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Bigo Byamugenyi - Worthy To Visit Uganda Safari Destination
Bigo Bya Mugenyi is among the few Cultural Sites associated with the Chwezi dynasty that led to the foundation of Kingdoms in Uganda, a small but beautiful country in Africa. Located in the less known Sembabule District, Central Uganda, the tourist destination has been less visited given that it is not found in the main tourist trail of Uganda.
At the site, there are two-tree pinnacles that welcome you to the about 350 hectare expanse. A journey leading to this adventurous site is quite a memorable and rewarding journey. To reach this site, Bigobyamugenyi is a long distance through a thick forest.
To get to the site, one has to pass through a bouncy and winding road , fighting off shrubs to clear our way to the site, indeed an Adventerous Uganda Safari !
At the site, Jajja Mugenyi, the Destination Guide, tells travellers about the historical events that have shaped this Chwezi site yet to be developed as a tourism destination. He adds that the gods would deliberately cause floods to close off the area whenever they (gods) were in recess, or when they had converged.
Bigobyamugenyi, is a place believed to have harboured the Chwezi around 1500A.D. It derives its name from what the forested enclosure of trees around the former Chwezi palace. There are two-tree pinnacles that welcome you to the about 350 hectare expanse. "There are a number of medicinal plants and trees here but you are requested not to pluck them without prior permission, indeed a great ecotourism guideline!. At the site, spiritual healing takes place as guests mainly locals, come to seek for cure and blessings, a practice that was common before the introduction of christianity in Uganda.
Further away from here are two cleared routes. Whereas the subjects moved through the forested area, the Chwezi kings moved through the two tracks, which were not to be used by residents except when the king authorises. The routes are located a few metres outside the king's compound surrounded by ditches, probably as a security measure to stop intruders from accessing the palace.
Further north, it is also closed off by River Katonga. Just above the river and far away from the main compound are historical stones where the kings would hold their meetings. The king's compound is characterised by cultural royal regalia such as old spears fixed upright. There are also shields and huts that dot the compound. At the entrance are two huts that were formerly occupied by the kings' soldiers - locally referred to as the Wankaki.
Found in the compound are a number of local fire places, each representing one of the kings' kinsmen with their respective spiritual functions. Mugenyi, who claims to be a descendant of the Chwezi, took his name after one of the kings. Folk tale is that King Mugenyi invited Wamara, who was famous for his miraculous performances. "He is believed to have been a demi-god with supernatural powers," Lutasandagwa who had sons, Kato and Kakuru, was one of his chiefs.
Out of the compound is a ditch locally called Luzi lwa Ssalongo (Ssalongo's well), where worshippers pray and make offerings. Before reaching this well, tourists are instructed to remove their shoes at this spot. Just a stone's throwaway, is Enkomi ya bachwezi, a cyclical compound where the Chwezi are believed to have one of their most important assets, the cattle. Mugenyi says it was put up by Chwezi king Ndahura. In there are hoof prints of his favourite cow, Bihogo. Just next to it is a hole where the bachwezi are believed to have kept their treasure box that Mugenyi alleges had gold and silver the kings acquired from their war expeditions. Mugenyi says the hole signifies the dig-up by the whites from Portugal who stole the treasure.
About the Author
The Author is a Tourism Scholar in Uganda, Working With Uganda Travel Information Centre. For more information on Uganda, Travel articles on Uganda Safaris, Gorilla Tours,Travel Guidelines, catch up with him.
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new power pack or dirty loco/track ?
I have a railpower 1300 from MRC for my nscale trian layout, and a kato locomotive. I have been having a problem with the locomotive not moving at lower speeds but at higher speeds it does fine. Is this a power pack probelm or a conductivity problem.
I would FIRST, clean the wheels of the locomotive and the track. ALSO check to make sure all the joints between tracks are secure.
I clean the track with a "bright-boy" block (like a hard rubber eraser) in my yards and spurs, and use a cleaning car for mainlines : http://www.aztectrains.com/pages/TrackClean-NZ.html
I can't find a GOOD picture / source of a locomotive wheel cleaner other than this: http://www.internettrains.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IT&Product_Code=MRK-T66623&Category_Code=NSCLOCWLCMRK&Featured=
GOOD Luck and ALWAYS remember that track maintenance is one of the BIG jobs on a layout