At the foothills of mountain Rwenzori, Nyakasura village, Fort Portal Tourism City, Tooro region in western Uganda lies a wonder that for 100’s of years has puzzled locals and international tourists alike. Ekigere Kya Nyinamwiiru or Nyanamwiiru’s footprint.
According to mythology, Nyinamwiiru was a princess from the ancient Batembuzi Dynasty who were believed to be demigods and they were believed to disappear oftenly, the Batembuzi once ruled in this area, and suddenly vanished.
This foot imprint in the now solidified volcanic lava rock, is believed to have been hers.
“No one knows how it got here but it is believed that when she was running away from a forced marriage after refusing to marry the spouse who the father had chosen for her, she made one step in Nyakasura and the left footprint is found on a huge rock located in Ibaale which is over 15 Km’s apart.” Says Phenihas Katuramu the 80 year old tour guide at the Kigere Crater lake and Kigere site.
It is believed that she was a giant. She must have been one giant of a lady!! Or perhaps she stepped on molten magma?
Nyinamwiiru just took a step & the earth cracked.
A nearby Crater Lake named Kigere, meaning, “foot” is also shaped like a human foot.
To date, the foot stamp of Nyinamwiiru is located in Bukuku named after the great Batembuzi king Bukuku the father of Nyinamwiiru.