

Community
engagement

Meet your Hosts

Steven Nasasira

The Bahima are cattle keepers, but our cattle coexist with wildlife as the wildlife have been on these lands before our people were here. This is also why these lands are unique to Uganda, a place where you can see and walk among Ankole cattle, eland, and zebra all grazing on the same grass. To achieve respect in Bahima society you must own at least one cow. You also can’t marry unless you, or your family, have cows, as it’s required that the father of the groom pay the family of the bride a dowry. This is paid in cattle and can vary from 2 to sometimes 14 cows depending on the families’ wealth. The dowry has to be even numbers of cows, as giving an odd number is considered bad luck. Often, on the day of the marriage, the recipient of the dowry cows gives some of these cows back to the groom’s family, or to the newly married couple, to build a bond between the families (and so their herd is not impacted too much).

Jackie Nahabwe

Milk is a staple of the Bahima diet. Cows are milked daily and the milk is collected in traditional calabashes called ‘Ebyanzi’ for family consumption, or stainless steel pails to be sold through the local milk cooperative. This milk generates income for the families to buy other staples. Milk and milk products like smoked milk, yoghurt, and porridge are stored in the cultural hut (Enju y’ Ebyaanzi) where different sized calabashes and milk pots are used for different members of the family—elders, children, women, and men. Milk is also churned to make ghee and ghee sauce, traditionally known as ‘eshabwe.’ This is clarified butter prepared for special occasions and often served alongside a mix of cow blood, millet, and (nowadays) matoke, although the latter is not a traditional Bahima food. After churning the ghee it is left for two weeks before eating. Congealed cow blood is also a traditional Bahima food. The healthiest cow in the herd is selected and an arrow shot in its neck to break the skin, but not to kill the animal. Blood is collected and the cow’s wound covered to let it heal. The blood is boiled for about 5 minutes to make it clot and then eaten.

Discover Unique Experiences for Your Next Adventure

Our Key Partners

Participating Partners

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Arts & Crafts Making with the
Bahima People

Cows & Milk: The Essence of Ankole’s Rich Cultural Heritage

Community Cycling Tours

Community Nature Walks

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