THE HOT SPRINGS OF KIBIRO

Barely seven miles from Kigorobya town council in Hoimadistrict, there is a steep escapement leading down to lake Albert GrabenValley. The sight of women descending the ridge, while caring goods on their heads and shoulders welcomes. The men usually transport their loads on bicycles or motorcycles. Bunyoro region is likely to have toured Kibiro at least once. But many Ugandans from other parts of the country have not heard of, let alone visited this place that has economic, tourism and cultural significance.

These are the Kibiro salt mines and hot springs. They are located at the intersection of steep ridge and the rift valley floor. Every school child in

According to some legends and the local sources, the place was discovered by local hunters believed to have come from Ethiopia; that on their hunting expedition, they came across the hot springs. Tired, they washed their faces. They also realized that they could dip their meat in the hot springs and it would cook. Even better the meat came out salty. Soon after, the hunters started settling in this place.

At the time when the hot springs joined the lake, there is a lot of fish bleeding. Men are assigned the role of fishing while women concentrate on salt processing. The hot springs site and the salt works are just above the estuary. This place was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ tentative list on September10, 1997, in the culture category.

HOME OF TRUMPETS

At Kibiro, the local used to harvest ebyara, the plants from which amakondere (trumpet) are made. The plant belongs to the gourd and pumpkin family. They are long, Hard skinned fruits of the climbing gourd plants that found their way here from Democratic Republic of Cong. To carve amakondere, the fresh of ebyara is removed, creating a hollow structure. Amakondere were used in the royal orchestras that consisted of a dozen men. A horn-shaped,  wooden trumpet is the main instrument in the production of the royal court music for Bunyoro and Toro kingdoms. Robert Rukahemura, who is in carge of Bunyoro kingdom’s cultural research and documentation, says they regard Kibiro as a sacred area.

“It hosts one of the most important cultural sites in the kingdom called obwingira bwa Omukama Kabalega, with a care taker (Omujumirizi) on standby,”  Rukahemura says obwingira bwa Omukama are the remains of what was a military hideout to attack the enemies of the Bunyoro King. He says the water from the hot springs has other things, it it was used for the cleansing of bad omen and misfortune, as well as healing ailments.

TOURISM POTENTIAL

Rwamparo says the village now forms an important cultural site which has combined both archiology and ethnography (Scientific description of customs) through time and can be turned into a wounderful tourism center. School children from the bulk of the tourists. They usually combine their adventure with a ride in fishermen’s boats.

Babyesiga says once in a while tourists, most of them foreigners, visit the area. He, however notes that Kibiro salt and hot springs are virtually inaccessible because because of the steep escapement. The difficult climb from the lakeside discourages any casual visits to the hot springs. Similarly, there is no form of modern development in the area.

“If the government wants to earn something from here, it needs to work on this road. This place can become a huge tourism hub,” Babyesiga explains. Rukahemura says by presenting Kibiro as a cultural heritagesite, marketing it and then empowering the local communities on how to maintain it, a lot would change for the better.

Designed footpaths for tourists to use as they tour the mines and descent hotels or even camping sites would make a great difference. Rwamparo who is also a member of the Bunyoro Tourism Initiative Board, says the place is ideal for rock hiking similar to the Kagulu Hill rock hiking event in Busoga. He believes that a hiking trail can be arranged once or twice a year, most probably towards the kingdoms empango (coronation anniversary).

By Bruce Amp