Residents of Kaazi-Malanga landing site in Kalangala District’s Bujumba Sub-county are reeling from the impact of Lake Victoria’s rising waters, which have washed away several graves in their local cemetery.
In recent months, Lake Victoria’s water levels have risen significantly, leading to the submersion of a cemetery located on the lake’s shore. According to residents, the site originally held 16 graves, but only five remain intact.
Joel Ssemanda, a local resident, reported that in May, as the lake’s waters rose, human remains were seen floating. Unfortunately, due to strong waves, residents were unable to recover all the skeletons.
The Ministry of Water had warned in May 2024 about rising water levels, predicting potential flooding and displacement for communities near the shoreline.
Frank Lukyamuzi, the chairperson of the Kaazi-Malanga landing site, expressed concern over the reduced land available for burials. Only a quarter of an acre remains usable for burials, with the rest of the land occupied by settlements, gardens, and playgrounds.
Lukyamuzi also noted that some remains were buried in the sand along the shoreline where fishermen park their boats after their fishing trips.
Since 2019, Lake Victoria’s waters have extended by more than 200 meters, further impacting the shoreline.
The need for cemeteries on the islands is significant because many fishermen and islanders are from outside the Ssese Islands and are reluctant to share details of their origins. This makes it difficult to trace their ancestry or relatives. Consequently, unidentified bodies found floating on the lake are buried in these local cemeteries.
Gerald Sande Kayita, the chairperson of Mazinga Sub-county, highlighted the challenges faced by long-term island residents, who often fall ill without the means to return to their places of origin. Some people who have lived on the islands for decades have passed away, and while their families sometimes manage to locate the graves, many remain unclaimed.
Kayita also recounted instances where families, after searching for relatives for up to 20 years, found them deceased. Despite the challenges, local residents who witnessed the burials have been able to show the graves.
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