Kasese district, home to the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, has more to offer than wildlife, birds, crater lakes, and mountains. Hot springs are one of the magnificent geothermal treasures this district, or Uganda in general, offers to tourists that visit the country.
Kiwa Heritage Hot Springs is one of the hidden geothermal springs in Kasese District, western Uganda; hence, few tourists know or even visit the site. Kiwa Heritage was founded as a community-based organisation in 2013 to provide numerous services, including a swimming pool at the hot springs, among others.
The path towards Kiwa Heritage includes a small path past a hilly area aligned with bamboo trees and ravines. One must pay entrance fees ranging from 3000 to 5000 Ugandan shillings to access the site at the reception, and the low rates make it more attractive, resulting in local tourism among residents. Tourists engage in all kinds of activities, especially on the weekend, and these include;
- Swimming in the hot springs. Guests swim in the hot springs while others play volleyball at the banks of the Nyamwamba River, which offers magnificent views of the wonderful river with ragged flood plain, thousands of giant rocks, and rapids.
- There is also a large fishpond near the Kiwa Heritage hot springs, allowing tourists to relieve stress and participate in fishing.
- Tourists can visit the Bukangama Community Museum, which stores and displays the cultures, histories, and cultural items of the different communities of the Rwenzori sub-region.
- Tourists can also enjoy both hard and soft drinks, including the real Kasese waragi and Tonto, which is fermented locally from bread made from bananas and cassava commonly referred to as Ebbwanga in the Lhukonzo language, and Amatsayidongo, prepared from fresh maize.
- The medicinal value of the water from the hot springs at Kiwa Heritage is also another reason why it is sought. The waters are believed to help heal some ailments, including obesity and wounds, according to the residents of that place.
- Kiwa Heritage organises native cultural dances of Ekikebi, traditional folk songs, and local cultural food dishes for tourists to get a feel of the Bakonzo traditional recipes and cooking experience.
- The site also has a stone preserved for Uganda’s legendary singer, the late Mowzey Radio, of the internationally known music duo Radio and Weasel. This was one of the places Mowzey Radio last visited before his death, leaving lots of memories. Some scenes near Kiwa Heritage Hot Springs were captured in a video of his last recorded song, “Tambula nange.”
Make it a point to visit Kiwa Heritage Site on your next trip to Uganda for a fun-filled adventure.