The Sezibwa River is a river in
Central Uganda, in
East Africa. The name is derived from the
Luganda phrase "sizibwa kkubo", which translates into "my path cannot be blocked".
Location
River Sezibwa is located in the southern central part of
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...
. It starts from the wetlands between
Lake Victoria and
Lake Kyoga, west of the
Victoria Nile
The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...
and flows in a general northerly direction to empty into Lake Kyoga. The source of River Sezibwa is located in
Buikwe District
Buikwe District is a district in the Central Region of Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town', Buikwe, where the district headquarters are located.
Location
Buikwe District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Jinja District to t ...
, near the town of
Ngogwe, with coordinates: Latitude:0.2700; Longitude:33.0050. River Sezibwa enters Lake Kyoga in
Kayunga District
Kayunga District is a district in Central Uganda. It is named after its chief town, Kayunga.
Geography
Kayunga District is bordered by Amolatar District to the north, Buyende District to the northeast, Kamuli District to the east, Jinja Distri ...
, near the town of
Galilaya, with coordinates: Latitude:1.3700; Longitude:32.8150. The length of
River Sezibwa is approximately from source to end.
Between its source in Buikwe District, but before it enters Kayunga District, the river flows through
Mukono District
Mukono is one of the districts in the Central Region of Uganda. The town of Mukono is home to the district's main commercial center and district headquarters.
Location
Mukono District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Jinja Distri ...
.
Legend
According to legend, the Ssezibwa
River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of w ...
is not a natural phenomenon, but the progeny of a pregnant woman called Nakangu, who lived many hundreds of years ago and belonged to the Achibe (ox) clan. she was expected to give birth to twins, but instead what poured from her womb was a twin river, one that split into two distinct streams around an island immediately below the waterfall. The spirits of Nakangu's unborn children - Ssezibwa and Mobeya - each inhabit one of these streams, for which reason it used to be customary for any
Muganda
The Ganda people, or Baganda (endonym: ''Baganda''; singular ''Muganda''), are a Bantu ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Traditionally composed of 52 clans (although since a 1993 survey, only 46 are officiall ...
passing the river's source at Namukono, some 20km further east, to throw a handful of grass or stones into the river for good luck. Even today, a thanksgiving sacrifice of
barkcloth
Barkcloth or bark cloth is a versatile material that was once common in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Barkcloth comes primarily from trees of the family Moraceae, including ''Broussonetia papyrifera'', ''Artocarpus altilis'', ''Artocarpus ta ...
, beer and a cockerel is made at the river's source every year, usually led by a Ssalongo (father of twins).
Sezibwa Falls
The Sezibwa Falls are approximately , east of
Kampala
Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...
,
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...
's capital, along the
Kampala-Jinja Highway. The site is a
Buganda Heritage Site. It is marked with an out-span of sharp-edged rocks and the magnificent sound of soothing waters flowing down the steep ridged stones. The Falls are located in
Mukono District
Mukono is one of the districts in the Central Region of Uganda. The town of Mukono is home to the district's main commercial center and district headquarters.
Location
Mukono District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Jinja Distri ...
.
According to traditional legend, the two rivers named Sezibwa and its brother Bwanda, were born by a woman on her way to Kavuma Bukunja. The woman,
Nakkungu Tebatuusa, whose husband was called
Nsubuga Sebwaato, gave birth to twins in form of water, whereupon Sezibwa flowed west, passing many obstacles and deriving its name, while Bwanda flowed east, toward
Nyenga. Many people come to the place for miracles as they believe the site has supernatural powers.
The falls are high.
Rock climbing and
bird watching
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...
are the main activities at the site.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althoug ...
s and other
scientist
A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences.
In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosoph ...
s also frequent the site. Wildlife in the surrounding forest includes
bush monkeys,
red-tailed monkey
The red-tailed monkey (''Cercopithecus ascanius''), also known as the black-cheeked white-nosed monkey, red-tailed guenon, redtail monkey, or Schmidt's guenon, is a species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae.
It is found in Angola, Cameroo ...
s and other
primates and
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...
s.
The Hidden Treasures of Sezibwa Falls
See also
* Lake Victoria
* Lake Kyoga
*Victoria Nile
The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...
*Kayunga
Kayunga is a town in the Central Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Kayunga District.
Location
Kayunga is approximately northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city, on an all-weath ...
References
External links
Detailed Description of Sezibwa Falls
Rivers and Lakes of Uganda
Photo of Sezibwa Falls
Rivers of Uganda
Buganda
Mukono District
Kayunga District
{{Rivers of Uganda