Kitagata Hot Springs
Kitagata Hot Springs | |
|---|---|
  Kitagata Hot Springs Location in Uganda | |
| Coordinates: 00°40′42″S 30°09′38″E / 0.67833°S 30.16056°E | |
| Country |  Uganda |
| Region | Western Region |
| District | Sheema District |
Kitagata Hot Springs are natural hot springs in the Western Region of Uganda. The springs are said to have natural healing powers.[1]
Location
[edit]The hot springs are located on the Ishaka–Kagamba Road, in Sheema County, in Sheema District, Western Uganda, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) by road southeast of the town of Kitagata, one of the urban centers in the district, and approximately 62 kilometres (39 mi) by road west of Mbarara, the largest city in the sub-region.[2] The co-ordinates of Kitagata Hot Springs are 0°40'42.0"S, 30°09'38.0"E (Latitude:-0.678346; Longitude:30.160556).[3]
Overview
[edit]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.
Semi-naked men and women bathe in the warm waters of Kitagata Mulago, the spring believed to possess healing powers, sometimes as many as 200 in a day. The water in the springs can warm up to 80 °C (176 °F).[5]
The road to this place is marrum and is located near a large swamp. The scenery is breath-taking with conical hills and inselbergs characterized with beautiful green vegetation of trees and grass. During the rainy season, the River Ngaromwenda which supplies water to the springs, floods and causes the Kitagata springs to be warm rather than hot.[6]
Concern
[edit]Residents of Kitagata are concerned that the construction of the nearby Kagamba-Ishaka Road may harm the hot springs by exposing them to flooding.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Vision Reporter (24 February 2014). "The Healing Hot Springs". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Distance between Mbarara, Western Region, Uganda and Kitagata, Western Region, Uganda". Globefeed. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Location of Kitagata Hot Springs" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ "About Kitagata Hot Springs". MBC. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "Ugandan Hot Springs". Western Uganda Network. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- Wasswa, Ali (8 August 2013). "Patients flee Kitagata Hospital for magical hot springs". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 2 June 2016. - ^ Isingoma, John (11 January 2006). "The Healing Kitagata Springs Of Western Uganda". UG Pulse. Kampala. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Mugasha, Chris (8 January 2014). "Sheema cries to government over Kitagata Hot Spring". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
External links
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Capital: Kibingo | ||
| Counties and sub-counties | Sheema County |  |
| Towns and villages | ||
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