{UAH} THE TRUE HISTORY OF LAKE NYABIHOKO IN NTUNGAMO
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THE TRUE HISTORY OF LAKE NYABIHOKO IN NTUNGAMO
An interesting story from Mpororo that will leave you stunned.
Lake Nyabihoko is located in Ntungamo district, about 372 kilometres from Kampala. It is shared by sub-counties of Nyabihoko, Bwongyera (both in Kajara county) and Rubaare in Rushenyi county
Once upon a time there lived a man called Mutuumo. He lived on a vast piece of grazing land which made him one of the most respected cattle keepers of his generation.
Among his large herd of cattle was this particular cow Njeru (pure white cow) which he loved so much and one day it fell sick at a time when Mutuumo was planning to travel to Omubwera in Nshenyi, current Rwanda to see a friend of his who had promised him a bull to inseminate his heifers so he could get cross breed calves. Before he left, he administered some herbs to Njeru and warned that if its situation gets worse and it dies, it should not be eaten by anyone but should be buried. The servants agreed in unison and off Mutuumo left for Rwanda.
A few days later Njeru died and the servants consulted Mutuumo's wife whether surely they should bury all that meat. The servants knew this was their time to feast. The whole family, including Mutuumo's wife and kids had a party for days and what was left of the poor cow was dried up, a practice in Ankole called 'Okukara'.
On the third night, at 3:00am, Mutuumo's wife as usual woke up to churn milk for ghee and as she was busy on the job, she heard the walls of their shelter drop in water and never thought much of it and nonchalantly churned on. By the time she realised the world around her was sinking, she was the only one left. Water swallowed her last as she wailed on top of her voice. In the morning everybody was stunned to see Mutuumo's land, and only his had flooded.
Upon his return, the news met Mutuumo at Kyabukuju, present Byasha just after Rubaare towards the lake. On his walking stick (enkoni) behind his bull, he couldn't believe the news until he had to see it himself.
When he saw his whole land submerged, he sat down overwhelmed at a place called Muhoro on a big rock at the edge of the lake and watched in misery and disbelief. After a few hours of tears, he decided to go visit his best friend called Mwamba, also a cattle keeper who lived in Kakyeera in Kooki present day Rakai district.
When his best friend saw him, he sensed something wasn't right, but Mutuumo didn't say a word. For weeks, he refused to drink the milk that was given to him, but for his love for cattle, Mutuumo asked his friend to let him graze his cattle for a few days.
Mwamba instead gave him calves as they would be back to their kraal by 11:00am. Mwamba didn't want Mutuumo to suffer under the strong Kakyeera sun. Every morning, he set off to graze the calves he would sit on a rock and watch them feed and always murmured to himself these words; "Byaba byababyo kwonka tibyaba byo" translated as "Things almost seemed real, but they aren't" referring to his cattle which he lost.
Mwamba's grandchildren always heard him say these same words over and over, but they never understood him so they called their grandfather who also eavesdropped on Mutuumo and heard the same phrase.
He felt so sad for his friend that he forced him to tell him what it was that was bothering him so much to make him this miserable. Mutuumo invited him to go on a journey to Nyabihoko and see what befell him. Mwamba didn't hesitate, he grabbed his spear and off they went.
When they reached Nyabihoko, Mwamba was lost for words. They camped at Rukomo at a spot called Kyamukooko (the deepest end of the lake) and while there Mutuumo attempted to fall off the cliff, but his friend convinced him to go back with him to Kakyeera.
A few days later, they reached Kakyeera as usual on foot and there Mwamba called the whole village to a brew and meat party. He killed his most loved barren cow Bihogo and the whole village made merry.
After everyone left drunk and satisfied, Mwamba told Mutuumo that they should go for a swim, when they reached the deepest end they held each other's hands and fell in the lake and died together.
One wonders which kind of love this was. Who would die because his or her friend is in deep sorrow? This unselfish act was so popular that the Banyankole even coined a saying that goes;
"Korahurire ngu nkukunda, nkukunde ogwa Mwamba" translated as "Even when I love you, I wouldn't love you the way of Mwamba".
Nyabihoko is now a beautiful piece of tourism that you would so love only if you saw it.
--
-- An interesting story from Mpororo that will leave you stunned.
Lake Nyabihoko is located in Ntungamo district, about 372 kilometres from Kampala. It is shared by sub-counties of Nyabihoko, Bwongyera (both in Kajara county) and Rubaare in Rushenyi county
Once upon a time there lived a man called Mutuumo. He lived on a vast piece of grazing land which made him one of the most respected cattle keepers of his generation.
Among his large herd of cattle was this particular cow Njeru (pure white cow) which he loved so much and one day it fell sick at a time when Mutuumo was planning to travel to Omubwera in Nshenyi, current Rwanda to see a friend of his who had promised him a bull to inseminate his heifers so he could get cross breed calves. Before he left, he administered some herbs to Njeru and warned that if its situation gets worse and it dies, it should not be eaten by anyone but should be buried. The servants agreed in unison and off Mutuumo left for Rwanda.
A few days later Njeru died and the servants consulted Mutuumo's wife whether surely they should bury all that meat. The servants knew this was their time to feast. The whole family, including Mutuumo's wife and kids had a party for days and what was left of the poor cow was dried up, a practice in Ankole called 'Okukara'.
On the third night, at 3:00am, Mutuumo's wife as usual woke up to churn milk for ghee and as she was busy on the job, she heard the walls of their shelter drop in water and never thought much of it and nonchalantly churned on. By the time she realised the world around her was sinking, she was the only one left. Water swallowed her last as she wailed on top of her voice. In the morning everybody was stunned to see Mutuumo's land, and only his had flooded.
Upon his return, the news met Mutuumo at Kyabukuju, present Byasha just after Rubaare towards the lake. On his walking stick (enkoni) behind his bull, he couldn't believe the news until he had to see it himself.
When he saw his whole land submerged, he sat down overwhelmed at a place called Muhoro on a big rock at the edge of the lake and watched in misery and disbelief. After a few hours of tears, he decided to go visit his best friend called Mwamba, also a cattle keeper who lived in Kakyeera in Kooki present day Rakai district.
When his best friend saw him, he sensed something wasn't right, but Mutuumo didn't say a word. For weeks, he refused to drink the milk that was given to him, but for his love for cattle, Mutuumo asked his friend to let him graze his cattle for a few days.
Mwamba instead gave him calves as they would be back to their kraal by 11:00am. Mwamba didn't want Mutuumo to suffer under the strong Kakyeera sun. Every morning, he set off to graze the calves he would sit on a rock and watch them feed and always murmured to himself these words; "Byaba byababyo kwonka tibyaba byo" translated as "Things almost seemed real, but they aren't" referring to his cattle which he lost.
Mwamba's grandchildren always heard him say these same words over and over, but they never understood him so they called their grandfather who also eavesdropped on Mutuumo and heard the same phrase.
He felt so sad for his friend that he forced him to tell him what it was that was bothering him so much to make him this miserable. Mutuumo invited him to go on a journey to Nyabihoko and see what befell him. Mwamba didn't hesitate, he grabbed his spear and off they went.
When they reached Nyabihoko, Mwamba was lost for words. They camped at Rukomo at a spot called Kyamukooko (the deepest end of the lake) and while there Mutuumo attempted to fall off the cliff, but his friend convinced him to go back with him to Kakyeera.
A few days later, they reached Kakyeera as usual on foot and there Mwamba called the whole village to a brew and meat party. He killed his most loved barren cow Bihogo and the whole village made merry.
After everyone left drunk and satisfied, Mwamba told Mutuumo that they should go for a swim, when they reached the deepest end they held each other's hands and fell in the lake and died together.
One wonders which kind of love this was. Who would die because his or her friend is in deep sorrow? This unselfish act was so popular that the Banyankole even coined a saying that goes;
"Korahurire ngu nkukunda, nkukunde ogwa Mwamba" translated as "Even when I love you, I wouldn't love you the way of Mwamba".
Nyabihoko is now a beautiful piece of tourism that you would so love only if you saw it.
--
"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"
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