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Nabugabo beach: Masaka’s haven for relaxation
Tourists relax at Nabugabo Sand Beach in Masaka District. The beach gives revellers from in and outside the district a place to relax. Photo by Brian Mugyenyi
Children vending fruits such as jackfruit, mangos, sugarcanes, yellow bananas ‘ndizi’ and beverages placed on wooden stalls are a common sight on the murrum road to Mitema Village.
The mud houses along the road conjur an image of an ancient environment. However, when one reaches Nabugo Sand beach, they are ushered into a different world.
The stretch of greenery thanks to the trees and grass that make the compound of this getaway tacked in Masaka District.
Now 17 years old, the resort, located in Bukakata Sub-county, 23 Kms east of Masaka Town on the shores of Lake Victoria, is an attraction to locals and tourists to the district.
When my colleagues Viola Nakaweesi, Vincent Ssempijja, Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya, Julius Damba and Douglas Kizito visited the place, quite a number of revellers were indulging themselves.
While some were sitting under tree shades playing cards, others were playing with a ball, swimming, dinning and taking walks in the area.
The 5 acres getaway is popular especially during the festive season. According to Herman Kasozi, the manager, it’s a natural upcountry home for everyone.
“Nabugabo has environmental protection from its resources especially forests that surround it. The beach provides a cool atmosphere. The water is free from diseases such as Bilharzia, so tourists are not discouraged at all,” he says.
Martine Muyingo, a receptionist and waiter who has been at Nabugabo for six years, reveals that besides being strategically located, the fried fish cuisine served is a gem.
Activities such as canoeing competitions, motor rallying events, beach volleyball, beach football and fishing make for excitement.
Revellers can opt to camp on the site or sleep in the cottages. It’s an excellent place for family outings and bird watching is another hobby to enjoy. Creatures such as Chameleon, Monkeys, Egrets ‘enyange’, Blue swallow ‘akataayi’ and other birds of different kind, all sing to give a jovial atmosphere.
According to Vicent Ssempijja, a graduate in Social work and Social Administration at Kampala University, the place itself is kept clean, the view is nice with a number of birds and, it’s calm and thus a perfect place to rest.
“I fell in love with this place from day one. It has a beautiful scenery and clear topography,” says Ssempijja.
Erias Haruna, also coordinator for Middle East Consultants Ltd Masaka, says he enjoys camping at Nabugabo with friends because the place gives pleasure to natural resources and room to discuss future plans.
Lawrence Sserunjoji, a boat conductor at Nabugabo, said some of the revellers come to the place to relax and also enjoy boat riding.
He says everyday he rides more than 20 revellers six for every drive.
The place is also known for bringing lovers together since several of them use it as an ignition for courtship.
When seated in all corners of its complexes, words like ‘dear quell your fears, I love you so much’ can simultaneously flow instinctively to your love partner, as the serenely package of music fuzzes from the bar, few metres after water.
Sserunjoji considers that everyday people use it as an avenue for celebrating life’s successes such as birth, hunting, harvests, marriage and other initiation ceremonies.
“The weather here can arouse more emotions for your love partner,” Sserunjoji boldly said with a smile.
