07/09/2022
Kabaka’s Lake | Man Made Lake in Uganda
Ever had about the no nonsense king Of Buganda-Kabaka Mwanga11?! Though he is more popular for the negative attributes and instant ruthless decisions as a king, there are some of the few positive attributes Kabaka Mwanga 11 did that are not posted anywhere. We chose to explore the man-made lake named “Kabaka’s Lake.”To many, at the mention of Kabaka Mwanga 11, the first thing that comes into their minds is that “he was one notorious and ruthless holocaust who initiated the occurrence and death of faith-determined Uganda martyrs who refused to denounce their religious faith. However, he is also remembered for some of the good things and among his good side is the Kabaka Lake which is one of the positive living legacy of the late King Mwanga 11 of Buganda.This magnificent lake of Buganda kingdom is located few kilometers away from the city centre in Rubaga/Mengo, adjacent to one of the seven major hills of Kampala. A serene water body dotted with numerous attractions like: birds species like the little egrets. Historically, the Kabaka’ lake is probably one of the few Africa’s longest-surviving man-made lakes. The Kabaka’s lake has magnificent views enhanced with the frequently blowing fresh air surrounding it before settling later on the green island in the middle and the outstanding Kabaka’s palace nearby. Occasional crossing of people in dugout canoes is also evident on the lake.
Mwanga II. His idea was to create a channel which was to take him to his palace here in Lubiri and the other in Munyonyo.
“The palace (Twekobe, in Lubiri) has a relationship with the lake (Kabaka’s lake). When Kabaka Mwanga was building his first palace, it unfortunately caught fire and he left. So he went to stay with French missionaries in Nalukolongo. From there, he went to his palace in Munyonyo which had been built by Muteesa.
He did not like that palace in Munyonyo and when Twekobe was constructed, he returned but would occasionally go to Munyonyo. He thus sought to get quicker means of transport between Lubiri and Munyonyo.
“That is when he called on his subjects to dig this lake since there were good springs in the area. The lake was dug from here in Lubiri to Najjanankumbi, in Luwafu- Makindye.
“The first supervisor of the projects was a one Musoke who was not very hard-working so he appointed Kamya Ndikumulaga who was well-built. He mobilised people to dig the lake to the depth and width,” the tourism officer further narrates, about the history of the man-made lake.
The people who dug were mobilised from the different parishes in Buganda Kingdom. But as Batemyeto adds, the parish chiefs and princesses were not digging so Ndikumulaga reported this to the Kabaka.
“The Kabaka went down and got himself dirty as he dug. The princes and chiefs had no option but to dig along with the Kabaka,” Batemyeto adds.
Ssemambo says that besides creating a water-way, Kabaka Mwanga loved swimming and fishing.
He adds, “At the end of the 11 months of digging, land had been cleared all the way up to Najjanankumbi. If you visited parts of Ndeeba, you would see some heaps of soil, which were just waiting to be hand-lifted out of the way but, a rebellion broke out. That is when the Christians revolted and they started opposing him.”
There are two important things. The lake is not served by any tributary. It is just fed by springs and the water level of this lake has never gone down. In all these years, since 1886 to date, the water level is the same, whether in the dry or wet season.”
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