This was the fifth excursion of the Explore Uganda campaigns aimed at promoting domestic tourism while at the same time discovering new tourism gems that can be developed and added to travellers’ itineraries.
The itinerary for the Explore Busoga campaign included visiting the Nile Breweries factory in Njeru and Nalubaale dam, climbing Kagulu hill, taking part in adventure activities such as bungee jumping, rafting and tubing on the Nile, visiting Bishop Hannington site, Igenge palace, Busowoko and Itanda falls, Kakira Sugar factory and a musical concert.
According to the state minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra, these campaigns have created awareness and encouraged more Ugandans to explore their country with now 86 per cent of visitors to tourism sites being Ugandans.
“These numbers were lower before we started these campaigns. We want to encourage Ugandans to travel so that we can have a more sustainable tourism sector such that even in circumstances when we can’t have foreigners travelling here like it was during Covid-19, the sector keeps afloat,” he said.
SETTING OFF
On a rainy Thursday morning, hundreds of excited travellers including musicians Jose Chameleone and John Blaq, and kickboxer Moses Golola were flagged off by Mugarra at Uganda Museum and took the eastern route to Busoga, making a stopover at Najjembe market at the peripheral of Mabira forest for some refreshments, mostly the tasty roasted chicken.
The entourage then proceeded to Jinja where we were welcomed at the Nile bridge by a group of performers singing folk songs, dancing traditional dances and sounding drums and xylophones. Some travellers did not hesitate to join in the joyous welcome to the adventure capital of East Africa.
See, Busoga is also home to the annual Nyege Nyege festival that has become quite the event. But before settling into Jinja, the group visited Nile Breweries plant in Njeru, where they were taken through the beer brewing process from where the barley, cassava and maize are received and loaded for malting, milling, to mashing, extract separation, boiling, cooling and fermentation, maturing and packaging.
The team also briefly visited the Nalubaale dam formerly Owen Falls dam, commissioned in 1954 by Queen Elizabeth II. However, security personnel here prohibited photography, like it is at many of Uganda’s bridges, to the disappointment of many.
KAGULU ROCK
The next day we visited Kagulu rock in Buyende district about 30km from Kamuli town. The rock, which stands at 3,600ft above sea level, is believed to have been the first settlement of the Busoga royals after crossing Lake Kyoga from Bunyoro-Kitara in the early 17th century.
It is from here that the five sons of Omukama Namutukula, the founding father of Busoga, and his wife Nawudo spread to take charge of the respective chiefdoms of Busoga. These sons were Gabula of Bugabula, Zibondo of Bulamogi, Tabingwa of Luuka, Ngobi of Kigulu and Nkono of Bukono.
Since then, the site has been a coronation site for Bugabula chiefdom. Up to present day, Chief Gabula remains as the cultural caretaker of the site called Kagulu and is believed to possess the Chwezi spirits to guard the chiefdom. For history buffs, the rock presents a great opportunity for exploring the rich cultural history of the region and the ruins of the palace that once belonged to Namutukula, Busoga’s founding father.
But away from its cultural significance, Kagulu has in recent years been added to Busoga’s tourism package for the rock climbing challenge. Some 4000 steps have been constructed on the rock to get to the summit but if you are energetic enough, you can forego them and scale the steep surface instead. But don’t be fooled; taking the steps is equally strenuous.
Majority of the travellers including Min- ister Mugarra, Chameleone, John Blaq and Golola took on the challenge and climbed the rock one step at a time, under the scorching sun. Thankfully, there are two shelters at the top where one can rest and cool off. At the top, one gets a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Kyoga and where the Victoria Nile joins it.
There are also caves where Namutukula and his family used to sleep and two ponds, where it is believed that if someone washes their hands in their water, they get blessings. There is also a monument of Namutukula standing tall at the summit. The first 100 participants were given medals for successfully completing the hiking challenge.
BISHOP HANNINGTON SITE
Religion is one aspect of tourism that is slowly picking up among tourists as an increasing number of religious sites are being promoted as tourist attractions. One such place is the Bishop Hannington site in Kyando village, Mayuge district.
This is where bishop James Hannington, an English Anglican missionary and first Anglican Bishop of East Africa, and 48 of his African helpers were murdered on October 29, 1885 after being tortured for eight days on the orders of Kabaka Mwan- ga, becoming the first Uganda martyrs.
Hannington’s remains were first buried in Mumias, Kenya but in December 1892 were exhumed and reburied at Namirembe cathedral, Kampala. The site, which sits on 220 acres, includes the rock caves where the bishop used to sleep and used as his library, the stone where he was tortured from and the rock where he breathed his last.
There is a boulder which sits on a rock, tilting as though it may topple anytime soon, and is believed to have been Hannington’s pulpit. But the most fascinating feature at the site is the well where the bishop used to baptize new Christian converts from. Today, believers draw water from this well for blessings.
Some of the excursionists, including a delegation from the Turkish embassy, packed this perceived holy water for religious rituals, while others washed their faces and hands in it for purported cleansing. Prior to 2018, the site was remote and inaccessible but it has since been renovated and several facilities such as a hotel built by minister Rebecca Kadaga, a road (though still murram) with plans of tarmacking it underway, modern washrooms have been set up and amenities like electricity and piped water have been extended to the place.
Minister Mugarra said the ministry plans to set up more structures at the site including a museum and marketing it so that it can attract more pilgrims and tourists, similar to those who flock to Namugongo martyr’s shrine.
BUSOWOKO FALLS
Busowoko falls is one of Jinja’s hidden gems nestled in the remote Busowoko village, Jinja district. To get to these falls, you have to endure a dusty, bumpy, narrow 21km road from Jinja city through Kimaka-Budondo road. But well, the natural beauty, breathtaking scenery, lush environment and the thrilling view of the Nile waters cascading over the rocks make the journey worthwhile.
For a long time, the falls were a forested abandoned area with the locals believing that it was a home to spirits and ghosts. It was only three years ago that the place was cleared, exposing these spectacular waterfalls that have become a treasured tourist attraction.
Luck was, however, not on our side when we visited; as soon as we arrived, the heavens opened for a heavy afternoon downpour. But this didn’t deter some adventure seekers who did not wait for the rain to stop before taking off some of their clothes to dive into the water. Others waited for the rain to stop and explored the falls over slippery rocks and wooden bridges.
What makes Busowoko falls unique is that it is one of the few waterfalls where you can do a number of exhilarating activities in its waters from swimming to tubing and white water rafting. Not forgetting the water massage where one sits below the rocks and the water hits their body as it flows over the rocks.
Though still underdeveloped, the place had a number of foreign tourists with children as young as four years taking on the water.
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
We could not leave Jinja without experiencing some of the activities that make the city be called the adventure capital. Thanks to the subsidized prices the places which offer these activities offered the adventurers during the campaign, adrenaline junkies were able to take part in tubing, bungee jumping, rafting, quad biking, all done over, on and along the Nile.
Chameleone and Golola went bungee jumping, while John Blaq opted for water rafting.
CONCERT
As the curtains closed on the campaign, the people of Busoga were treated to a free concert at Bugembe stadium on Saturday night. The show was graced by ministry of Tourism officials, Busoga region political leaders and Busoga kingdom officials.
Several artistes from the region entertained the crowd before more prominent ones stepped on stage. Golola also delivered a mock boxing fight with one of Jinja’s boxers, which excited revellers.
Jinja’s hottest new kid on the block, Acidic Vokoz received cheers from the crowd when he stepped on stage to perform hits such as Last Chance, Future and Nkulinako Crush, which had his fans singing along. Jinja’s own, John Blaq, also belted out his latest and older hits to the home crowd as they cheered him on.
The night was closed off by an energetic performance from Jose Chameleone, was joined on stage by singer Melody to perform their classic hit Nkoleki.
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