30-07-2025
Uganda's spiritual and ecological sanctuaries – DW – 07/30/2025
Sacred sites like Kabaka's Lake and Ssezibwa Falls preserve cultural and spiritual heritage in Uganda - and are home to unique and fragile ecosystems.
Nestled at the edge of Kampala, Kabaka's Lake is more than a historical landmark—it's a living bridge between culture and ecology. Created in 1886 by King Mwanga II of Buganda, it now serves as a spiritual symbol for the Baganda people. Every day, Lameck Kalule removes garbage from the lake, driven not by a wage but by reverence for his king. In return, the lake fosters biodiversity, offering refuge to open-billed storks, marabou birds, and egrets, all thriving in its rain-fed waters. Kalule's quiet stewardship shows how sensing a spiritual connection with nature can lead to conservation.
🛡️ How Ugandan sacred sites how helping to preserve nature
Kabaka's Lake is not the only example. Thirty kilometers east, the Ssezibwa Falls echo a similar harmony between nature and culture. Steeped in legend—where twin rivers are said to have sprung from a woman's womb—the falls are guarded by spiritual caretaker Mubiru Basaawa. Certain trees here are protected by ancient taboos, believed to carry irreversible consequences if felled. Environmental scientist Mary Therese Kaggwa views such beliefs as nature's insurance policy, turning sacred landscapes into de facto conservation zones and even biodiversity banks that could support future restoration efforts.
Beyond myth and ritual, these sites are increasingly used to educate the next generation. Students visiting Ssezibwa Falls are confronted with both environmental decay and resilience, learning how spiritual reverence can translate into practical action. As student Timothy Balukalo notes, forests absorb carbon dioxide—an essential fact often overlooked until seen firsthand. UNESCO also acknowledges that identity, pride, and spirituality can galvanize conservation efforts. In places where legislation falters, culture steps in, proving that the path to preservation may lie not in lawbooks, but in stories, rituals, and hearts.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.
