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Kabaka’s Lake in Uganda
The Kabaka's Lake History
Kabaka’s Lake History – Kabaka’s Lake is located in Ndeeba between Nabunya Road and Ring Road. It is approximately 5 kilometers from Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The lake was built in 1880 by Kabaka Mwanga II, who wanted it to serve as an “escape corridor” during British armed conflicts. The kabaka’s lake is Uganda’s largest man-made lake and Africa’s excavated lake. The lake was built with the cooperation of over 52 Buganda tribes, who agreed to build it during the regime of Ssekabaka Mwanga between 1885 and 1888 as a sign of respect for the king’s orders.
Kabaka Mwanga II did not only want the lake to serve as an escape route, but he also wanted it to serve as a channel connecting to Lake Victoria, where he could travel by boat to enjoy fishing and swimming. Mwanga II also wanted easy access to his other palace on Mulungu hill, which is close to Lake Victoria in Munyonyo and was built by his father Mutesa before his death.
Despite the Kabaka’s aggressiveness and ambitious plans towards the Kabaka’s lake, the construction of the lake was abruptly interrupted and stopped before it was connected to Munyonyi, the failure to complete the lake was due to religious wars that arose in the Buganda kingdom.
The legendary story behind the construction of the Kabaka’s lake is extremely interesting, and with the help of our knowledge guide, you will learn that at the beginning of the construction, the parish chiefs, as well as the prince and princess, refused to take part in the digging of the lake, which irritated Kabaka Mwanga II, who decided to take up the tusk by himself and join other people who had obeyed to dig. The parish chiefs, princesses, and princes were embarrassed and joined in the digging with the kabaka.
The Kabaka’s Lake’s appearence
The Kabaka’s lake appears to be about two square kilometers in size and about 200 feet deep. It is a significant conservation site Jewel to the kingdom of Buganda and one of the top attractions places to visit on your Kampala city tour. It is a birder’s paradise, with numerous bird species including little egrets. The kabaka’s lake has captivating scenic views that are complemented by the magnificent surrounding environment. A visit to Kabaka’s Lake will allow you to explore Kabaka’s palace, which is located adjacent to the lake. You’ll notice people crossing the lake in traditional dugout canoes on occasion.
The king of Buganda takes courtesy with his subjects to be of the official watersports on the lake during the annual Buganda tourism Expo, which takes place around August. The Kabaka is accompanied by his soldiers, known as Abambowa, who are dressed smartly in traditional attire and are well-armed with shields and spears, as well as ministers, dignitaries, and security convey.
The Kabaka’s Lake has no inlet river tributaries that supply it with water; instead, it is supplied by underground springs. The water levels have always been consistent, whether in the dry or rainy season. The lake is being renovated and improved for tourism, and one of the plans is to build a five-star hotel nearby to encourage more tourists to visit the lake.
How to get to Kabaka’s Lake
Kabaka’s lake can be accessed by both foot and drive as it is about 5 kilometers from the Kampala capital city and it is situated in Ndeeba between Nabunya Road and Ring Road.
