Kalangala’s 'forgotten island' gets sh280m rescue plan

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What was once a vital link to the mainland is now a source of isolation and hardship. In just over a year, Kaazi-Malanga landing site—formerly connected to Buggala Island—has become an island of its own, cut off by rising waters.

The disruption began in March 2024 when heavy rains pushed Lake Victoria’s water levels high enough to submerge part of the road linking the landing site to the Kalangala-Mulabana main road.

Roughly 400 metres of the 8km road now lie underwater, forcing residents to walk through chest-deep water to reach basic services.

What was once a vital link to the mainland is now a source of isolation and hardship. (Photo by Samuel Nkuba)

Parents have been carrying children on their backs just to get them to school, while even the local cemetery has not been spared—human remains have begun drifting away from the flooded graves.

Life on the island

With vehicles unable to access the landing site, the cost of commodities, including food, skyrocketed.

“A bunch of matooke which used to cost sh15,000 has been costing between sh25,000 and sh35,000. This is because of triple transportation to the island,” says Yudaya Nalwadda.

She adds that many businesses collapsed, with proprietors opting to relocate to more accessible areas.

Aside from wading through water, residents also rely on rickety wooden boats—a reality that has especially affected pregnant women.

“In January this year, an expecting mother opted for a boat in the wee hours after getting labour pains. But as they were crossing, heavy waves overturned the boat. By God’s grace, she was rescued,” says Frank Lukyamuzi, the LC1 chairperson.

Accessing healthcare remains a major challenge for the over 500 islanders living in Kaazi-Malanga.

To reach health facilities, residents spend sh6,000 on a boat and sh10,000 on a bodaboda from the landing point to Bwendero Health Centre III.

Previously, it only cost sh6,000 for a round trip from Kaazi landing site to Bwendero.

Access costs sh280 million

Through its district council, Kalangala Local Government resolved to reconnect the island to the main Buggala Island by raising the submerged section above Lake Victoria’s current water levels.

A Kaazi-Malanga landing site road under construction to ease accessibility. (Photo by Samuel Nkuba)

Before this decision, the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala, had promised to install gabions to allow water to pass without hindering road use.

The council eventually allocated sh280 million for the road’s restoration.

Rajab Ssemakula, the district chairperson, says the district has been losing tax revenue previously collected from fishing and other business activities at the landing site.

“Also, residents’ lives became hard since the majority of government services were not accessible. I applaud my fellow leaders who prioritised the maintenance of all district roads, including this one at Kaazi-Malanga,” says Ssemakula.

Residents are hopeful that the completed road will revive businesses, enable children to walk safely to school, and restore trade activity.

“We are going to prepare a party immediately because reconnecting us to Buggala Island deserves celebrations,” says Sulait Lubega.

They also praised the government for allocating road maintenance funds to every district.