The Reptiles Village in Uganda

The Reptiles Village in Uganda : is generally one of the fun and most exciting places to visit while on Entebbe city tour ranking it one of Entebbe’s popular attractions. It is located north of Entebbe in Bunono village just a short drive from Abaita Ababiri along Entebbe–Kampala highway.  This is also one of the best places for tourists with snake phobia since it will not only blow your mind but also take away your fears. Also known as the snake park, this reptile village is basically a home to over 20 reptile species. The Uganda reptile village also educates about the importance of many other natural resources such as swamps, water bodies and forests which are important in saving these threatened reptiles.

Background 

The place was established in the year 2002 by a Ugandan called Yasin Kazibwe. He was formerly a speed boat captain however, had good knowledge about reptiles and a passion of saving them. The reason to its establishment was to sensitize and educate the community about the importance of wildlife. Thereby, teaching them how to protect and conserve the reptiles and their importance to the future generation. He sought permission to start a reptile project which was approved under government community-based poverty eradication project.

Furthermore, he has published different documents about reptiles including a book titled snake bite. The reptiles village is a home to approximately 50 reptile species with 20 species on the display in the premises of this village. In fact, some of the reptiles in the village were rescued from harm’s way and given a safe home for them to stay. Some of the reptiles here include; Forest cobra, Gabon viper, tortoises, Nile monitor, Leopard tortoise. Jackson’s chameleon, boom slangs, Cobras, skinks, African rock python, Monitor lizards, Mambas, Viper lizards, puff adders, etc.

What to do at the Reptile village

Today, the Uganda reptile village is flooded with people such as animal researcher’s and students who love and are interested in reptiles. This is due to the fact that it is the first haven for conservation of reptiles in the country. This is one of the unique areas in Uganda where you have a chance to see the care takers play a round with snakes that you would not expect to be friendly. Regardless of how poisonous some of these reptiles are, they know how to handle them, making it a unique experience.

You will also get a golden opportunity of lifting the African python snake. However, it’s done in the presence of a well-trained supervisor. The reptile village has got other attractions such as the two basins; one with different tortoise species and the other with non-climbing reptile species. There is also a point where you will be able to watch camouflaging chameleons. It also consists of a swamp that is a habitat to many other reptiles and primates. These include; the blue monkeys, vervet monkeys not to mention but a few. The swamp also hosts a number of birds for bird lovers. It also harbors different fish species thereby leading to sport fishing as one of the activities here. Canoeing as well is one of the activities that you should not miss out when you visit this place.

How to get there

The reptiles village can be accessed 4 kilometers off the Kampala–Entebbe highway. The entry fee to this place is affordable. However, tourists who would like to join the conservation can donate in the box within this place. It is open to visitors 7 days a week from 8am to 6pm including public holidays. There are various accommodation within Entebbe where tourists can sleep and they vary from budget, mid-range and luxurious accommodation.

The Uganda Martyrs Massacre

The Uganda Martyrs Massacre : These are a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda. In fact, they were executed between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887. As a matter of fact, they were killed on orders of Mwanga II who was the Kabaka (King) of Buganda. The deaths took place at a time when there was a three-way religious struggle for political influence at the Buganda royal court. It was also done because of the various people of Buganda who were converting to Christianity. As a result, they were forced to abandon their faith in Christianity which they refused to do and Kabaka ordered for their killing. 

Celebrating the Uganda Martyrs

The Catholic Church beatified the 22 Catholic martyrs of its faith in 1920 and canonized them in 1964. Note that; their lives are celebrated by the whole world on 3rd June every year. Here, people from different areas pay pilgrimage to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine which was put in place in commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs. Later, the shrines were constructed at Namugongo site for people to conduct prayers. Besides, the shrine is one of the historical, religious and most sites to visit during a Kampala City Tour.

The massacre of the Uganda Martyrs 

Mwanga massacred the Anglican missionary Bishop James Hannington and his colleagues in October 1885. Later, Joseph Mukasa, an important member of the royal household and a Catholic, reproached the kabaka for the massacre. As a result, on November 15 of that year, Mwanga had Mukasa beheaded. Mwanga, having learned that they had received religious instruction from the page Denis Ssebuggwawo, he ordered that all the youths be arrested.

Death of the Pages

Charles Lwanga who was Mukasa’s successor, secretly baptized those boys who had only been catechumens. However, the following day they were herded away to the village of Namugongo. Three of them; Pontian Ngondwe, a soldier, the royal servants Athanasius Bazzekuketta and Gonzaga Gonza were murdered en route. Mwanga continued his persecution, destroying Protestants and Roman Catholic missionaries alike. The page Jean Marie Muzeyi was also beheaded on January 27, 1887. All the survivors, as recorded by Father Lourdel, superior of the Roman Catholic mission to Uganda, were imprisoned for a week with the exception of Mbaga-Tuzinde.  Later, he was bludgeoned by his own father, the pages were burned alive on June 3, 1886.

Names of the Uganda martyrs

  • Yusuf Rugarama, Baanabakintu Lukka, Buuzabalyawo Yakobo, Kakumba Makko, Sserwanga Nuwa, Lwakisinga Mukasa. Lwanga, Nakabandwa Danieri, Balikuddembe Mukasa, Mukasa Musa, Bazzekuketta Antanansio, Gonza Gonzaga, Lwanga Karoli. Tuzinde Mbaga, Kadoko Alexanda, Mubi-Azaalwa, Munyangabyangu Robert, Gyaviira ,Kiuuka Ambrosio. Kiriggwajjo Anatoli ,Kiriwawanvu Mukasa, Kiwanuka Achileo ,Kizito, Wasswa, Walukagga Nuwa. Muzeeyi Jean-Marie, Lugido Mukasa Adolofu, Mugagga, Sserunkuuma Bruno, Kifamunnyanja, Kiwanuka Giyaza. Kizza Frederick, Kwabafu, Muwanga Njigija, Kaggwa Anderea, Ngondwe Posiano, Ssebuggwawo Denis. Mbwa Eriya, Muddu-Aguma, Mulumba Matiya, Muwanga Daudi, Kayizzi Kibuuka, Mawaggali Nowa, Mayanja Kitoogo, Muwanga
Frequently asked questions about the Uganda Martrys
Who was the first Uganda Martyr to be killed?

Nuwa Serwanga, Makko Kakumba and Yususf Rugarama were the first Uganda martyrs. The execution of the three was done on 31 January 1885, just a year after Kabaka Mwanga II had succeeded his father. Later on that year, Bishop Hannington, on returning to Uganda, was also murdered.

Who was the youngest Uganda Martyr?

Kizito was the youngest of the martyrs and he was burned alive. In fact, it was on the orders of King Mwanga II of Buganda on June 3rd, 1886 in Namugongo.

Why were the Uganda Martyrs killed?

The specific reasons for the murder of each martyr varies, thus they have created a considerable debate. Some martyrs went missing when summoned by Kabaka while others say it was a three-way religious struggle. It has also been recorded that Kabaka executed Uganda Martyrs for lack of submission to his sexual advances. Subjects who denounced Christianity as their faith were spared from death whereby Mwanga summoned the martyrs.  Most of them being youths, stood aside and declared themselves as worshipers of the Christian religion. Their age bracket approximately ranged from 10 to 30.

How were the Uganda Martyrs killed?

The Uganda martyrs were beheaded, tortured, or burnt alive to death. The burning of martyrs began at Gombolola, Mengo; the place of the sacred fire and ended at Nakiyanja. Additionally, the holy fire never went off unless a king died and was reignited on the entry of another king. Ssenkole who was the deputy executioner managed the holy fire and took ash of the killed to use it to protect the king from the dead spirits. On the other hand, Ssenkole would bring fire on the day of execution using reeds, though not up to the place of performance. The blood of the executed was not to be spilled at Nakiyanja and family members were not allowed to bid farewell to their loved ones. In conclusion, farewells were done at the present-day place, Kyaliwajjala.