Latest news with #MwangaII
DW
30-07-2025
- General
- DW
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.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Uganda army kills 2 after explosion reported in capital
KAMPALA: Uganda's army said it killed two 'armed terrorists' in the capital Kampala on Tuesday after reports of a bomb explosion ahead of the country's annual Martyr's Day celebrations. The authorities did not immediately confirm reports by NBS Television and other local media of an explosion near the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine. But army spokesman Chris Magezi posted on X that a 'counter-terrorism unit this morning intercepted and neutralized two armed terrorists in Munyonyo, an upscale city suburb'. He said security services were on 'heightened alert to ensure the Martyrs Day celebrations proceed without disruption'. Uganda marks Martyrs Day each June 3 to remember the killing of 45 Christian converts in the 1880s on the orders of Mwanga II, king of Buganda, which later became part of Uganda. The event draws huge numbers of pilgrims from across east Africa and beyond. Uganda, ruled by President Yoweri Museveni for almost 40 years, has faced persistent threats and attacks over the years from an array of actors, including some linked to the Islamic State group.
