Seeing is believing and o all appearances, kyakondo is splendor
personified. Its beauty is clad in its amazing topology.
Kyakondo is indeed just one of the few natural charms in
Bugisu that no picture can really capture. It Is what Iddi Musaba, a famous
folk musician in Mbale, has fondly described as one of nature’s best
expressions in Bugisu. “Kyakondo took my fancy. It explains why I invariably go
there to soul search and enjoy the breeze with friends. It is naturally
therapeutic. It is hard to resist the serenity that this place provides. I just
shot one of my best videos there too,” Masaba says.
Located just a stone’s throw from Mbale town (Nabisa
Village, Bumboi) and 15 minutes from the splendid Mountain Wanale, Kyakondo’s
voluptuous and reverberating waterfalls seem like the proverbial speech of
angels, just the kind to wash away the stress and worries of everyday life –
that is if you subscribe to the idea that water is therapeutic benefits. Kyakondo
waterfalls are part of River Namatsyo, a river that flows from Mt. Wanale.
Mohammed Khabuya, an elder in Nabisa, says:
“River Namatsyo flows right from Wanale to far off place like Bugwere
and Busoga. No one I met knew exactly how the Name Kyakondo came about. But it
has been there since the days of old. It is Virgin territory because not so
many people know about this place, yet it is good if one wants to unwind and
relax,” Khabuya says.
Just like many other beauties of nature in Bugisu, Kyakondo
has been glossed over by the local authorities and the rank and file. “This
place could have been developed into a viable tourist site, but nobody has
thought of that. That, however, has not stopped visitors, principally from
Uganda, the US, UK, Kenya, and even India, from coming here often,” Kyabuya
says.
Kyakondo is also the source reservoir for the National water
and sewerage Corporation according to Khabuya. The reservuoir was established
in 1937. The whole of Mbale is fed off water from here. The reservoir serves
unpurified water to the water supply in Mooni, where it is then treated and purified,
Kyabuya says.
IMBALU HAVEN
“During the Imbalu years, we bring our
candidates for the Isonja dance Isonja
dance is where the Imbalu candidates are put through the imbalu dance training
and are also the Items they will wear when performing imbalu rituals,” Kyabula
says. Kyakondo does not have fully developed facilities like Sipi falls in
Kapchorwa, but it is not a boring place. It is great Place for recreation
activities such as picnics, retreats, small parties, photography and camping.
Christine Khanagwa, a Kenyan student in Mbale, says what
captivates her about Kyakondo are not the facilities, but the ambience. “The
ambience here is just as good as the early morning fresh air. You will not
often find many tents and people here, but it is a good place you can relax.
Whenever I am here, I feel like the world is my oyster,” Khanagwa says. Khabuya
hopes that Kyakondo will someday rise from its obscurity to fame.
GETTING THERE:
To get to Kyakondo, follow the Busamaga – Bumboi – Wanale
route that begins immediately after the high Court in Mbale town. You can ask
for Directions once you reach Mbale town. From Mbale town the whole journey
will take roughly 10-25 minutes.
Kyakondo can also be accessible from the route that leads up
to Mukhubu surburb, which is near the Presidential Lodge in Mbale. When you
reach Mooni Primary School in Mukhubu, ask for directions. It will take you
five to seven minutes to reach Kyakondo. Careful thought, wear sturdy shoes
when you set off for Kyakondo, especially during the rainy season.
ACCOMODATION
Affordable accommodation is available at Elgon suits on the
Bumboi – Wanale road, just near Kyakondo. There are also nearby hotels that
offer decent accommodation like Restville Hotel. Relatively cheap rest houses
and inn’s are also quite many in Senior Quarters, Mbale.
By Bruce Amp
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