Jinja, Uganda

Jinja, the water sports centre of Uganda

Jinja, Uganda’s second largest urban centre, lies 80km to the east of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria. Approaching the town from Kampala involves travelling across the Owens Falls Dam and over the world’s longest river, the Nile, which starts its 6,500 km journey to the Mediterranean Sea on the west side of Jinja. A golf course and gardens are laid out along the banks and the river’s starting point is marked with among other things, a bust of Ghandi and on the west bank is a monument marking where the English explorer, James Hanning Speke became the first European to see the much speculated Source of the River Nile.

The town centre overlooks the lake. Large houses with big yards are a part of the legacy that the original developers gave the town, with quiet, tree lined streets giving ambience to the laid-back and warm welcome that visitors generally experience on arrival. Rush hour in Jinja is very different from that in Kampala. With much less traffic it is very easy to get around. At least half of all vehicles are bicycles. Generally there’s be a cool breeze blowing in from Lake Victoria, clean air rather then smog to breath. In places there are views out over the lake helping to sooth the soul. Parking is rarely a problem. The almost exclusive use of bicycle taxis around the town centre enhances the slow but steady feel to life here. A recent Town Council campaign to clean up the streets and shop fronts has made Jinja even more attractive.

Prior to the Owens Falls Dam being completed in 1954 a huge cascade called Rippon Falls formed a major natural feature beside the town and the roar of millions of litres of water dropping 5 meters provided a lullaby to everyone living in Jinja. The Nile has always been a major obstacle to human movement between eastern and central Africa and wasn’t spanned until the railway bridge was completed in 1930. Jinja was known as the ‘place of the flat rocks’. It provided a focal point in any east/west land journey and many of the people living in what was just a small settlement beside the mouth of the river, worked providing ferry services.

The town began to grow towards the end of the 19th Century and with the building of a port, Jinja became better connected by lake steamers with Port Florence (now Kisumu), Port Bell and other centres around Lake Victoria. In 1912 the Busoga Railway, running from Jinja to Namasagali, was opened. Cotton produced in the fertile areas around Lake Kyoga could then be exported through Jinja. In 1923 the Uganda Railway was completed as far as Jinja and relatively easy access by land to Nairobi and the Kenyan coast became possible. Jinja grew much larger with the construction of the Owens Falls Dam and after the dam had been completed, industries utilising the large amounts of hydro-electric power available close at hand were constructed near the town. Housing for managers and workers, shops and council buildings, utilities and services accompanied this expansion.

Tourism is providing a new impetus to Jinja’s economy. Good accommodation, a peaceful laid-back friendly atmosphere, beautiful weather all year round, features of natural beauty including lake views and the ‘Source of the Nile, plus lots of things to do in the near vicinity such as the adventure activities at Bujagali Falls; these are all elements that are contributing to Jinja’s growing popularity as a tourist destination.

There are some very nice hotels throughout the town and nearby; The Jinja Nile Resort, Kingfisher Resort, The Hotel Triangle, The Crested Crane, The Sunset Hotel, Timton Hotel, The Victoria Panorama, Hotel Millennium, The Mayfair, The Safari Inn, Bellevue Hotel, Tourist Bay Hotel and The Cool Breeze are just some of the options available. Guest Houses, most with lovely grounds to relax in are also to be found around the town; Gately on Nile, The Palm Tree, 2 Friends, Busoga Trust Guesthouse and The Ling Ling, are amongst of the best.There is one Backpackers and several hotels offer camping.

Take a walk along Main Street and the adjoining streets in the evening and you will encounter lots of restaurants and bars with in/outdoor and pavement seating. Cafes such as Ozzies and The Source Cafe offer good food and drinks. Upmarket restaurants such as 2 Friends and Gately (Continental), Palm Tree (Tex-Mex), Ling Ling (Chinese), Leo’s (Indian), all compliment the wide variety of meals available from hotels and eateries; ranging from takeaway to banquet. With such good weather prevailing here, almost every place offers outdoor seating as an option. Good food and hospitality are easy to find in Jinja.

While in Jinja try golfing beside the Nile, a boat excursion from the Source of the Nile, there are swimming pools and gyms or just take a walk down tree lined back streets. Visit to The Central Market, which is one of the nicest in the whole of Africa gives visitors a pleasant insight into what people use and how the various cultures found here inter-relate. You’ll find a welcoming environment without being hassled or having souvenirs pushed in your face.

There’s also a lot to do in the nearby area and you don’t need a car to get about. Taxis are readily available or try a ride on one of the little motorcycle bodaboda taxis which in this lovely climate make for a memorable trip. A boat ride out to nearby Samuka Island is another special voyage, giving a different perspective of Jinja while looking back to the town from the lake. Bujagali Falls is only a few kilometres away and nearby Mabira Forest provides a cool haven if the sunshine gets to be too much. At 1100m above sea-level and almost on the equator, Jinja has a great climate with a lovely laid-back atmosphere, lots of good accommodation and a real taste of Africa at it’s finest.

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