River Nile
This is the father of African rivers doubling also as the world’s longest river. It journeys 6,650km before reaching Egypt and the Mediterranean where it empties.
It is a lifeline for agriculture and consequently human survival in Egypt. The Nile has two sources; the White Nile and Blue Nile which flow from Lake Victoria near Jinja and from Tana in Ethiopia.
Sprinting out of Lake Victoria in Jinja is the Victoria Nile. The Victoria Nile is the stretch of the Nile that flows through southern Uganda.
It continues northward to swampy Lake Kyoga, turns west over Murchison Falls- Murchison Nile, and empties into Lake Albert, and the Albert Nile then proceeds to Sudan on its long journey. It runs northward through Lake Kyoga turning west and flowing into Lake Albert.
It emerges out of L. Albert as the Albert Nile also called Mobutu Nile-lol. It runs on to Nimule at the Uganda-South Sudan border and once in South Sudan it is referred to as the Mountain Nile. It calabashes, whistles and lots of ululations allowing it to join the Blue Nile all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
At the source, the White Nile, besides the sights several exhilarating water sports are undertaken such as kayaking besides others.
Our country has been associated with the Nile for years that it even appears on our Coat of Arms. The blue lines at the bottom of the Coat of Arms is the River Nile.
Murchison Nile
It’s an energetic river that powers the mighty placid stream that flows peacefully across the rift valley floor to seep through a papyrus delta into Lake Albert. Murchison Falls. However, the final plunge over the falls drains the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad and main attraction is sport fishing.
It is home to some gargantuan Nile Perch that tip the scales to over 100kg. Regular competitions held here attract anglers from all over the world.
The thrill of the sport no doubt is from the satisfaction of a worthy specimen but even the heightened anticipation and suspense do lend to it
River Semiliki
It’s very spectacular. It meanders like a silver snake. It is fairly long and empties into Lake Albert. After leaving Lake Edward, the river journeys through dense forest and tumbles down a series of rapids, then open savannah grasslands and meandering even more, as it approaches and reaches Lake Albert. About 400 bird species call this river basin home.
River Katonga the longest one of the rivers that flow wholly within Uganda is 220km long and starts its graceful dance at Lake Victoria flowing northward into Lake Wamala and then westward emptying itself into Lake George.
Over 40 species of mammals and 150 species of birds call the Katonga basin their home. In this river basin you will commonly see elephants, water-buck, reed-buck, colobus monkey and the river otter.
River Kafu the second longest river flowing wholly in Uganda. It dances and changes beat along its journey as it flows through the districts of Luwero, Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Hoima and Masindi emptying itself into the Victoria Nile at Masindi Port. This river has got two tributaries; River Mayanja and River Lugogo.
The adventurer is sure to see one or more of the following in the Kafu river basin; the East African Sitatunga, East African Bush Duiker, East African Bohor Reed-buck, Nile Bush-buck, Uganda Defassa Water-buck, Common Oribi, bush pig and the leopard.
River Sezibwa our third longest river wholly in Uganda is an interesting one. Local legend in Buganda has it that a woman- Nakkungu Tebatuusa gave birth to twins but they were rivers… I know; right? The younger one Bwanda took the obstacle free path and flowed eastward to his mother’s village.
The older twin flowed west and overcame, more like defied a number of obstacles. A local saying sizibwa kkubo to mean no obstacle can stop me from moving along was used to refer to this river.
One of the obstacles it flowed over are the Sezibwa Falls. The cultural attachment to this river really impress many making it a strong Buganda cultural site not to be missed out on your safari to Uganda.