Mayuge Cultural Site | Lake Victoria Basin Heritage

Mayuge cultural site: Mayuge district is located in Eastern Uganda,it was declared a district after the elevation of Bunya county from Iganga district. It was named after it’s principal town,”Mayuge”. Mayuge district is boardered by other districts in Jinja to the West,Iganga district to the north, Bugiri district to the north-east, Namayingo district to the east, the Democratic republic of congo to the South.  It also composes the Busoga kingdom. Mayuge district also sits near the famous Lake Victoria, it also has protected national forest reserve. The people in Mayuge speak Lusoga as their main language.

Mayuge district is blessed with many islands, they include; Seguti, Dagusi, Vumba, Kaza, Nambuga and Simu, these have become homes to fishermen since fishing is one of the economic activities there.

Mayuge district is blessed with cultural sites that have attracted tourists from all over the country and world. They include;

The rocks of Kyando

The rocks of Kyando are a memorial site for Bishop James Hannington, rocks were shaped at Kyando in Mayuge district. Each year Christian travelers from Busoga Diocese meet at Kyando rocks to remember the day when Bishop James Mannington was murdered while he was preaching the world of God to the believers then.

The road to Mayuge district is a bit rough and dusty, it having acres of sugarcane plantations along the road, big trucks being loaded with the sugarcane are lined up along it, this makes the safari more interesting. They Journey is about 20km from from Mayuge main town to Kyando rocks. The place is among the first and also present persecution site in Uganda.

There are no  many local guides at the site, the story is told by the natives who were also narrated to by the their elders about what seemed to have happened to Bishop James Hannington. The narration of the story about the death of Bishop Hannington is told by a lot of sympathy , some say he was a very well behaved saint who was sent from heaven to save the world.  The important spots are explained using sign posts that were designed to make it easy for the tourists identify them.

Bishop Hannington was misunderstood by the Kabaka Mwanga who was worried of the Bishop’s teachings, the Kabaka thought his throne was being threatened by the Bishop and his Followers. The matter of fact that Christianity was growing so fast also was a major threat to the kabaka and his people too. He immediately ordered for the Bishop’s arrest and elimination, the Bishop was mistreated during his arrest until the day he was martyred. The staunch believers made it a point to remember the great Bishop Hannington by stone marking the point of his maytr, the stone is even protected in an iron-sheet shaped hut downhill to the kyando rock.

Downhill of the Kyando rock is where the spot where bishop Hannington was killed and mistreated though there more spots that were demarcated and explain something in line with Bishop Hannington.

The Bishop is said to have lived in a cave which is also found on the Kyando hill, it is said to have been his bedroom. The tree fence marking towards the cave makes it easy to identify it. The Bishop’s preaching spot was a painted rock which was across his bedroom. Under a rock that stands on a platform is said to have been his library. It is believed he researched and read his pastoral work. There is another cave where the Bishop is said to have been martyred from.

Just nearer to the shrine is a well amended spring. It is believed to have been Bishop Hannington drinking water point.

Waluumbe caves.

The walumbe caves as they are called are belived to be the free stage for soldiers  of the World war 1. Located in Mayuge district, the caves are a good point not to miss out on your safari pack. The local natives narrate well what the elders also told them about the caves.

Bukaleeba Hill

Bukaleeba hill is said to have been the headquarters of chief Luba. Chief Luba was then the chosen chief. The hill was also said to have been the headquarter of Busoga chiefdom.

The channel at Kityerera

This was located near the state Lodge. The tunnel was used to assemble slaves and lined under close monitoring by the colonial masters before they were moved to overseas.

Nduwa Beach and Hill

Located in Malongo sub-county, it was the operation center for the NRA Bush war

Buswikira Shrines

Located in Mpungwe sub-county, Buswikira shrines are believed to have been the birth place of the first Muganda man, Kintu.

Mayuge district has hidden tourism sites that with time will become a basic route for tourists. With the Islands , The cultural sites, Mayuge district has a very boosted agricultural potential because of it’s soil fertility and favourable climate.Agriculture in the district is on the subsistence level, they grow Maize,Cassava,Groundnuts,Cocoa,Cotton,Coffee,Beans,Sweet potatoes,Millet,Simsim,Sunflower,Tomatoes,Passion fruit,Onions,CabbageFishing is another high-value activity practiced in the district. This activity is the largest income earner in the district, the common fish caught are; Nile Perch, Tilapia, Rargentae (Mukene), Clarias (Cat fish) and Protopterus (Lung fish).