Population: 34,907
Economy: Fishing, Tourism, Agriculture
Transportation: Water Transport
Distance from Kampala: 60km (37miles)
Telephone: 0787354353 – Captain, MV Kalangala Ferry
MV Kalangala Ferry Fees: First class fare US$8 /Ush14,000, economy class Ush10,000. Vehicles pay Ush50,000
Kalangala district is situated in Lake Victoria (world’s third largest water body), south west Uganda. Kalanga is one of the newly formed districts, and it seceded from Masaka district. It is bordered by Masaka and Mpigi districts in the west and north respectively, with People’s Republic of Tanzania to the South.
Kalangala is entirely surrounded by Lake Victoria with an area of 9,066.8Km2. Only 432.1Km2 (4.8%) is land and the rest is water. The district is made up of islands, popularly known as the Ssese lslands.
The 84 beautiful Islands (Ssese Islands) which make up the Kalangala district are widely scattered from each other into the Lake Victoria, with Buggala Island the largest, covering an area of 296Km2. Other popular Islands include; Bukasa, Buyovu, Bufumira, Bubeke, Kkome, Degaya and many others. The Islands are connected to the mainland by ferries from Bukakata (Masaka) to Liku, fishing boats from Kasenyi landing site and Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe.
People:
The people from these Islands are known as the Basese, and have their own language and culture. Primarily fishermen, the Basese also engage in farming of crops like; coffee, cassava, potatoes, bananas & yams.
Christians form the large majority and Muslims, the minority.
Wildlife:
Most Islands are covered by forests with a wide variety of indigenous trees. Animals on these Islands include, monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and various bird species
Overview
The main town is Kalangala. This small town is located on the beach, on the northern shores of Bugala Island, the largest island among the Ssese group of Islands. It is the administrative centre, with a post office, a Stanbic Bank branch, Information centre & the Kalangala central Market
Activities:
Birdwatching trips, Swimming, canoe and boat cruises, guided and unguided walks to neighboring villages and forests
Where to Stay:
Over the last decade, Kalanga district has picked tourists interest and weekender’s getaway. The Islands offer a wide range accommodation facilities ranging from upmarket hotels to budgets lodges and campsites. Many spots command a beautiful of the lake and the islands. Most accommodation facilities are concentrated on the Bugala Island at the Lutoboka Bay. Below is a list of accommodation facilities available in Kalangala District:
Pearl Gardens Beach Hotel: Tel: +256 772 372164/ 782 467116
Mirembe Resort: Tel: +256 392 772703 / 782 528651
Ssese Palm Beach Resort: Tel: +256 772 503315/ 772 368742
Sssese Habita Resort: Tel: +256 312 278318/ 0772 692269
Panorama Camp: Tel: +256 773 015574
Ssese Islands Club: Tel: +256 414 250757 / 772 504027
Banda Island: Tel: +256 772 222777
Ssese Island Beach: Tel: +256 414 220065 / 772 208244
Agnes’ Guesthouse,
Kingfisher Camp: Tel: +256 754 15788 / 782 455358
Hornbill Camping Site: Tel: +256 414 220065
Getting There:
The best means of transport to reach the Ssese Island is by the MV Kalangala ferry. The ferry connects from Nakiwogo Port, in Entebbe to the Lutoboka port, on Bugala Island. It leaves Entebbe at 14:00 & departs from Kalangala at 08:00 daily. Other options is by local fishing boats which run from Kasenyi landing site near Entebbe and the Bukakata- Bugala vehicle ferry which operates from Masaka.