In her world, hospitality is not just a business; it is a calling, a way to honour her roots, empower her community, and allow travellers to experience the rhythm of Kisoro, where every sunrise offers an invitation to see, feel, and belong.
Before Chomba Chanda ever thought of running a lodge, she was a lawyer. Her life revolved around case files, long hours, and courtroom formalities.
‘Law was what everyone expected of me,’ she says.
It seemed perfect on paper; a career filled with logic, arguments, and structure. However, deep down, Chanda knew her heart craved something different. During her university years, she took a part-time job at a café to earn some extra money. Unknowingly, that job marked the beginning of her true calling. Working in the café changed her perspective on people. She fell in love with the aroma of coffee, the warmth of service, and the way food connects individuals. She discovered that hospitality is truly about creating comfort, not just providing it.
A spark from Kisoro
Her journey back to Kisoro began with her father’s dream.
‘My father wanted to build something back home. He is from Kisoro but, like many, had lived away for years,’ she narrates.
‘When he spoke about returning, it stirred something within me. Around that time, I met tourists who could not stop raving about how magical it was to see gorillas in Uganda. When I found out those gorillas were in Kisoro, it felt like the universe was speaking to me.’
That was the spark, an idea ignited by love, legacy, and a longing to reconnect. By the end of 2017, this idea took physical form as Mucha Lodges, a small mid-range lodge nestled between Lake Mulehe and Lake Mutanda, came to life.
‘We are mid-range because we understand how expensive travel can be. Flights, permits, and food all add up. I wanted to create a place where people could enjoy the beauty and comfort of a high-end lodge at a fair price,’ she explains.
Hospitality that gives back
There is a river that gently flows through the property, mist that lifts at dawn, and the songs of more than 40 bird species. For Chomba, running a lodge is also about community, and she firmly believes a business should leave the land better than it found it. She says: ‘The people here see the safari vehicles and wonder how we are giving back. So, we make sure we do.’
Mucha supports three nearby primary schools with study packs and assists 50 families around the lodge by purchasing vegetables, eggs, and beans from local farmers. Also, the baskets decorating the lodge’s rooms are handwoven by women from Mutorere, a nearby village.
This creates a complementary relationship where the lodge helps the locals, and they, in turn, support it back in a sustainable manner. When Chomba exhibits at tourism expos, she takes a piece of Kisoro with her, ensuring her stall stands out and attracts visitors.
‘Every year, my theme is rustic,’ she explains. ‘I use local materials; wood and baskets, as well as tree tomatoes. I even added an old Sembule TV once, just to remind people that we used to make things in Uganda.’
She hopes to show people how beauty can be created sustainably, emphasising that a tourism entity does not need plastic to tell a story.
Living beauty
Chomba’s love for Kisoro goes beyond the lodge. When she describes her home, her words slow, and her tone softens. She says: ‘Kisoro is like a painting that moves. It is all hills and hands; women planting potatoes on slopes so steep you would think it is impossible, but they do it, and they still smile. The best potatoes in Uganda come from here.’
She paints an image of fields arranged so neatly that they look like embroidery from a distance.
‘People call it the Switzerland of Uganda, but for me, it is more than that. It is home, beautiful, alive, and full of hardworking people who dream big.’
Even after years of success, Chomba still sees herself as a student of travel. ‘I want to go to Kidepo. It is wild and untouched, one of the most beautiful places in Africa. I want to see it before it changes,’ she says, a faraway look in her eyes.
Learning, collaboration
Her curiosity keeps her grounded, and her sense of purpose drives her forward.
‘When I attended an expo in Kenya, I realised how much we still have to learn about marketing ourselves. Kenyan lodges collaborate, sharing spaces and ideas. In Uganda, we need that spirit of collaboration. If we could unite, tour operators, lodge owners, and associations, we would be unstoppable.’
Her message to Uganda’s tourism leaders is simple but urgent: ‘We need aggressive marketing, improved roads, and a passion for our country. Let us tell our stories loudly and beautifully. Let us work on making our roads better and ensuring travel is affordable so that Ugandans can explore their own country,’ she asserts.
She believes true growth will not come from policy papers, but from a genuine love for Uganda.
‘When I meet people from other African countries, I feel their pride. We need that too. Uganda is incredible; our landscapes, our cultures, our kindness. We just need to believe in it,’ she emphasises.
Each morning, as the mist lifts off the water and sunlight spills over the Kisoro hills, Chomba takes a quiet walk through Mucha’s gardens. The river flows gently, and birds dart through the trees.
This routine reminds her of how far she has come, from studying law and working at café counters to a life filled with purpose and peace.
‘I wanted to build something that feels like home. And home, to me, means sharing with people, with nature, and with the community.’
Why you should visit
In the gentle tranquility of Kisoro’s mornings, one can see what she means. Chomba asserts that her appreciation of hospitality should not only focus on rooms or bookings, but also on the effort to create and maintain a sense of belonging.
This, in turn, creates memorable experiences for tourists as they explore a region known for its vibrant people, the towering Mgahinga mountains, and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets against the lush landscape.