The Buganda Kingdom has appealed to residents living around Kabaka’s Lake in Ndeeba to protect and preserve the historic water body, following concerns over increasing pollution and neglect.
The Kingdom's Minister for Heritage and Culture, Dr. Anthony Wamala, made the appeal while meeting a group of traditional healers and herbalists led by Tondizimu Faith, who have joined the Kingdom's ongoing campaign to restore the lake.
Kabaka’s Lake is one of Buganda’s most important tourist attractions and a significant cultural heritage site in both Buganda and Uganda. However, officials warn that without urgent intervention, the lake risks deteriorating beyond recovery.
Authorities say encroachment by nearby residents has contributed significantly to the lake's degradation, with some reclaiming sections of the shoreline, while others have turned parts of the lake into grazing grounds for livestock.
The Kingdom also noted that drainage channels, particularly the one carrying water from the Katanja area, lack proper waste traps, allowing garbage to flow directly into the lake.
Recently, Dr. Wamala launched a civic campaign aimed at restoring Kabaka’s Lake and reaffirmed that efforts to return the site to its former glory are already underway.
Speaking during the clean-up exercise, Dr. Wamala urged communities surrounding the lake to take responsibility for maintaining its cleanliness.
"We appeal to all residents around Kabaka's Lake to keep it clean. Many people continue to dump waste into the lake, yet it is a treasured cultural and tourism site that belongs to all of us," Dr. Anthony Wamala said.
He also revealed that some individuals have illegally encroached on the lake's land, adding that the Kingdom is following the necessary legal procedures to recover and protect the affected areas.
"Some people have taken over parts of the lake's land, but we are pursuing the appropriate measures to ensure the Kingdom regains and safeguards this property," Dr. Wamala added.
The delegation of traditional healers and herbalists, led by Ssaabakabona Jjumba Lubowa Aligaweesa, pledged to support the restoration initiative, saying the cultural importance of Kabaka’s Lake could not be ignored.
"Considering the significance of Kabaka's Lake in our cultural heritage, we cannot sit back while it deteriorates. We are committed to supporting its restoration," Jjumba Lubowa Aligaweesa said.
The group also congratulated Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II upon marking his 32nd Coronation Anniversary, saying they had organized traditional prayers in his honour.
Volunteers participating in the exercise removed heaps of garbage that had accumulated along the lake's shores, with organizers promising to deploy trucks to remove silt from the lake and construct a protective fence to prevent further encroachment.
Chairperson of the Save Kabaka's Lake Committee, Ahmed Lumu Yusuf, said the campaign would continue until the lake is fully restored.
"We will not relent until Kabaka's Lake is restored to its original state," Ahmed Lumu Yusuf said.
The Buganda Kingdom has called upon individuals, companies, and organizations to join the restoration campaign and contribute towards preserving one of the Kingdom's most treasured historical landmarks
