All To Know About Nakayima Tree: The Nakayima tree, which can be found in Mubende Hills in Mubende district, is one of the oldest trees from ancient times. The tree is thought to be 400 to 500 years old and stands roughly 40 meters above ground. The tree was named after the first wife and princess of the Bachwezi king, known as King Ndahura, who had a wife named Nakayima, who was the last Bachwezi’s daughter.
Prince Nakayima, who was previously living on the hill of Mubende, is said to have vanished in this tree, thus the name Nakayima tree. Since then, the tree has been thought to have supernatural abilities of reproduction, healing, and good health. The Nakayima tree is also said to alleviate communal problems and provide blessings. The tree still shows the ancient African beliefs despite the coming of Christianity and modernity and is still a spiritual home for the Chwezi goddess which is respected by Baganda and Banyoro
The tree has large buttress roots at the base, and you can see the hooks of this tree west of the hill from about 4 kilometers distant in Mubende town. The Nakayima tree root system generated three chambers that are said to be bedrooms of the Jjaja Musoke, Nalongo, Jjaja Masaka and Ddahula, and Nalongo.
Nakayima was a tree keeper who served as a liaison between the community and the king. Nakayima could be infected with smallpox and possessed by the Ndahura spirit for a few days, during which time she had the ability to treat the condition.
Before the Bachwezi took over the hill, there was a magician named Kamwenge who came from Mbarara. This magician had two sons who subsequently became local rulers and worked tirelessly to expand their territory. These were replaced by the Bachwezi monarch Ndahura, who took authority and stayed on the hill for a longer amount of time than the magicians’ sons had. Ndahura passed over control to his son Wamala when he retired near the fort gateway and is thought to have stayed atop the hill.
People who worship the Bachwezi, it appears, pay homage to Nakayima of the Bachwezi dynasty by visiting the shrines. The Bachwezi were demi gods, and the Nakayima tree housed all of their spirits, which the Bunyoro and Buganda people recognized and adored. Visitors while on a Uganda cultural tour to the Nakayima tree, will get a chance to see local people bringing offers as a sign of showing sacrifices such as animals, money, and crops in order to get favor and blessings from their gods.
All To Know About Nakayima Tree: Cultural practices.
Spiritual and healing practices
Nakayima tree is a sacred place where people seek spiritual guidance and healing. Visitors often come with special problems or challenges they are facing and believe that the spirits associated with the tree can assist. they make offerings and prayers, seeking blessings, protection and resolutions to their issues. this powerful tree is loved to have held spiritual powers and is revered as a place of spiritual connection
Rituals and offerings
Visitors to the Nakayima tree participated in various ways and ceremonies. they may light candles, burn incense, offer food and drinks, or present symbolic items to the spirits associated with the tree. These captivating practices such as offerings are made as a sign to respect and to seek favor or blessings from the spiritual entities within the tree.
Cultural festivals and celebrations
Nakayima tree is also a cultural festival and celebrations site. These fascinating cultural events happen at a specific time of the year, where during your lucky visit you may encounter when traditional ceremonies and events showcasing traditional music, dances, storytelling and performances that reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage are taking place. this fascinating event allows visitors and locals to engage in cultural exchange and celebrations.
Divination and fortune-telling
Nakayima tree connects to traditional worship and reverence. visitors may pay homage to their ancestors, seeking their protection and guidance. Ancestral spirits are believed to play a significant role in the lives of the living, the tree serves as a conduit for communication and honoring their presence
All To Know About Nakayima Tree: Other safari activities.
Visitors on a Uganda safari can also combine their safari at Nakayima tree can also opt to visit some of the tourist attractions in Mubende -district such as;
Visit to Magonga Shrine
The shrines may be found at Nnono Village, Maganga Parish, Malangala Sub-County, which is 120 kilometers away from Mubende. It is thought that Kintu, the first King of the Ganda tribe, was interred in the shrine. The site comprises a tile-roofed house where Kintu’s grave is found and other graves. Near the shrine is a forest where the dead Kings are believed to disappear when they die.
Visit to Tanda Pits
Tanda pits are located 8 kilometers from Mityana town, 92 kilometers from Mubende, and 3 kilometers off the Kampala-Mubende highway. The legendary stories explain their existence on one Walumbe (“Death”) who is said to have been the sister to the wife of the first Ganda to live on earth from heaven. The pits were created as Walumbe kept escaping from a brother (Kayikuzi) who had come to return him to heaven. Kayikuzi dug the pits in an effort to capture Walumbe who is believed to have disappeared underground and remained on earth and began the death of people on earth. The pits whose bottom cannot be seen with the naked eye currently number about 266. Some unknown numbers of pits were earlier filled to provide land for cultivation and 20 of the currently existing ones have been tampered with since the Department of Museums and Antiquities ceased to assume the caretaking role. The most stunning about the pits is their similarity in size and precise equality in diameter.
Exploring hidden gems of lake Wamala
Lake Wamala is said to have been born. The lake is found in Busimbi Sub-County. It is of cultural significance to the Ganda tribe who link its origin to the existence of the first King. The sitatunga is one of the animals and birds that may be found in its wetlands. For the Buganda people of Central Uganda, the lake has significant traditional and cultural value for the surrounding people. This fascinating lake covers an area of about 250 square kilometers and home to numerous islands, including Lwanju Island, Mabo Island, Bagwe Island, Kiraza, and Kazinga, among others, are scattered throughout. The lake has several different animal species, including sitatunga, wild pigs, hippopotamus, bushbuck, waterbuck, vervet monkey, baboon, guinea fowl, and turaco. Lungfish, catfish, and tilapia are some of the existing fish species.
Mubende Forest Reserve
The Mubende-Kyenjojo road runs through a natural tropical forest reserve that is more than 50 kilometers long. The forest reserve is home to several stunning primates and many different species of birds are among the forest’s wildlife.
Accommodation safari near Nakayima tree- Mubende
Visitors on a Uganda cultural tour to Nakayina tree one of the most popular tourist sites located in mubende district should not worry about where to rest or stay overnight, this fascinating tourist attraction is located on the hill of mubende close to Mubende town. So, visitors have a wide range of accommodation options and such accommodations include Pride Traveller’s Hotel, Townview Hotel Mugenda, Primrose Hotel Mugenda, P Panorama Suites, Joyce Hotel – Mugenda, Rabs Legacy Motel, Mt. Zion Hotel, HOTEL BAFNA INTERNATIONAL -HBI, Brito Eco Resort Hotel, Kyoto Hotel, Kyoto, among others
