Kitagata Hot Springs

Kitagata Hot Springs
Kitagata Hot Springs

Location in Uganda

Coordinates: UG 00°40′42″S 30°09′38″E / 0.67833°S 30.16056°E / -0.67833; 30.16056Coordinates: UG 00°40′42″S 30°09′38″E / 0.67833°S 30.16056°E / -0.67833; 30.16056
Country Uganda
Region Western Region
District Sheema District
Kitagata Hot Springs

Kitagata Hot Springs are natural hot springs in the Western Region of Uganda. The springs are believed to have natural healing powers.[1]

Location

The hot springs are located on the Ishaka–Kagamba Road, in Sheema County, in Sheema District, Western Uganda. This location is approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), by road, southeast of the town of Kitagata, one of the urban centers in the district. This location lies approximately 62 kilometres (39 mi), by road, west of Mbarara, the largest city in the sub-region.[2] The coordinates of Kitagata Hot Springs are 0°40'42.0"S, 30°09'38.0"E (Latitude:-0.678346; Longitude:30.160556).[3]

Overview

There are two hot springs adjacent to each other. According to the locals, one of the springs was used by the former Omugabe (King of Ankole) and is known as Ekyomugabe. The other spring is believed to have healing powers and is known as Mulago, after Uganda's largest National Referral Hospital.[4] Some locals drink the water.

On arrival to the site one will notice semi-nude men and women bathing in the warm waters of Kitagata Mulago, the one believed to possess healing powers. Many people bathe in the waters of Kitagata Mulago, sometimes as many as 200 in a twenty-four-hour period. The water in the springs can warm up to 80 °C (176 °F).[5][6]

The road to this place is marrum and is located near a large swamp. The scenery to the site is breath taking with conical hills and inselbergs characterized with beautiful green vegetation of trees and grass. During the rainy season, River Ngaromwenda, the river that supplies water to the springs floods thereby causing the kitagata springs to be rather warm other than hot.[7]

Concern

The residents of Kitagata are concerned that the construction of the nearby Kagamba-Ishaka Road, may have put the hot springs in harm's way by exposing them to flooding.[8]

See also

Photo

References

  1. ↑ Vision Reporter (24 February 2014). "The Healing Hot Springs". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Glbefeed.com (30 October 2016). "Distance between Mbarara, Western Region, Uganda and Kitagata, Western Region, Uganda". Globefeed.com). Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Google (2 June 2016). "Location of Kitagata Hot Springs" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ↑ MBC (2 June 2016). "About Kitagata Hot Springs". Mbendi.com (MBC). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  5. ↑ WUN (2 June 2016). "Ugandan Hot Springs". Western-Uganda.net (WUN). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Wasswa, Ali (8 August 2013). "Patients flee Kitagata Hospital for magical hot springs". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Isingoma, John (11 January 2006). "The Healing Kitagata Springs Of Western Uganda". Kampala: Ugpulse.com (UGPC). Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  8. ↑ Mugasha, Chris (8 January 2014). "Sheema cries to government over Kitagata Hot Spring". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
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