The features of rift valley, escarpments, Block Mountain, rift valley lakes, etc formed by faulting have got the following positive and negative contributions to Uganda’s development.
- Development of the tourist industry due to the spectacular sceneries of the western rift valley, Rwenzori horst and fault lakes like Albert. This has helped to develop infrastructure, provision of foreign exchange and jobs to Ugandans.
- The rift valley lakes of Albert, George, and Edward provide great fishing potentials were Ugandans are assured of fish proteins/food, job opportunities and incomes thus high standards of living.
- Rwenzori horst is a source of R. Mubuku, Semulik, and Nyamwamba which provide water for HEP generation like at Mubuku power station, water for irrigation at Mubuku irrigation scheme, industrial water like for Hima Cement factory, etc.
- The rift valley floor has been gazetted into national parks such as Queen Elizabeth, and this has conserved wildlife, boosted tourism for foreign exchange and provided jobs to Ugandans.
- The western rift valley floor provides suitable land for farming, settlement and infrastructural development. For example Mubuku irrigation scheme is well known for crop growing in Kasese thus reduced famine in Uganda.
- The steep slope of Rwenzori horst has favoured the growth of dense forests. Such forests have led to climatic modification i.e. heavy rains for crop growing and development of the forestry industry.
- Rift valley lakes of Albert, Edward and George provide great water transport potential. Foristance L. Albert link Uganda from Butiaba port to Muhanga port in DR Congo. This has led to flourishing trade and international relationship.
- Faulting indirectly influenced the formation of volcanic soils of Kigezi and Mt. Elgon. These soils are very fertile for crop growing like iris growing in kabala and coffee in Mbale. It has also attracted dense settlement in such areas.
- The Rwenzori horst foot hills provide a great potential for mining activities. There was mining of copper in Kilembe-Kasese and now cobalt, this earns Uganda foreign exchange, jobs to Ugandans and infrastructural development.
- Faulting indirectly led to formation of crustal warped lakes of Victoria and Kyoga which are source of fish, navigation and water for industrial use like to Uganda breweries in Luzira, water to Kampala city and for Kajjansi clay crafts.
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