Hiking activities on Margherita Peak in Rwenzori Mountains National Park have been put to a halt by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) due to the discovery of a crack formation in the Margherita glacier.
The communication was made by Bashir Hangi, the Head of Communication and Public Relations at UWA in a statement made on May 14, 2024.
Hangi said that the suspension of the hiking activities was a precautionary measure after conducting a comprehensive assessment in response to reports of cracks on the mountain.
He noted that UWA had plans to create an alternative route for safer passage of hikers.
“To make hiking safer, we are exploring the option of installing a permanent ladder at a strategic location on the right side of the Margherita glacier. This alternative route will provide a safer passage for hikers to Margherita Peak,” Hangi said.
He advised tourists to explore other peaks within the Rwenzori mountain national parks citing spots like Mount Speke, Mount Baker, and Cheptegei Peak among others for now.
Margherita Peak which stands at 5109 metres on Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains, ranks third-highest peak in Africa. It runs from the middle of Lake Albert towards the North, and Lake Edward to the south on the Congo-Uganda border