Monday 17 August 2015

Buganda Kingdom’s 1 mile road of Loyalty.



By Edward Nankunda.

The historical lane commonly known as Kabakanjagala Road is a magnificent stretch from the official palace of Buganda’s king (the Kabaka) to the Kingdom’s administrative centre at Bulange, Mengo. It is located in mengo, Rubaga division, about two kilometers from the city centre.
It is more striking when you are descending from Lubiri Palace viewing Mengo hill with the towering Masengere and Bulange parliament buildings framing the horizon.
Down the road between Buganda Kingdom’s Lubiri palace and the parliament, is a roundabout called Lukoma Nantawetwa which was recently redesigned with a monument of a long drum (engalabi) hoisting a shield and two spears. These represent the historical symbol for Buganda’s mighty protection against adversaries. This unique monument stands 11meters tall.
This roundabout is unique in that it has a gateway for the Kabaka to go through instead of driving around it. The gates are kept locked and inly opened when the Kanaka’s motorcade is to go through them.
The road was used by Ssekabaka Mwanga II, who reigned in the 1880s. People used to line up along a path on the same route to welcome the King as he passed. The same route was used by successive kings, including Kabaka Daudi Chwa and Sir Frederick Mutesa II.

This road’s name came from the fact that the king’s subjects always stated, while using this road. That the king wanted to see them. For decades, the stretch was lined by over 70 mature candle nut trees, commonly known as Kabakanjagala. The trees are said to have been planted along the stretch by Zakariya Kisingiri who was Kabaka Chwa’s regent and treasurer. Kisingiri’s residence was located along that same road and the house still stands today. He is also said to have brought the seedsto Uganda from the Seychelles when he visited the exiled Kabaka Mwanga on the Indian Ocean island.

Originally, there were 52 trees and each represented clan. But the reigning Kabaka Ronald Mutebi added another four to make 56. The century-old trees, were however felled by Kampala Capital City Authority in 2013 for the expansion and beautification of the road. Solar-powered street lights have been added. After the road was refurbished, new trees of the same tree species were planted in a campaign led by the Kabaka.

Monday 10 August 2015

Relax on The Nile at Living Waters Resort.



By Edward Nankunda.

Living Waters Resort boasts of a beautiful view of the source of the Nile among many other spectacular things fit for the curious tourists. At the point from which John Hanning Speke beheld the source of the Nile, lies a spectacular monument which also features on the back of the Sh 2,000 currency note. It gives a clear view of the boundary where Lake Victoria, Africa’s biggest freshwater lake ends and where River Nile, the world’s longest river starts, going through Sudan and Egypt before eventually joining the Mediterranean sea.

Living Waters Resort features luxuriant bandas and a restaurant not to mention a vast camping space with plenty of trees, whose fresh air and green cover combined with the magical view of the Nile, make the Resort the ideal hideout for anyone looking to relax, loosed up and be relieved of any stress. This place presents a great getaway for families and honeymooners in quest for privacy and intimacy.

Sightseeing around the Nile is done on a wooden engine-powered boat and it ushers in the floating village, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust, fish farms and fascinating historical pillars. The bird watching expedition downstream is always a delight to those who love the avian species. Many of the birds there are from the Kingfisher family and the excitement lies in seeing them hover over calm stretches of water for as long as two minutes before taking a swift dip to catch fish that is almost twice their body size.

Entrance fee to the source of the Nile is shs3,000, shs5,000 and shs10,000 for Ugandans, foreign residents and foreign non-residents respectively. Camping at the gardens of Living waters Resort Costs sh15,000 per night (own tent) per person. A night in the bandas costs $110 for bed and breakfast per person. Full board is $150 per person.

Getting There
From Kampala, turn right at Nile Breweries in Njeru Town. Do not cross over the bridge at Owen Falls Dam, but keep going on Nalubale Road. Go past Picfare Industries, Nytil and Vitafoam and thereafter follow the signs for Living Waters Resort.