Exploring Rakai’s forgotten waterfalls

The falls in Kyalulangira Sub-county are surrounded by stones as well as trees. PHOTO BY Ali Mambule

What you need to know:

Kibaale Waterfalls offers one of the breathtaking sceneries in Uganda. Unfortunately, this gift of nature is not being exploited.

On a recent excursion, we discovered a natural haven that has been neglected.
About 100 metres from the Kibaale –Kamuli road, we encountered a grass thicket with a cloud of soot hovering over it. The loud gush of water falls was unmistakable.
Unfortunately, there was no straight path to lead us to the falls and as such we had to rely on our senses to find them.
As we set off from the roadside, we had to jump puddles of dirty water that characterise the terrain. As if that was not bad enough, we had endure steep hills and slippery slopes.
Realising that we would not get there on our own, I and a team from the Kamuswaga (chief of Kooki chiefdom) palace sought guidance from residents at a drinking joint.
A drunkard offered to lead us to the falls, but a one Ssegawa who was standing on the sidelines, rejected this proposal saying the route is too steep, which could get us injured.
For more than 40 minutes, we tried to locate the route to Kibaale falls, in vain. We kept going on i circles until a group of well-wishers came to our rescue.

Finding Kibaale Falls
Kibaale Falls is located in Kyalulangira Sub-county, Rakai District. The falls are part of River Kibaale popularly known as River Rwizi or River Bukoola. The falls were reportedly tested twice to gauge their capacity to generate electricity, but on both occasions, some locals say, such efforts proved fruitless.
That notwithstanding, most of the residents and officials from Kooki chiefdom alike, believe Kibaale Falls can be of great importance despite its low capacity to generate power.
“A team of white men visited the falls in 2010, placed a number of machines at its end points and started carrying out some activities I did not understand,” Charles Ssegawa, the chairperson Byenkende LC1 reminisces, adding, “They later picked their machines, packed them and left. Since then, we have never seen anyone coming here to check on these falls.”

The sight
The falls are surrounded by huge stones and big trees. Residents attribute the dirty appearance of the water to the farming activities carried out on the banks of River Kibaale.
“I believe something needs to be done if we are to conserve these falls. People should not be allowed to cultivate near the falls because they are destroying them,” Elvis Mwanje, a resident shares.
Previously, there was some fishing being carried out, but Mwanje says, residents stopped the activity when wild animals especially hippos invaded the falls. No activity is taking place here and that explains the difficulty in accessing the falls.

Abandoned
Unlike other falls that are frequently visited by tourists, Kibaale Falls is a forgotten gem. While that is frustrating, it is even surprising that some locals can hardly tell its location.
Forty -five -year -old Joseph Semugenyi says his first time to visit the falls was in 2010 when the white men tested the falls for their possibility to generate electricity.
“Since then, I have never gone back. Not because I fear to go there, but I don’t see the relevance of straining myself to walk through the thick, thorny and slippery forest to that point down there,” he says. Most of the young people in the surrounding villages have not bothered to visit the waterfalls claiming there is no traction to the place.
According to Ssegawa, the people who endeavour to visit the falls only do so when the Kooki chiefdom organises events in the sub county.
“Those who come to attend the functions which normally take place at the cultural leader’s area of residence in Rakai Town Council visit the falls after being told about their presence,” he says.

Kooki’s intervention
Kooki’s Information minister Stanley Ndawula says prior to Kamuswaga’s coronation (about 11 years ago), the hereditary chief and his Lukiiko (parliament) were facing big challenges in and outside Kooki, which could not allow easy development within the chiefdom.
He says, “The issue of who owns land and other assets in Kooki was at the forefront of many discussions between us and Buganda Kingdom, an issue we hope will soon be resolved. We hope development will take off at a high speed when this is done.”
That notwithstanding, a few strides have been taken. “We have great plans for the falls among which is the establishment of a mineral water plant since an electricity generating station failed,” he adds.
The falls will be developed into an international tourism site, which will generate income to the chiefdom, Ndawula says.

What other stakeholders say
The district natural resources officer, Jamil Kiyingi, says two teams of investors have visited the falls to find out how best they can be utilised. Unfortunately the results of their findings have never been shared with the district officials.

Looking elsewhere
According to Boney Ntambi, the managing director of Kimsam Investments, a group of Arab investors are due to visit the site and map out proper plans for the site.
“Our major plan for this place is to construct at least a 5meggawatt hydro power plant to serve the local communities here if we find it possible,” Ntambi says.
A recreation centre is also being set up at the camp. But that is not all, Ntambi reveals that they are planning to establish cable cars among other things to ease movement to the falls.

Challenges
The lack of a clear path to the falls greatly hampers its tourism potential. There is also need to limit the farming activities along the river which reduces the water quantity and speed.
Kooki Chiefdom Tourism minister, Dixon Ssebyala believes with the intervention of environmentalists to stop human activities along River Kibaale, the water flow will increase and stabilise. If this is done, Kibaale Falls will in no time become a go to place for nature lovers.