# Lake Nabugabo

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Lake in Uganda

Lake Nabugabo Lake Nabugabo Location Masaka District Coordinates 00°22′12″S 31°54′00″E / 0.37000°S 31.90000°E / -0.37000; 31.90000 Basin countries Uganda Max. length 8.2 km (5.1 mi) Max. width 5 km (3.1 mi) Surface area 22,000 ha (54,000 acres) Surface elevation 1,180 m (3,870 ft) Settlements Masaka, Uganda Ramsar Wetland Official name Lake Nabugabo wetland system Designated 11 February 2004 Reference no. 1373[1]

Mirror-like water during Lake Nabugabo sunrise

**Lake Nabugabo** is a small freshwater lake in [Uganda](/source/Uganda).

## Location

The lake is in [Masaka District](/source/Masaka_District), [Central Region](/source/Central_Region%2C_Uganda) of Uganda, approximately 23 kilometres (14 mi), by road, east of the town of [Masaka](/source/Masaka).[2]

## Overview

Lake Nabugabo is a satellite lake of [Lake Victoria](/source/Lake_Victoria), being only 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from its shores.

The area was chosen as a [Ramsar Site](/source/Ramsar_Site) (protected area) for its importance for the people and animals.[3]

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. [4]

## History

Lake Nabugabo was formed as a result of [sand dunes](/source/Sand_dunes) resulting from strong winds. This lake is separated from Lake Victoria by a [sand bar](/source/Sand_bar). An analysis of a 2.7-metre-long (8.9 ft) sediment core collected near the center of the lake showed that Lake Nabugabo was isolated from Lake Victoria about 5,000 years ago.[5]

## Flora and fauna

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](/source/Uganda) are known only in this area. The most striking character of the rare Nabugabo plants is the relative dominance of [carnivorous plants](/source/Carnivorous_plants).[6][7][8][9][10]

The fauna ecosystem consists of a wide variety of key animal communities. [Hippopotamus](/source/Hippopotamus) and [sitatunga](/source/Sitatunga) are found. Among the birds, [kingfishers](/source/Kingfisher) and [grey crowned crane](/source/Grey_crowned_crane) are also found.[11] Lake Nabugabo is an important stop-over point for a number of species of [migratory birds](/source/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](/source/Haplochromine) cichlids: the [endemic](/source/Endemic) *[Haplochromis annectidens](/source/Haplochromis_annectidens)*, *[H. beadlei](/source/Haplochromis_beadlei)*, *[H. simpsoni](/source/Haplochromis_simpsoni)*, *[H. velifer](/source/Haplochromis_velifer)* and *[H. venator](/source/Haplochromis_venator)*, while *[H. nubilus](/source/Haplochromis_nubilus)*, *[Astatoreochromis alluaudi](/source/Astatoreochromis_alluaudi)* and *[Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor](/source/Pseudocrenilabrus_multicolor)* also are found in other lakes of the [Great Lakes region](/source/African_Great_Lakes).[12][13][14] As in [Lake Victoria](/source/Lake_Victoria), the highly predatory [Nile perch](/source/Nile_perch) has been [introduced](/source/Introduced_species) 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](/source/Threatened_species).[12][13] 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.[13] Nile perch has not been introduced to lakes Kayanja, Kayugi and Manywa, and they are important for the survival of the rare haplochromines.[12][13] They also support populations of the threatened [Singida tilapia](/source/Singida_tilapia), which has disappeared from Nabugabo and several other lakes in the Great Lakes region.[13] Two other species of the Great Lakes region, the widespread *[Bagrus](/source/Bagrus) docmak* and the threatened [Victoria tilapia](/source/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.[13] A handful of other fish are native to Lake Nabugabo and still live there, including [marbled lungfish](/source/Marbled_lungfish), *[Mastacembelus](/source/Mastacembelus) frenatus*, *[Enteromius](/source/Enteromius)* barbs, [Sadler's robber](/source/Sadler's_robber) tetra, [silver butter catfish](/source/Silver_butter_catfish), [Fischer's Victoria squeaker](/source/Fischer's_Victoria_squeaker), [longnose stonebasher](/source/Longnose_stonebasher), [Victoria stonebasher](/source/Victoria_stonebasher) and *[Petrocephalus](/source/Petrocephalus) catostoma*.[13] In addition to the Nile perch, the [blue-spotted tilapia](/source/Oreochromis_leucostictus), [Nile tilapia](/source/Nile_tilapia), [redbreast tilapia](/source/Redbreast_tilapia) and [redbelly tilapia](/source/Redbelly_tilapia) have been introduced.[12][13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Lake Nabugabo wetland system"](https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1373). *[Ramsar](/source/Ramsar_Convention) Sites Information Service*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Road distance between Masaka and Lake Nabugabo with Map](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)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Sayer, Catherine A.; Máiz-Tomé, Laura; Darwall, William R.T. (2018-04-30). *Freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria Basin: Guidance for species conservation, site protection, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods*. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/iucn.ch.2018.ra.2.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2Fiucn.ch.2018.ra.2.en). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-2-8317-1896-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-2-8317-1896-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["About Lake Nabugabo"](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). Archived from [the original](http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837) on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2009-08-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["History of Lake Nabugabo"](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). Archived from [the original](http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837) on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2009-08-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["GNF - Lake Nabugabo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220303133712/https://www.globalnature.org/35627/Living-Lakes/National-Networks/Network-East-Africa/Nabugabo/resindex.aspx). *www.globalnature.org*. Archived from [the original](https://www.globalnature.org/35627/Living-Lakes/National-Networks/Network-East-Africa/Nabugabo/resindex.aspx) on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Diversity and status of carnivorous plants in Uganda: towards identification of sites most critical for their conservation | Request PDF"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305213453). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s10531-016-1177-8](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10531-016-1177-8). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [254280764](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:254280764). {{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#missing_periodical))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Lake"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220127064959/http://lake-nabugabo.net/nabugabo.htm). *www.lake-nabugabo.net*. Archived from [the original](http://www.lake-nabugabo.net/nabugabo.htm) on 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Nabugabo declared Ramsar wetland"](https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1099968). *New Vision*. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Lake Has Meat Eating Plants"](https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1069128). *New Vision*. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The Flora and Fauna of Lake Nabugabo"](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). Archived from [the original](http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=29837&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219&m3=29372&m4=29837) on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2009-08-18.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mwanja2001_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mwanja2001_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mwanja2001_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Mwanja2001_12-3) Mwanja, W.W.; A.S. Armoudlian; S.B. Wandera; L. Kaufman; L. Wu; G.C. Booton; P.A. Fuerst (2001). "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". *Hydrobiologia*. **458** (1): 55–62. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1023/A:1013167725047](https://doi.org/10.1023%2FA%3A1013167725047). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [6439470](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:6439470).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Namulemo2005_13-7) Namulemo, G.; D. Mbabazi (2005). "Nabugabo lakes and their current conservation status". In H. Busulwa; P.G. Mafabi; L.M. Ndawula (eds.). *A compilation of scientific information on Nabugabo Ramsar Site, Uganda*. Kampala, Uganda, Wetlands Inspection Division. pp. 76–84.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Genner2007_14-0)** Genner, M.J.; P. Nichols; G.R. Carvalho; R.L. Robinson; P.W. Shaw; A. Smith; G.F. Turner (2007). ["Evolution of a cichlid fish in a Lake Malawi satellite lake"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2287380). *Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences*. **274** (1623): 2249–2257. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rspb.2007.0619](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frspb.2007.0619). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2287380](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2287380). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [17623644](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17623644).

## External links

- Stager, J. Curt; Westwood, J; Grzesik, D; Cumming, B.F (2005), "A 5500-year environmental history of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda", *Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology*, **218** (3–4): 347, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005PPP...218..347S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005PPP...218..347S), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.palaeo.2004.12.025](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2004.12.025)

- [Lake Nabugabo Homepage](http://www.lake-nabugabo.net/welcome.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171220040323/http://lake-nabugabo.net/welcome.htm) 2017-12-20 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e Masaka District Capital: Masaka Towns and villages Bisanje Bukakata Kaganda Kasaka Kyanja Kitovu Masaka Nabugabo Nkoni Nzizi Tekala Geography Lake Victoria Lake Nabugabo River Nabajuzi Economy Absa Bank Uganda Limited Centenary Bank DFCU Bank PostBank Uganda Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited Tropical Bank KCB Bank Uganda Limited Pride Microfinance Limited Finance Trust Bank Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited FINCA Uganda Limited Health Kitovu Hospital Masaka Regional Referral Hospital Transport Kampala–Masaka Road Masaka–Bukakata Road Masaka–Mbarara Road Masaka–Mutukula Road Masaka–Villa Maria–Bukomansimbi–Sembabule Road Energy Masaka–Mutukula–Mwanza High Voltage Power Line Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line Notable landmarks Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka Education Kako Senior Secondary School Masaka Campus of Kampala University Masaka Secondary School Muteesa I Royal University St. Henry's College Kitovu Notable people Alintuma Nsambu Edward Ssekandi John Ddumba Ssentamu

v t e Hydrography of Uganda Lakes Albert Bisina Bugondo Buhera Bujuku Bunyonyi Edward George Kabaka Kachera Katwe Kayumbu Kitandra Kwania Kyahafi Kyoga Mburo Mutanda Mulehe Nabugabo Nakuwa Nyamusingire Opeta Saka Victoria Wamala Rivers Achwa Kafu Kagera Katonga Kazinga Kidepo Lamia Lugogo Mayanja Muzizi Narus Nile Nkusi Okot Ora Pager Semliki Sezibwa Suam Victoria Nile White Nile Waterfalls Bujagali Karuma Murchison Owen Ripon Sipi Dams Ayago Bugoye Bujagali Buseruka Isimba Kanungu Karuma Kiira Mpanga Mubuku I Mubuku III Muzizi Nalubaale or Owen Nyagak Nyagak III Kisiizi Waki Gwere-Luzira Kikagati

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lake Nabugabo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nabugabo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nabugabo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.