Kabaka's Lake
A hand-dug lake in Kampala, excavated on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in the 1880s.
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Kabaka's Lake at Ndeeba in Kampala was dug by hand on the orders of Mwanga II from 1885, intended as a channel connecting his palace to Lake Victoria so that he could reach the water without being seen, and possibly as an escape route. The project was abandoned unfinished, leaving a lake of around two hundred metres by a kilometre, which is generally described as the largest hand-excavated lake in Africa. It is now a fishing and recreation spot.
What you actually see
- The excavation - a lake dug entirely by hand from 1885 and never finished.
- The Mwanga scheme - the plan to connect the palace to Lake Victoria.
- The birdlife - waterbirds using the lake and its fringe.
- The recreation use - fishing, boating and a lakeside walk.
When to go
Year round; the lake is open in daylight hours. Weekends bring more visitors. The water level rises in the rains.
Honest expectations
The lake is not scenic and the surroundings are urban and in places untidy. There is little interpretation of the history. Facilities are basic.
Nearby
Mengo Palace is nearby, and Kampala centre is northeast.
What to pack for Kabaka's Lake
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
