Kabaka’s Lake is the most extensive man-made Lake in Uganda and so far Africa’s longest surviving man-made Lake, and is situated in Ndeeba Rubaga Division in Kampala. This beautiful Lake is found between Nabunya Road and Lubiri Ring Road and just stone throw away from Bulange Mengo. And about 5 kilometers from Kampala City Center. During your day tour in Kampala, you should not miss visiting the Kabaka’s lake.
Kabaka’s Lake covers an area of about 2 square kilometers and has an average depth of around 200 feet. It is believed that the Lake was dug by the fifty two clans of the Buganda Kingdom from around 1885 and 1888 during the rule of Ssekabaka (fallen King or Kabaka) Mwanga II. Much as history has labeled him a ruthless and inhuman King for mainly ordering the execution of the Uganda Martyrs, the Lake is one of his positive deeds. Most people forgot and don’t care to know about his good deeds and the good side of this former King, as it is the nature of human beings to just capitalize on someone’s negative deeds and forget the positive ones. It is said that the Lake was dug to create a Channel which would take him to his Palace in Lubiri Mengo (just a few meters away from the lake) and the other one in Munyonyo.
The Twekobe Palace, in Lubiri and the Kabaka’s Lake have a historical connection. It is said that when King Mwanga was constructing his first palace, it sadly caught fire which prompted him to abruptly leave the Palace. He left and went to stay with some French evangelists in Nalukolongo, thereafter left to his other Palace in Munyonyo which was originally constructed by his father Ssekabaka Mutesa I (who was born in 1835 and died 1884) The fact that Kabaka Mwanga didn’t like his Munyonyo Palace, he always went to Twekobe and when it was reconstructed, he went back to the Twekobe Palace although could sometimes go back to Munyonyo. This is when he thought of the idea of getting an easier and quicker transport means to connect him between Lubiri palace and Munyonyo Palace. This is when he mobilized his subjects from the different Clans to dig the Lake, the fact that there were already fantastic springs within the area.
The excavation was first supervised by a man called Musoke, who was very lazy but instead appointed another sturdy, hardworking and committed man called Kamya Ndikumulaga. Kamya mobilized some of the people from the Clans/Parishes to excavate the Lake to the depth and width. However, the Parish Chiefs and Princes refused to dig, and Kamya reported them to the King. The King went down to the site and involved himself in digging which left the Princes and Parish with no option but to also get involved in digging. After 11 months, the Lake was complete but the Channel connecting Lubiri to Munyonyo was not completed because of the abrupt Christian revolution against the Kabaka on the 2nd August 1888. The two most exciting and interesting facts about this Man-made Lake is that the Lake is not served by any tributary but only fed but several Springs and the level of the water in the Lake never reduces whether in the Rainy or Dry season.
Presently, the Kabaka’s Lake is a haven to several exceptional bird species, and some of the species that can be enjoyed include the egrets, the Grey crowned cranes, the cormorants, the African fish eagles, Pink-backed pelicans and marabous storks among others. Some of the activities that can be conducted on the Lake include Canoeing, swimming, birding, sightseeing and boat rowing among others.
Besides the Kabaka’s Lake being a cultural and historical site to Buganda Kingdom, it is a serene destination perfect for sightseeing, swimming and canoeing among others. If you are interesting inn learning and understanding some of Buganda history, add this site on your bucket list.