Kalangala District

Last updated
Kalangala District
District
Kalangala District in Uganda.svg
District location in Uganda
Coordinates: 00°26′S32°15′E / 0.433°S 32.250°E / -0.433; 32.250
CountryFlag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Region Central Uganda
Capital Kalangala
Area
 • Total
9,103.0 km2 (3,514.7 sq mi)
 • Land468.3 km2 (180.8 sq mi)
 • Water8,634.7 km2 (3,333.9 sq mi)
Elevation
1,240 m (4,070 ft)
Population
 (2012 Estimate)
 • Total
66,300
 • Density141.6/km2 (367/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Website www.kalangala.go.ug

Kalangala, also known as Ssesse, is a district in Central Uganda. The district is coterminous with the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria and does not have territory on mainland Uganda. Like other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kalangala which is located on Bugala Island, the largest of the Ssese Islands.To reach Kalangala town on Bugala island one has to board a boat at specified points (ports/landing sites) or use one of the Ferries sailing through the Bukakata-Luku route that joins the town with the mainland in Masaka District. There is also a relatively longer route that passes via Nakiwogo in Wakiso district to connect to Lutoboka on Bugala Island.

Contents

MV Ssese Portbell ferry, that transports people and goods between Kalangala District and Masaka District MV Ssese Portbell.jpg
MV Ssese Portbell ferry, that transports people and goods between Kalangala District and Masaka District

Location

Kalangala District is bordered by Mpigi District and Wakiso District to the north, Mukono District to the northeast and east, the Republic of Tanzania to the south, Rakai District to the southwest, Masaka District to the west and Kalungu District to the northwest. [1] The Kalangala district headquarters are located approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi), across water, southwest of Entebbe, in Wakiso District. [2] The coordinates of the district are: 00 26S, 32 15E.

Kalangala-Itanda offset falls(e).jpg Kalangala-Itanda offset falls(e).jpg
Kalangala-Itanda offset falls(e).jpg

Overview

Kalangala District covers an area of 9,103 square kilometres (3,515 sq mi), of which only 468.3 square kilometres (180.8 sq mi) (5.1%) is land and the rest is open water. The district is made up of eighty four widely scattered islands in the northwestern part of Lake Victoria of which only forty three are inhabited. The biggest island is Bugala Island which covers 296 square kilometres (114 sq mi) or 63.2% of the district land mass.

Population

The 1991 national population census estimated the district population at about 16,400. Eleven years later, the 2002 national census estimated the population of the district at approximately 34,800, with an annual population growth rate of 6.8%. In 2012, it was estimated that the population of Kalangala District was about 66,300. [3] [4]

The table below illustrates the growth trajectory of the district population during the first decade of the 21st century. All numbers are estimates. Kalangala District has the lowest population of all Ugandan Districts.

Kalangala District Population Trends
YearEst. Pop.
200234,800
200337,200
200439,700
200542,400
YearEst. Pop.
200645,300
200748,400
200851,700
200955,200
YearEst. Pop.
201059,000
201163,000

Economic activities

The three pillars of the district economy are: (a) fishing (b) tourism and (c) agriculture. The majority of the islanders depend a lot on fishing. The fishermen migrate following the seasonal movements of fish. Over fishing remains a concern.

Due to its location, its climate and its relative isolation, the district is a tourist magnet. Tourist facilities are rudimentary in most areas, although improvements in infrastructure (accommodations, road networks, communications, electricity supply, piped water etc.) are slowly improving.

Bidco Uganda, a private palm oil processor based in Jinja, maintains a controversial 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) palm oil plantation in the district. In addition, out grower farmers grow palm oil on contract with Bidco and sell their produce to the processor. [5]

Livestock farming and logging are other economic activities practiced in the district. As of May 2014, it was estimated that the livestock count in the district stood as follows: [6]

Land insecurity

According to Friends of the Earth International (FEI), Oil Palm Uganda Limited (OPUL) is involved in a long running dispute over land with local communities in Uganda. [7] OPUL is 93 percent owned by Bidco Uganda, which itself is a joint venture formed by Wilmar International, Josovina Commodities, and Bidco Africa. [7]

According to The Guardian in March 2015, the land grabbing issue has plagued the community of Kalangala for a number of years. In July 2011 residents awoke to "find yellow machines churning up ... land and razing the crops ... grown in a bid to make way for palm oil plantations." [8] According to FEI, the project implications include forced displacement, poor labour standards, deforestation, and insecurity, amongst others. [9] The community has taken the venture to court. [7]

David Balironda, the Kalangala district production officer, said he saw people being compensated. When asked why he had not objected to the inadequate compensation paid, he said: “It was their agreement with the landlord. These people were squatters on someone’s land. They agreed on the amount of money. ... I blame the NGOs; it is them amplifying people to rise up and demand for land even when they were compensated.” [8]

Climate of Kalangala

The climate in Kalangala is warm, muggy, and overcast. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 67°F to 79°F and is rarely below 65°F or above 83°F.

Based on the tourism score, the best time of year to visit Kalangala for warm-weather activities is from early June to mid September. [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Uganda District Map
  2. ↑ "Distance between Entebbe and Kalangala with Map". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Estimated Population of Kalangala District In 1991, 2002 & 2012". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Growth of Kalangala Population Worries District Authorities". Uganda Radio Network Online. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Basaalidde, Nelson (1 July 2012). "Bidco Has Transformed Kalangala". Independent (Uganda) . Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "The Economy of Kalangala District". Uganda Travel Guide. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "Ugandan oil palm conglomerate taken to court over land-grab claims". 19 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Ugandan farmers take on palm oil giants over land grab claims". TheGuardian.com . 3 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-06-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "Kalangala Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Uganda) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
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