WATER SPORTS IN UGANDA

Uganda is not famous for its watersports, but there is a lot of water around and being so hot most afternoons, it is very refreshing to make use of the natural abundance of lakes and rivers.  The one very famous water-related activity center is just north of Jinja on theNile River.  Here the rapids are a big hit with the rafters; this area quite well known for the whitewater rafting.  And in the same place, there is an opportunity to go bungee jumping as well.

Lake Victoria is the second biggest inland fresh water lake in the world, after Lake Superior in North America.  The lake is bounded by Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South and West, and Uganda in the north and northwest.  The lake, as most in Africa, has bilharzia and although it is not totally infested with the snails that spread this rather serious disease, it is quite commonly found.  Despite this, swimming is very popular around the lake, and in the Kampala-Entebbe area alone, there are many beaches.  

A popular beach just one kilometer from the Entebbe International Airport is Lido Beach.  On the weekends this is a very busy party spot for the locals; everything from family-oriented gatherings to wild parties.  Ironically, here swimming is discouraged due to the prevalence of bilharzia.   The Imperial Resort Beach and the Imperial Botanical Beach, both maintained by the Imperial Beach Resort Hotel, are ideal for water sports and sunbathing.  Right behind the Lutembe wetlands, a well-known bird sanctuary and home to the white-winged terns, is Lutembe Beach.  This beach is public and there is no fee; it is clean and ideal for camping.  Bobi Wine, a popular Ugandan artist, owns One Love Beach in Busabala.  Here volleyball, sunbathing as well as boat cruises are the regular fare for One Love Beach.   In the upscale neighbourhood of Monyonyo, near the 5-star hotels and Martyrs’ Shrine, is Munyonyo Beach.  Here one can rent a speedboat or a canoe and visit Bullago and Chimp Islands.  Serena Resort Beach is in the Kigo District, is exclusively for the use of Hotel guests.  Again, this part of the lake is not recommended for swimming; for the guests of the hotel there is a large pool.  Another popular beach on Lake Victoria off Entebbe Road, is Spennah Beach.  Here on the weekends there are parties, weddings, fashion shows and sometimes music concerts on the beach.

The Ssese Islands are a group of 84 various sized islands off the coast of Entebbe in Lake Victoria.  The largest, Bugala, is the location of the largest urban center, Kalangala.  Here, at the eastern end of the island, at a place called Latobika, one can find a stretch of white sand beach, with a number of beach resorts scattered along the shoreline.  In better times, the islands were covered in a dense tropical rainforest with exotic birds, monkeys and even the occasional hippo and crocodile.  The forests have been replaced with palm oil plantations, but the beaches and resorts are still there.

In the West of Uganda, there sits the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi; and Lost Paradise Beach.  This is a quiet relaxing beach regularly visited for yoga and meditation.  Lake Bunyonyi poses no risk of bilharzia, and has no hippos or crocodiles, hence one of the few places in Uganda that is ideal for swimming.   The lake has many interesting small islands to visit; this can be done by canoe or by motor boats.