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| Bujagali
Falls, Jinja, Uganda. |
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ten kilometres below Lake Victoria, Africa’s
largest lake and source of the River Nile, lie
the stunningly beautiful Bujagali Falls. Although
lacking a single massive drop of the kind that
generally earns waterfalls their fame, the Bujagali
are distinctive because of the sheer volume of
water cascading over the series of low rapids
that would otherwise be unremarkable. The luxuriant
vegetation covering the river banks and islands,
and the startling diversity of bird life attracted
by the multitude of fish, complete the stunning
vista. Water entering the White (or Victoria)
Nile – known locally as Omugga Kiyira –
from the Lake takes fully three months to flow
the 6400 km northwards to the Mediterranean Sea. |
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The
cascade that forms the first big step is called
Bujagali Falls, ‘Budhagali’ in Lusoga,
the language of the Busoga peoples who live in
this area on the east bank of the Nile. Here the
river is split into 7 channels and the roar of
a million litres of water per second, fills the
air. For thousands of years this site has been
visited by humans and the beauty of the place
is a big attraction. For many generations Bujagali
has been a sacred site for the Busoga people.
The Spirit of Bujagali is said by local residents
to be the site of a spirit, called the "Spirit
of Bujabald," who protects the community
by performing rituals at the falls. The spirit
is embodied in a man, Jaja Bujabald, who lives
next to the falls; he is the thirty-ninth person
to be the spirit. The more than 80-year-old man
works as a doctor preferably using local plants
and herbs. Lots of people report having seen him
walking over the water, indeed he seems to be
able to pass the falls where others don't dare
to go. He and many other traditional leaders want
to the site to be left free of further development
and they have established that the spirits will
not be shifted to make way for the proposed Bujagali
Dam. |
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A new dam is currently under construction.
Although it is called the Bujagali Dam it is to be located
two and a half kilometres downstream from the Bujagali.
The water will back up to a projected depth that will
take the flat water level halfway up the falls. This
means that the section that is currently rafted will
be below the new level as will 2 other major rapids
(Total Gunga and Big Brother/Silverback). It doesn’t
mean an end to the rafting but trips will have to start
further downstream and use sections of the river that
were previously only rafted on two day trips. Bujagali
Falls and the nearby area has become known as East Africa’s
centre for adventure. White water rafting is high on
many people’s list of things to do here. With
lots of good rapids (including some maximum class 5
ones) and a beautiful river with high volume Bujagali
is an ideal centre for rafting and adventure. There
are many very exciting sections but also space between
to lay back and float long taking in the scenery and
enjoying the wildlife, particularly the many species
of birds to be found here.
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