The History of Lake Mutanda

Introduction

Lake Mutanda is a lava dammed lake found in south western Uganda, it is part of chain belt of other lakes like Lake Murehe, Lake Chahafi, Lake Burera, lake Ruhondo, lake Kayumbu and lake Kivu all of Virunga massive. Throughout history all cultures have different ways in which they handle their departed and their final resting places (tombs). Those who leave this world to the next are considered or have been considered to separate from us in body but to remain with or among us in spirit. In African traditional society it was considered that, our departed forefathers lived among us and that our lives may be affected by the way we relate to them. It is in respect of these and other beliefs that the burial practices and places among different nations, tribes (nationalities), families, clans and classes have always varied. For example, the way and place or location the ‘family-head’ was/is buried is not the way or place a child in the family who died would be buried. A commoner would be buried in a different manner/location from a leader or a ruler/prophet (umuhanuuzi, umuraguzi). It is in this respect that, in the days past, the ABAHINZA, our rulers in the pre-aristocratic era were not buried with commoners in communal cemeteries but in selected caves on chosen islands. In the case of the Bagyesera-Bahinza, such an island, the resting places of the former cultural leaders, were and are still the “ibirwa by’Abahinza” in Lake Mutanda.

World Wide Examples and Practices.

The way our people could bury their departed rulers in special places is not unique in world history. As a matter of fact, it is proof that our civilisation was at par with the other civilisations the world over, only varied by climatic or environmental conditions and technological advances. The ancient Egyptians had the pyramids for their pharaohs; the English have Castles, Cathedrals/Minsters and Abbeys e.g. the Westminster Abbey, Glastonbury Abbey, etc as final resting places for their departed Royals. The Baganda have Mausolea (mausoleums) called ‘Amasiro’, for each of their Ssekabakas – departed kings e.g. at Wamala, the Kasubi tombs (for Kings since Mutesa I). The Mayas had the ‘Mayan temples’ in Central America [e.g. in today’s Guatemala, and Honduras] and in Mexico. The Scots buried their kings on the isle (island) called Iona. In fact, not only are many of the kings of Scotland interred there but also are those of Ireland. Even those of the Vikings [Scandinavian war farers] were buried on Iona island- the final resting place of Shakespeare’s legendary Macbeth. The Greeks have Tatoi Palace near Athens, the Swedes -Uppsala Cathedral among others. The Japanese have the "Mozu- Kofungun" (collections of ‘tumuli’: one- a tumulus or royal burial mould]. In other words, the list of examples of preserved and respected resting places for ancient and modern leaders is endless and worldwide.

Common, Universal Thread

The most important and common thing regarding the above types of heritage is that they are preserved and respected, both by those that relate to them directly and by foreigners. Every stakeholder respects and benefits from such rich tradition.

The Lake Mutanda ancient rulers/prophets (Abahinza) archipelago:

History and Status.

When one talks of the burial places of the Bahinza, one does not mean an island or just two. There are many islands on Lake Mutanda, each used for a given purpose in the culture and religious customs and traditions that fore-fathers ordained them to be. In English, “an archipelago” literally means ‘ibirwa by’Abahinza’ or islands traditionally used for cultural-religious purposes, like the Iona archipelago in Scotland or the ‘Tumuli’ in Japan.

The island called ‘Ichangushu’ and the most important of the isles in the archipelago was used and is the main burial place of the Bahinza. This is where the cave(s) housing the skeletons being dismembered by ‘foreign grave robbers’ today, is located. The bodies had to have been mummified and preserved in bull-hides, never to decompose. It is believed that, these traditional rulers/prophets played many roles like, giving birth, giving blessings, managing spells ie drought, putting magic in fighting and hunting weapons i.e. spears, bow and arrows, shield etc. they were also great architects.

  

Departed ancient leaders (abahinza) at Inchangushu burial cave.

The other important isle is ‘Nyirandagura Island’ for the burial of female Bahinza Royalty. The interring of a Muhinza princess was like marrying her off into another world because, like in ‘pharaohnic’ Egypt, they were considered to be proceeding to live a new life in the later world. So, here, one finds not only female skeletons but also female skill-tools and paraphernalia e.g. home-chore tools like imyuuko (bread-forming wooden, paddle-shaped tools), traditional head-ribbons (singular-urugori), onion-shaped clothes-storage, weaved containers (inkangara) that bridal gifts clothing, creams and perfumes were packed in, inyereri wrist bangles (imiringa), leg bangles (inyereri), beads (imikako, ibinigyi), etc.

  

Departed ancient princesses and hero women (even those who could bear twins and more)

The Island of ‘the barren’, also called ‘akarwa k’ababi’, (2^nd smallest island)... literally, the island of the unfortunate or ‘bad ones’, is the resting place of women that never bore children during their marriage (a sad but true historical fact). Here, local, traditional priests have been using it as a banishing place for bad spirits and demons.

Preservation of the dead; Old techniques.

Mummified the bodies of the Bahinza were preserved in special ways before being carried to their final resting places [the usage of fresh/wet calf-hides plus special herbal formulations is mentioned in folklore and local mythology]. The techniques used in this unique type of mummification should be studied by taking a closer look at the remains of these forefathers, before they finally disappear due to human disturbance or to damage by the elements of the weather or still, due to human intervention and environmental degradation now on high occurrence. The wisdom and techniques used to maintain these human remains for so many years in a hot, humid, tropical rain environment should be of interest to all scientists world over. Otherwise we shall lose these important methods and remains forever, yet this would be vital for future generation. Only this way can we preserve what remains of past heritage.

Buhungiro Island literally means (taking refuge), ancient leaders and some whites could take refuge during civil wars/conflicts, the area on eastern side of this island can accommodate around three dug out boats.

Ancient leaders took asylum inside a cave of buhungiro island

The other place, called ‘Mushungero’ [Bushungero in ancient parlance), is in reality not an island but a peninsular extending to the mainland at Mukozi village, below the colonial post of Kashingye (to the North-East) from where that one beholds a magnificent panorama of unrivalled beauty that includes not only the whole of Lake Mutanda, her islands and banks (inkengero) but also the central and southern parts of Kisoro District, on to the borders between Rwanda and Uganda and then between Uganda and the Congo, bound by the famous Bwindi impenetrable National Park to the north-west and Mgahinga National park to the south west. It was traditionally settled by the Kavumu family of the Barunga sub-clan (Umuryango) of the Bagyesera clan. The current guardians of the place (the Gisimba- Ruvamwabo families) are descendants of ancient Bahinza.

It is the beauty of Mushungyero that earned it the honour of being chosen as the resting or holiday resort of the British Colonial Governors from Entebbe and who made it an annual ritual to swim in bilharzia-free, cool waters of Lake Mutanda. Unfortunately, some of the remains started being stolen since 1990’s,although these burial caves are managed by the community that claim for preserving this heritage beauty, flora and fauna  for hundreds of years, without foreign prompting.

By Bishubeho Louis