Like a gothic scene from the past age, the kitagata hot springs, located along the Ishaka–Kagamba Road, in Sheema County, in Sheema District, Western Uganda is about 330 km from the capital city Kampala.
This place is known for a number of hot springs although some are seasonal and are submerged under water during the rainy seasons. The main Kitagata hot spring is, however, an all-round hot spring and is visited all-round the year.
The hot spring is fed by the river Ngaromwenda and was first discovered in 1904. According to brief geology, hot springs are a manifestation of volcanic activity where geothermally heated water is forced to the surface. This emerges as a hot spring and, in some cases, geysers that describe a shot of water upwards due to built pressure in the earth.
Kitagata is a hot spring and has from time immemorial among the locals is believed to carry healing powers.
As part of my work routine, l found myself in the Sheema district and could not resist the temptation to visit this site. My arrival time was 5:00 pm, and we were cleared for entry to the site. That involved paying about 2 dollars that was meant for the entrance fee and parking the vehicle l used. A few soldiers were around for security along the short path to the spring. The sight of the spring was unbelievable. There were hundreds of half-naked men and women in there creating a rather unsettling scene. The entire place was so crowded with both the young and the very elderly that l wished l had chosen to come a little earlier, maybe l would have been able to see this place in its peace and serenity. The local society strongly believes in the healing power of the spring upon submersion of oneself of any form of ailments. Some fetched and drank the water right at the spring.
There was a split moment of self-thought in me, on whether the springs really carried the ability to heal but you know, we live in a world shrouded in inexplicable mysteries, and life on our planet has shriven on beliefs and faith. Those who try to explain it with a touch of science, claim that the healing effect may be due to the fact that this water on its path to the surface passes through various rock forms with varied chemical compositions. The water is, therefore, chemically rich, and in there, one part of it could carry a therapeutic effect. All these are unproven but again, l thought if one part maybe therapeutic, another unknown part could be dangerously too, anyway, just a thought.
A belief maybe wrong but if it does not violate any established human rights and victimizes non, so be it.
The spring pool measures about 2 or 3 tennis ball courts, covered in a misty vapor from about 70 degrees centigrade is definitely a sight to behold and, indeed, is a people magnet.
When l go visiting places, one of the key things l do most is take photographs however, this time due to respect and fear as well, l took a few distant photos of the place, a few of myself, and called it enough. Shortly thereafter, l left this place but couldn’t stop thinking about the wonders of this earth in perfect self-control because l am sure this place is seated only a few stone layers from hot magma or larva.