While on a Uganda Safari, Lake Katwe offers and excellent stopover for people interested in learning about the geography of Uganda and the people’s livelihood. Lake Katwe’s waters evaporate profusely during the dry season forming salt rocks at its bottom and on the surface. The salt crystals are harvested by the local folks and the clean salt is sold for human consumption while the muddy salt rocks are sold as salt licks for animals. The salt lake area does not support any plant or animal life and the only economic activity in the area is salt mining. Although the lucrative business poses a great health threat to the local miners, salt mining is the bread and butter for the local community.
Lake Katwe and its surrounding areas are brutally hot and dry as it misses rain from the Rwenzori Mountains and the Ankole region. The lake maintains the same water levels all year round and it is surrounded by many trees which attract mosquitos that cover the surface of the lake. Taking a trip to Lake Katwe offers an opportunity for learning the skill of salt mining and interacting with the salt miners concerning their day to day life style. The mine has been existent since the 16th century but the miners still use the same traditional methods of salt mining. They use ambutch trees to float on the water and also transport the salt rocks to the landing site where it is dried and sold.
60% of the Katwe’s water is salty and salt is mined from tiny plots which have been extracted for many years. The plots are communally owned and some are individually owned by families. The Association for Rock salt Extraction is responsible for issuing licenses to those interested in mining at the centre of the lake. This system was put in place to ensure systematic mining and avoid salt extinction. The mining plots are situated at the shores of the lake.
There is a gradual rise of land towards the rim of Lake Katwe which reveals the caldron like hole in which lies Lake Katwe. From the top, the lake is about 95 feet below the level of Lake Edward and its waters look reddish from a distance adding to its beauty. The half day excursion from Mweya Peninsular to Katwe Salt Lake along the crater game circuit will offer breathtaking views of the shimmery crater lakes, elephants, warthogs and giant forest hogs along the way with the chance to buy a souvenir from one of the local craft shops around Lake Katwe and supporting the local folks dwelling around the lake.
