HOT SPRINGS IN UGANDA 

KITAGATA HOTSPRING      

                                                                                                           

The Kitagata Hot Springs are located in Sheema District, Western Uganda. They are approximately 1.5 kilometres by road, east of Kitagata urban center in Sheema District.

The springs are also about 72 kilometres west of Mbarara Town. They are two hot springs adjacent to each Ekyomugabe and Mulago. The springs are 350 km from Kampala City.

The hot springs are commonly known as ‘Mulago Hot Spring’ as they are believed by local people to have healing powers.’ Mulago’ means hospital.   On a daily basis, so many people with different ailments flock to the springs to bathe in the warm water.  The water in the springs can warm up to 80 °C (176 °F). It is estimated that about 800 people visit the springs per week.

Vegetation and scenery

The scenery around the springs includes conical hills and beautiful green vegetation of trees and grass.

Source of water

River Ngaromwenda supplies water to the springs.

Rules

In order to ensure orderliness and hygiene at site of the spring the following rules have been put in place by the local leaders:

·         No fighting, no  making  noise,  no smoking and no use soap;

·         Children have to be dipped in dressed in their nappies.

Minerals

The water from springs has been found to contain varying amounts of minerals and chemicals which are known to have medicinal values in them. The minerals and chemicals include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, lithium sulphate, calcium sulphate, calcium phosphate and magnesium chloride among others

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SEMULIKI FEMALE AND MALE HOT SPRINGS

The rich story behind Semuliki's female and male hot springs

Most of the locals know the hot springs as Sempaya which originated from a Kiswahili phrase Sehemu mbaya (the difficult side) owing to the steep challenging rocks and terrain during the construction of the Fort Portal Bundibugyo road along the ridges of the Rwenzori Mountains.

While the scientists have a technical explanation to the origins of the hot springs, the indigenous Bamaga clan neighbouring the tourist attraction in Semuliki National Park have their own story from the folk lore.

According to Mzee Adonia Balinsanga the head of the Amiga clan, the site of the steaming male hot spring is historical. It is said the Bamaga women had gone to fetch firewood from the forest when they sighted a hairy man dressed in bark cloth wielding a spear and with dog moving in a zig-zag formation around that location. The women ran back home to tell their husbands who decided to pick and take him to their homes and subsequently got him a wife from the same village.

The said man who later became known as Biteete, continued hunting but one time never returned home. After three days, the men went out to search for him and at the present day male hot spring they only found a spear but no traces of the man nor his dog. It was assumed he had disappeared from the same spot ad they ran back to tell the wife (Nyansimbi) who also ran to the forest never to return. In the subsequent search, only her clothes were found at the present day female hot spring. This was how the two springs became to be known as the male and female hot springs and to-date the Bamaga believe their female ancestors live beneath the female hot spring while their male ancestors live at the male spring.

This is why the Bamaga perform annual rituals at the springs to appease their ancestors and the national park allows them access.

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RWAGIMBA HOTSPRING

Hot springs are one of the natural attractions tourists can explore while on Uganda safaris. With many found across the country, you don’t have to leave without visiting at least one of them. There are different hot springs found within the Albertine Rift within Rwanda and Uganda and the interesting thing about them is that they are believed to possess healing powers.

Western Uganda presents the magnificent Rwagimba hot spring worth visiting due to their interesting appearance and the legends surrounding it. You should add it on your bucket list and your safari will be complete.

The site occupied by the hot springs is situated within Kibiito sub-county, Kabarole district in western Uganda. Rwagimba hot springs are found on River Rwimi which divides Kasese and Kabarole districts.  While here, you don’t have to visit hot spas as it is done in the urban centers because lying in the warm waters is a hot spa itself and helps visitors to get rid of wastes; hence many locals visit the site to cure a number of infections.

To many of us Rwagimba hot spring is like any other natural attraction while to the people of Toro Kingdom, this site is very significant to their culture and heritage because the King or (Omukama) used to visit the hot springs and spent days as a way of rejuvenating himself.

In the past, Rwagimba hot springs were only used by the king and Chiefs of Toro Kingdom. The Monarch would be lifted by strong men (his subjects) on their shoulders to spend days lying in the warm waters to get rid of wastes and infections.

Not only that, even sick livestock (especially sheep, cows and goats) are taken to this natural site for healing. Some of the tourist activities to enjoy at this site include nature walks/trekking to the surrounding Hills and ranges of the Rwenzori Mountains, Bathing in the Rwagimba Hot springs and Camping close to the breathtaking site among others.

How to Access Rwagimba Hot Springs

One of the preferred routes for reaching this site is Kampala-Mubende-Fortportal, hence you can use public transport especially buses from Kampala. From Fortportal, you will need to get a special hire Taxi or boda boda to take you to this magnificent site.

Alternatively, tourists can get buses heading to Kasese from Kampala. You can use Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi-Kasese then branch off at Nyakigumba Trading Center, at approximately 25 kilometers on Fort Portal-Kasese Road and then drive for another 7 kilometers until Kinyampanika Primary School within Katebwa Sub-county where you will stop with your car.

From this place, you will be required to hike to these spectacular Hot springs through the steep rolling Hills. Much as it is considered longer and less preferred, you will get to marvel at different attractions including the Hills that reward tourists with the breathtaking views of the surrounding areas and verdant vegetation.

Besides Rwagimba hot springs, tourists on Uganda safaris can visit other hot springs that include Amoropii hot springs within Nebbi district, Kibiro hot springs, Sempaya hot springs within Bundibugyo district, Kitagata hot springs in Bushenyi, Buranga hot springs and Ihimba hot springs among others.

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BURANGA HOT SPRINGS

Africa, Uganda, Western Region, Bundibugyo District, Bwamba County, Semuliki National Park

Alternate names:

Sempaya Hot Springs, Sempaya Geysers

Some of the most amazing hot springs in East Africa are Buranga Hot Springs. Currently here are flowing 37 springs which receive the geothermal heat from the deep faults of East African Rift System. One of the springs - Mumbuga spring - is a perpetual spouter - a permanent small fountain.

LOWLAND RAINFOREST

Buranga springs are located close to Ruwenzori Mountains, at the base of Bwamba escarpment. This remote corner of Uganda is covered with the only remaining East African lowland tropical rainforest. This forest is especially rich with species - here meet animals and plants of western and eastern tropical Africa.

THREE GROUPS OF HOT SPRINGS

Buranga springs have formed their own small ecosystems in this lush forest attracting numerous birds (due to swamps around the springs) and animals (due to salt coming out from the depths of Earth). In the springs have been found endemic microorganisms - two previously unknown strains of thermophilic Geobacillus bacteria.

MUMBUGA ERUPTING SPRING / SARAHEMCC,FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

There are three separate groups of springs, located some 700 m from each other.

Nyansimbe spring (Nyasinbi, tourist guides call it - male pool) has formed a swamp and is accessible only in dry season. This spring has developed a carbonate cone with clear pool of hot water (86°C) in it. Pool has a diameter of 30 m, depth is more than 5 m. Flow rate is 15 l/s.

Mumbuga springs (Mubunga, named female pools by tourist guides) are numerous hot springs in area 60 x 40 m, all springs are depositing carbonates. These springs also can be accessed in dry season. One spring has built 1.5 m tall travertine cone with terraces. Water here forms some 50 cm high fountain, rising above the pool. Water is bubbling and emanating gases. Flow rate of these springs is 6.5 l/s. Temperature of spring reaches 98.4°C.

ANOTHER HOT SPRING, BURANGA HOT SPRINGS / SARAHEMCC, FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

Kagoro springs are the southernmost. They take an area of 50 x 15 m, enclosed by rainforest. Here the springs also have built up to 1.5 m high travertine cones. At the base of the largest travertine cone are Sulphur deposits - the only ones in Buranga. Temperature of water is 60 - 91° C.

RIFT AND EARTHQUAKES

Geothermal activity of Buranga springs is linked to the tectonic activity of rift (Albertine graben - part of the East African Rift System). The hot water here might be rising along the active faults of Earth crust.

Scientists have noticed that after each earthquake hot springs are changing. It happens that some of the older springs