Kalangala

The Kalangala District comprises of a group of islands known as the Ssesse Islands. These islands are in Lake Victoria, set off the Ugandan coast. They are accessed by a passenger ferry which goes to and from the main island of Bugala once a day from Entebbe. This leaves the mainland at 2pm and returns at 8am.

I went to Bugala on 8th June with my friend Joy. Visiting the island out of season was like visiting a holiday resort out of season. It was very quiet and tranquil and the hotels seemed reluctant to take us. But the nature sightings were excellent and i was able to get close to the monkeys and many various birds which inhabited the island.



This is what I learnt from our tour guide:

The islands are known for a pandemic in the early 20th century which required the islands to be evacuated. The pandemic was caused by blood sucking flies known as the ssesse flies which gave people a sleeping illness. Monkeys were introduced onto the island in the 1930s as a test to see if they flies had left. The monkeys survived and the people gradually returned. The primates now live in harmony with the people although they are under threat from the arrival of palm oil industrialists who kill the monkeys that trouble their land.

Joy said there seemed to be a lot less around than the last time he was there, two years ago.

One of the main health problems in Uganda is HIV but I was told that the island suffers a relatively higher proportion than the rest of the country. 1 in 7 suffer from HIV and the district does not have a hospital.  Our guide who took us on a nature walk showed us around a project he runs to help children with HIV.

NB: The ferry that I took recently capsized killing nearly all the passengers.


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