Katonga River
Encyclopedia
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
Location
River Katonga is located in the southwestern part of UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. It starts from Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
and flows, first, northwards into Lake Wamala
Lake Wamala
-Location:The lake is located in the districts of Mubende, Mityana and Mpigi in central Uganda. The coordinates of Lake Wamala are:0.328333N, 31.8406E: .-Overview:...
. The river then flows westwards to empty into Lake George
Lake George (Uganda)
Lake George or Lake Dweru is a lake in Uganda. It covers a total surface area of 250 km² and is a part of Africa's Great Lakes system but is not itself considered one of the Great Lakes. Like the other lakes in the region it was named after a member of the British royal family, in this case...
, which connects via the Kazinga Channel
Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel in Uganda is a wide, 32 km long natural channel that links Lake Edward and Lake George, and a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park...
with Lake Edward
Lake Edward
Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
, on the border between Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
The source of River Katonga is located in Lukaya
Lukaya
Lukaya is a town in Kalungu District, in Central Uganda. It is one of the municipalities in Kalungu District.-Location:Lukaya lies on the Masaka-Kampala Highway, close to the shores of Lake Victoria and just south of the Equator. The town is approximately , by road, northeast of Masaka, the largest...
, Kalungu District
Kalungu District
Kalungu District is a district in southern Central Uganda. It is named after the 'chief town' of the district, Kalungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, with coordinates: Latitude:-0.1222; Longitude:31.9111. River Katonga enters Lake George at Mpanga
Mpanga
-Location:Mpanga is located in Kamwenge District, Western Uganda, adjacent to the location where River Mpanga empties into Lake George. This location lies approximately , by road, southwest of Kamwenge, the nearest town and location of the district headquarters. and approximately , by road, west of...
in Kamwenge District
Kamwenge District
Kamwenge District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kamwenge, where the district headquarters are located. Kamwenge District is part of the Kingdom of Toro, one of the ancient traditional monarchies in Uganda...
, with coordinates: Latitude:0.0440; Longitude:30.2899. On its course westwards, the river traverses or forms the borders of the following districts : Kalungu District
Kalungu District
Kalungu District is a district in southern Central Uganda. It is named after the 'chief town' of the district, Kalungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Bukomansimbi District
Bukomansimbi District
Bukomansimbi District is a district in Central Uganda. The district is named after its main municipal center, Bukomansimbi, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
, Mpigi District
Mpigi District
Mpigi District is a district in Central Uganda. Like other most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Mpigi.-Location:...
, Butambala District
Butambala District
Butambala District is a district in Central Uganda. It is one of the new districts in Uganda created in the 2000's.-Location:Butambala District is bordered by Gomba District to the west and northwest, Mityana District to the northeast, Mpigi District to the east and south and Kalungu District to...
, Gomba District
Gomba District
Gomba District is a district in Central Uganda.-Location:Gomba District is bordered by Mubende District to the north, Mityana District to the northeast and Butambala District to the east. Kalungu District, Bukomansimbi District and Sembabule District lie to the south of Gomba District...
, Mityana District
Mityana District
Mityana District is a district in Central Uganda. The district was created in 2005, by taking the Mityana and Busujju counties from Mubende District...
, Mubende District
Mubende District
Mubende is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Mubende. Mubende District was reduced in size in July 2005 with the creation of Mityana District.-Location:...
, Sembabule District
Sembabule District
Sembambule District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Sembabule, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Kiruhura District
Kiruhura District
Kiruhura District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Kiruhura, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
, Ibanda District
Ibanda District
Ibanda District is a district in Western Uganda. As is the case with most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of Ibanda, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Kamwenge District
Kamwenge District
Kamwenge District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kamwenge, where the district headquarters are located. Kamwenge District is part of the Kingdom of Toro, one of the ancient traditional monarchies in Uganda...
.
The length of River Katonga is approximately 220 kilometres (136.7 mi) from source to end.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
The wildlife reserve measures approximately 211 square kilometre and is located along the banks of the river, approximately 200 kilometres (124.3 mi), by road, west of KampalaKampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda's capital city.
The reserve is a recent addition to Uganda's list of protected wildlife areas. It protects a network of forest-fringed wetlands along the Katonga River. It best explored by foot and by canoe. It is home to over forty (40) species of mammals and over one hundred and fifty (150) species of birds; many of them specific to wetland habitats.
Commonly sighted in the wetland reserve are elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
, reedbuck
Reedbuck
Reedbuck is a common name for African antelopes from the genus Redunca. These species are:* Southern Reedbuck, Redunca arundinum* Mountain Reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula* Bohor Reedbuck, Redunca redunca...
, colobus monkeys and river otter
River otter
River otter may refer to:*River Otter, a river in Devon*European Otter*Japanese River Otter*Neotropical River Otter*North American River Otter, a common animal in North American waterways*Southern River Otter, found in Chile and Argentina...
s. Also found in this habitat is the shy Sitatunga
Sitatunga
The situtunga or marshbuck is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout Central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and parts of Southern Sudan as well as in Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.-Description:Situtunga stand about one and a...
, a semi-aquatic antelope with webbed hooves. Viewing this game from a canoe,whilst they come to the water's edge to drink is a thrilling and memorable experience.
External links
See also
- Lake VictoriaLake VictoriaLake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
- Lake WamalaLake Wamala-Location:The lake is located in the districts of Mubende, Mityana and Mpigi in central Uganda. The coordinates of Lake Wamala are:0.328333N, 31.8406E: .-Overview:...
- Lake GeorgeLake George (Uganda)Lake George or Lake Dweru is a lake in Uganda. It covers a total surface area of 250 km² and is a part of Africa's Great Lakes system but is not itself considered one of the Great Lakes. Like the other lakes in the region it was named after a member of the British royal family, in this case...
- Lake EdwardLake EdwardLake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
- Katonga Wildlife ReserveKatonga Wildlife ReserveKatonga Wildlife Reserve is a national park in western Uganda, along the banks of River Katonga. The wildlife reserve was established in 1998. It measures approximately...