KISIZI FALLS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT WITH A SAD CULTURAL HISTORY

Located in the district of Rukungiri in the south west of Uganda about 22km to the south of Rukungiri district headquarters and about 46km North of Kabale which is the largest town in the Sub region one meets Kisiizi Falls. The historical Kisizi falls is positioned on River Rushoma that flows south west along the extended valley arising from the Muhanga area before falling 30m below and then continuing to the north east emptying into Lake Edward

Beyond the beauty of Kisizi falls lies the tragic history about the Falls in the Kigezi area. Like in most traditional African societies, premarital pregnancies were an abomination; ancient Kigezi was not an exception. It is said that in the ancient Kigezi, girls who got pregnant before marriage would be thrown down off the cliff by her paternal relatives led by the father and brothers. This was a local way of wedding off the shame and embarrassment brought by the offender to the family, village, community and tribe as a whole. It should be noted that in the Kigezi area there is another site “the punishment Island ” which were used to punish girls who got pregnant before marriage.

Todate some of the elders who claim to have seen the last incidences, claim that at one time a girls who was to be punished pulled the father and brother and they all died. Word has it that ounce in a while they hear the voices of the three calling one another.

All these come in as stories told by the trained interpretive cultural guide at the newly launched tourism site. In addition to the historical folklore, the site is serene with wind blowing through the tall trees mingled with the thundering sound of water falling on the rocks and this sends a mist about 100 meters away down in the valley. With a keen ear one also gets the melodies of the birds which jump, hope glide and fly around as they go about their daily routine of weaving nests, feeding and courtship singing and dancing. This destination can be added on to your trip to the southwest or just an excursion to the site.