The source of the Nile, the world’s longest River is located in Jinja municipality in eastern Uganda and was discovered by John Speke in 1858. The source of the Nile experience includes a boat cruise to the spot where the river begins to flow from Lake Victoria for the 6,800 km journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Lake Victoria is Africa’s and second largest freshwater lake in the world with a total area of 69,484 sq. km (26,828 sq. miles). “I no longer felt any doubt that the lake at my feet gave birth to that interesting river, Speke wrote in his Journal of 3rd August, 1858,” the source of which has been the subject of so much speculation, and the object of so many explorers.” Speke’s discovery was disputed by his expedition mate Richard Burton until the matter was settled by the Royal Geographical Socieity of England in 1863. Jinja was officially recognized as the true source of the Nile river, a reputation that helped to transform what was a fishing village into an industrial center and a successful hub for adventure tourism based on white water rafting, bungee jumping among other recreational activities like kayaking, ATV and horseback safaris.
History
Jinja district is bisected by the Nile river with Basoga mainy living on the east bank and the Baganda are on the west. Crossing the river in ancient times was easier by the presence of large flat rocks that provide a natural barrier for the water flowing out of Lake Victoria. As such, the two Bantu speaking tribes would interact which led to intermarriages and the language among other customs of both became almost similar. Those flat rocks are called ‘Ejinja’ (singular)/Mayinja (plural) and ‘Edinda’ among the Baganda and Basoga respctively. Buganda, one of the largest African traditional kingdoms was declared a British protectorate in 1893. With the new English influence, the word Ejinja was shortened as Jinja when the fishing village was declared an administrative center for the provincial Busoga sub-region in 1901. The British wanted to control the Nile river and natural resources including copper in Kasese, they constructed an inland port known as Jinja Pier on the shores of Lake Victoria in 1912 along with the Busoga railway, Uganda’s first railway line to link Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga which aided in the shipment of goods and services as well as the cash crops like cotton, tobacco to the lakeshore and then further to Kenya and Tanzania. Urban development gained momentum when the second line of the Uganda Railway reached Jinja from Kenya in 1926. The British brought Indians as indentured laborers, the first Indian migrant community was established in Jinja.
After the construction of the railway, many Indians stayed and established numerous businesses ranging from manufacturing to trading including tobacco, sugar, textiles, paper and beverage processing in both Jinja and Kampala city. Owen Falls Dam was built in 1954 to provide hydro power which contributed to the overall industrial and economic development turning Jinja into an industrial hub. At independence in 1962, the Indian community thrived and dominated Uganda’s economy which was prospering at a high speed by then. Uganda was one of the fast-growing economies in Africa and the trend was disrupted when former president Idi Amin Dada ordered the expulsion of over 50,000 Asians from Uganda in 1972 and he gave them only 90 days to leave the country. Most of the Indian owned enterprises were taken over by Ugandans with no real world business experience, which led to decline of the country’s domestic grwoth product, inflation and a begative international publicity. It took time for Uganda’s economic growth to recover and stablize due to agricultural production, private sector investment, and tourism and conservation among other factors. The waters of the Nile River at Jinja provided the basis for adventure tourism development along with preservation of Jinja’s unique heritage. Jinja was recognized as an Adventure Capital of East Africa in 2020 based on a wide range of adventure activities available for booking through a tour operator including white water rafting, bungee jumping, water biking, water tubing, boat trips, ATV and horseback safaris, zip lining. Jinja also offers a wide range of accommodations including camping sites, hotels, lodges, and islands. The rich history and cultural heritage of Jinja is also well preserved with over 12 historical sites including the old main streets, building dating back to 1919, and the Uganda railway museum. The map of historical buildings and cultural sites in Jinja is available in bookstores in Kampala capital city.
Jinja is now part of the new wildlife and adventure circuit which includes Mount Elgon, Pian Upe wildlife reserve, and Kidepo valley national park. This circuit enjoys a good reputation for unique game viewing as well as the culture offered by the Karamoja people and is a great alternative to the western circuit which is famed for the gorilla safari to Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks.