The family of the late Daudi Kitaburaza Makobore together with development partners have launched a water sports project on Lake Kimbugu, in Nyarushanje, Rukungiri District.
A combination of sports like kayaking, canoing, swimming and spot fishing, the project, according to the family, is a continuation of the late Makobore’s dream to develop the water body for the community’s benefit.
Nestled in the gentle slopping hills of Nyarushanje, Rubabo in Rukungiri District, Lake Kimbugu is estimated to be more than 7 metres deep and about 400 square metres.
Initially a small fishing pond, the water body has over the decades expanded its banks to form a beautiful lake with calm waters – the lush green hills simply an icing on the cake – a sight to behold.
For Daudi, the dream was to make the lake an income avenue for the community through recreational ventures at the site. This dream, however, came to a sudden halt three years ago when he lost the battle to Covid-19.
Speaking at the launch presided over by Rujumbura County MP and Security Minister Rtd Maj. Gen Jim Muhwezi, Mrs. Hellen Kitaburaaza Bugaari, one of the developers and sister to the Late noted that the project is a brainchild of their late brother whose vision targeted economic empowerment of the community.
“Our brother Daudi was a fast thinker and he had started on this project before he passed. He partnered with the Uganda Canoe, Kayak Federation to develop water sports on the lake. These water activities are unique at least in Western Uganda. When he passed, we as family and friends decided to pick up the vision,” Mrs. Bugaari said.
She added, “He (Daudi Makobore) was passionate about the people so we couldn’t let his passion die. We are happy that the Federation has partnered with us, the community is supportive and the investors have come with different kinds of developments. We already see a difference in the area but we know there is a lot to do still.”
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The site already has some structures in place such as a jetty, a building structure housing a bar and lounge, and boosts extensive land for development.
In his remarks, Hon. Muhwezi commended the initiative noting that it will be a sustainable source of income for various categories of people in the area. He applauded the family for the development made and the prospected ventures which will draw in huge numbers of tourists.
He spoke of the Makobores as a family of visionaries and patriotic Ugandans who, back in the day, were among the ruling individuals in Rujumbura before the invasion of colonialists.
“Daudi was living in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania where he was running thriving business together with his wife but he decided to come back here and introduce a venture on Lake Kimbugu that would be of tourism value. Now, the locals will benefit from the tourism value chain as hotels and accommodation facilities come up. I thank the family and development partners for this,” the Minister said.
He called on the locals to embrace self-help and communal projects though which they will produce marketable items for the tourism induced market around Lake Kimbugu.
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The launch drew in various kayaking teams for the day’s competitions.
Challenges
Mrs. Bugaari noted that Kimbugu as a community does not have running water or electricity and the roads leading to the site are not good enough to enable timely movement of tourists especially those whose packages involve Bwindi and Kisiizi attractions.
“If we had good roads leading to Kimbugu, it would be easy to tourists plying the Rukungiri-Bwindi circuit to incorporate a detour here at the lake. However, with the state of the roads, it would be way too time consuming and physically tiring to make this stop. But with the support from line government MDAs, many of them well represented today, we are hopeful that this will be worked on,” she said.
To this end, Minister Muhwezi noted that with the developments at hand and prospected impact, the road will be considered under tourism roads which are being prioritized as regards construction.
“This is now a tourism product and we are going to have the road under the tourism roads which are handled by the central government. The tourism roads are constructed and maintained all year round so this should be quick,” he said.
The honourable Minister pledged continued liaison with the area Woman MP Hon. Medius Natukunda to ensure that water and electricity extension to Kimbugu is done expeditiously.
Development Prospects
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According to Mrs. Bugaari, the developers have the support they need and within two years, accommodation facilities should be up and set for tourists’ stay.
“We thank very much the Ministry of Tourism for the confidence they have put in us, we are stating from very little but with their support, we hope to go far. Beyond that, we are working with other partners especially in the tourism circuits of Bwindi, Kyenjonjo, Kisiizi among others to have tourists come here. Once the road is done, it will be a smoother sail,” she noted.
She added, “Once water and electricity extensions are done, we hope to make Kimbugu a worthy loop for tourists to consider in their itineraries.”
Training of life savers, kayak and boat operators is to start immediately.
Yesterday, the #MakoboreFamily & partners launched the #DaudiMakobore community initiative & water sports on Lake Kimbugu in Nyarushanje – Rukungiri, an event presided over Hon. @jkmuhwezi. The venture is aimed at empowering the community through tourism dev’t. @MTWAUganda pic.twitter.com/cpGcb29kjc
— Prime News (@PrimeNewsUg) March 31, 2024
Closure to a dark past
While Lake Kimbugu gave people like Dr. Innocent Nahabwe and Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo among other individuals experiences of a lifetime – skinny dipping and free swimming lessons – it’s no secret that the lake is no stranger to gut wrenching happenings.
Lake Kimbugu in my Ancestral place Nyarushanje Rubabo Rukungiri where I learnt swimming with out any costume. Memories banange!!! Uganda is beautiful country! Kigezi is some thing else! pic.twitter.com/EPpfafJtNA
— Dr Bitekyerezo Medard (Biteks) (@bitekyerezomed1) March 27, 2024
According to Julius Nuwamanya, the coordinator of the launch, the commencement of water sports means more security at the facility which will keep evils such as dumping of dead bodies in the lake at bay.
“There was a time in the past when people would wake up to a dead body on the lake. No one seemed to know who these bodies were or who brought them so with a new shift in management and operations, those evils will be history,” Nuwamanya said in an interview with UBC TV ahead of the launch.