{{Short description|Lake in Uganda}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Nabugabo | image = Lake Nabugabo.jpg | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = [[Masaka District]] | coords = {{coord|00|22|12|S|31|54|00|E|type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Uganda | basin_countries = Uganda | length = {{convert|8.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|22000|ha|acres|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|1180|m|ft|abbr=on}} | islands = | islands_category = Islands of Lake Nabugabo | cities = [[Masaka]], [[Uganda]] | extra = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Lake Nabugabo wetland system | designation1_date = 11 February 2004 | designation1_number = 1373<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lake Nabugabo wetland system|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1373|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} }} [[File:Mirror-like water during Lake Nabugabo sunrise.jpg|thumb|Mirror-like water during Lake Nabugabo sunrise]] '''Lake Nabugabo''' is a small freshwater lake in [[Uganda]].
==Location== The lake is in [[Masaka District]], [[Central Region, Uganda|Central Region]] of Uganda, approximately {{convert|23|km|mi}}, by road, east of the town of [[Masaka]].<ref>[http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Masaka%20(Masaka)&toplace=Lake%20Nabugabo%20(Masaka)&fromlat=-0.3127778&tolat=-0.3358333&fromlng=31.7130556&tolng=31.8747222 Road distance between Masaka and Lake Nabugabo with Map]</ref>
==Overview== Lake Nabugabo is a satellite lake of [[Lake Victoria]], being only {{convert|4|km|mi}} away from its shores.
The area was chosen as a [[Ramsar Site]] (protected area) for its importance for the people and animals.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sayer|first1=Catherine A.|title=Freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria Basin: Guidance for species conservation, site protection, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods|last2=Máiz-Tomé|first2=Laura|last3=Darwall|first3=William R.T.|date=2018-04-30|publisher=IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature|doi=10.2305/iucn.ch.2018.ra.2.en|isbn=978-2-8317-1896-5}}</ref> High human population densities and a reliance on subsistence agriculture are reflected in the heavy dependency of the neighboring community on the lake ecosystem. The poor agricultural practices have impacts on the water quality and food production. <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |title=About Lake Nabugabo |access-date=2009-08-18 |archive-date=2012-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513155118/http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==History== Lake Nabugabo was formed as a result of [[sand dunes]] resulting from strong winds. This lake is separated from Lake Victoria by a [[sand bar]]. An analysis of a {{convert|2.7|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} sediment core collected near the center of the lake showed that Lake Nabugabo was isolated from Lake Victoria about 5,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |title=History of Lake Nabugabo |access-date=2009-08-18 |archive-date=2012-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513155118/http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Flora and fauna== [[File:Monkey gymnastics.jpg|thumb]] Almost 300 plant species have been recorded. The catchment area is home to two endemic flowering plants not found elsewhere, and fourteen species in [[Uganda]] are known only in this area. The most striking character of the rare Nabugabo plants is the relative dominance of [[carnivorous plants]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GNF - Lake Nabugabo |url=https://www.globalnature.org/35627/Living-Lakes/National-Networks/Network-East-Africa/Nabugabo/resindex.aspx |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.globalnature.org |archive-date=2022-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303133712/https://www.globalnature.org/35627/Living-Lakes/National-Networks/Network-East-Africa/Nabugabo/resindex.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Diversity and status of carnivorous plants in Uganda: towards identification of sites most critical for their conservation {{!}} Request PDF |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305213453 |journal= |language=en |doi=10.1007/s10531-016-1177-8|s2cid=254280764 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lake |url=http://www.lake-nabugabo.net/nabugabo.htm |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.lake-nabugabo.net |archive-date=2022-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127064959/http://lake-nabugabo.net/nabugabo.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nabugabo declared Ramsar wetland |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1099968 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Has Meat Eating Plants |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1069128 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref>
The fauna ecosystem consists of a wide variety of key animal communities. [[Hippopotamus]] and [[sitatunga]] are found. Among the birds, [[kingfisher]]s and [[grey crowned crane]] are also found.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |title=The Flora and Fauna of Lake Nabugabo |access-date=2009-08-18 |archive-date=2012-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513155118/http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lake Nabugabo is an important stop-over point for a number of species of [[migratory birds]]. ===Fish=== The Nabugabo lake system, which includes the main lake itself and the associated lakes Kayanja, Kayugi and Manywa (all separated from Lake Nabugabo by swamps), is rich in native fish, notably eight species of [[haplochromine]] cichlids: the [[endemic]] ''[[Haplochromis annectidens]]'', ''[[Haplochromis beadlei|H. beadlei]]'', ''[[Haplochromis simpsoni|H. simpsoni]]'', ''[[Haplochromis velifer|H. velifer]]'' and ''[[Haplochromis venator|H. venator]]'', while ''[[Haplochromis nubilus|H. nubilus]]'', ''[[Astatoreochromis alluaudi]]'' and ''[[Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor]]'' also are found in other lakes of the [[African Great Lakes|Great Lakes region]].<ref name=Mwanja2001>{{cite journal| author1=Mwanja, W.W. | author2=A.S. Armoudlian | author3=S.B. Wandera | author4=L. Kaufman | author5=L. Wu | author6=G.C. Booton | author7=P.A. Fuerst | year=2001 | title=The bounty of minor lakes: the role of small satellite water bodies in evolution and conservation of fishes in the Lake Victoria Region, East Africa | journal=Hydrobiologia | volume=458 | issue=1 | pages=55–62 | doi=10.1023/A:1013167725047 | s2cid=6439470 }}</ref><ref name=Namulemo2005>{{cite book| author1=Namulemo, G. | author2=D. Mbabazi | year=2005 | chapter=Nabugabo lakes and their current conservation status | pages=76–84 | editor1=H. Busulwa | editor2=P.G. Mafabi | editor3=L.M. Ndawula | title=A compilation of scientific information on Nabugabo Ramsar Site, Uganda | publisher=Kampala, Uganda, Wetlands Inspection Division }}</ref><ref name=Genner2007>{{cite journal| author1=Genner, M.J. | author2=P. Nichols | author3=G.R. Carvalho | author4=R.L. Robinson | author5=P.W. Shaw | author6=A. Smith | author7=G.F. Turner | year=2007 | title=Evolution of a cichlid fish in a Lake Malawi satellite lake | journal= Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences| volume=274 | issue=1623 | pages=2249–2257 | doi=10.1098/rspb.2007.0619 | pmid=17623644 | pmc=2287380 }}</ref> As in [[Lake Victoria]], the highly predatory [[Nile perch]] has been [[Introduced species|introduced]] to Nabugabo. However, while many of Lake Victoria's endemic haplochromines have become extinct, the endemic haplochromines of the Nabugabo lake system all survive, but they are considered [[Threatened species|threatened]].<ref name=Mwanja2001/><ref name=Namulemo2005/> Especially ''H. annectidens'' and ''H. venator'' have become rare, with the latter appearing to have disappeared from Lake Nabugabo itself, although it does survive in at least lakes Kayanja and Kayugi.<ref name=Namulemo2005/> Nile perch has not been introduced to lakes Kayanja, Kayugi and Manywa, and they are important for the survival of the rare haplochromines.<ref name=Mwanja2001/><ref name=Namulemo2005/> They also support populations of the threatened [[Singida tilapia]], which has disappeared from Nabugabo and several other lakes in the Great Lakes region.<ref name=Namulemo2005/> Two other species of the Great Lakes region, the widespread ''[[Bagrus]] docmak'' and the threatened [[Victoria tilapia]], were formerly present in Lake Nabugabo and historically supported important fisheries. They appear to have disappeared from Lake Nabugabo and are not known to be present elsewhere in the Nabugabo lake system.<ref name=Namulemo2005/> A handful of other fish are native to Lake Nabugabo and still live there, including [[marbled lungfish]], ''[[Mastacembelus]] frenatus'', ''[[Enteromius]]'' barbs, [[Sadler's robber]] tetra, [[silver butter catfish]], [[Fischer's Victoria squeaker]], [[longnose stonebasher]], [[Victoria stonebasher]] and ''[[Petrocephalus]] catostoma''.<ref name=Namulemo2005/> In addition to the Nile perch, the [[Oreochromis leucostictus|blue-spotted tilapia]], [[Nile tilapia]], [[redbreast tilapia]] and [[redbelly tilapia]] have been introduced.<ref name=Mwanja2001/><ref name=Namulemo2005/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{citation|doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2004.12.025|title=A 5500-year environmental history of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda|journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology|volume=218|issue=3–4|pages=347|year=2005|last1=Stager|first1=J. Curt|last2=Westwood|first2=J|last3=Grzesik|first3=D|last4=Cumming|first4=B.F|bibcode=2005PPP...218..347S}} *[http://www.lake-nabugabo.net/welcome.htm Lake Nabugabo Homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220040323/http://lake-nabugabo.net/welcome.htm |date=2017-12-20 }}
{{Masaka District}} {{Hydrography of Uganda}}
[[Category:Masaka District]] [[Category:Lakes of Uganda|Nabugabo]] [[Category:Central Region, Uganda]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in Uganda]]