Wakiso Moves to Change the Face of Bussi Island

Wakiso District Authorities are considering affirmative action for Bussi Island, one of the hard to reach areas in the district.  

Despite being located about 10 kilometres from Entebbe town, and within the spectacle of Entebbe international airport, Bussi remains secluded and visibly detached from the rest of the District. It has poor physical infrastructure and no definite means of transport.

A wooden canoe from Nakiwogo land site, or through Kasanje town council at Mabamba bay, is the starting point for anyone visiting the island, which is home to 30,000 people. Although the distance is short, crossing from the mainland to the other side will take not less than an hour.

Bussi Sub County Assistant Secretary Richard Mabira says the lack of transport means that residents at the island cannot access services, because it's certainly not possible to transport equipment of any kind. Mabira adds that it is also difficult to recruit and retain civil servants in the area. The maximum period civil servants have stayed at the island is three months.

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But despite the hardship, the Island is covered in the mellow sounds of birds, and often attracts tourists, sailing through acreages of thick papyrus for birding excursions. Bussi is the home of famous shoebills stork and several other bird species, among them the Long-toed Lapwing, kingfisher, Village Weaver and African Jacana, among others.

Wakiso District Chief Administrative Officer Luke Lukoda says they want to turn the area into a tourism and investment haven. He adds that the area has a great potential for development and if connected to the mainland, the area can host recreation centres and camping sites for tourists.

He adds that the district is also planning to use the private public partnership to put up a number of projects at Bussi Island.

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Lukoda says that the District Executive Committee has resolved to prioritize Bussi Island, implying that the area will be allocated more funds than others, and that activities in all major departments should have a special component for Bussi.

Wakiso Vice Chairperson Betty Naluyima says three major projects have been outlined to kick start the affirmative action for the island. The Projects include transport, water supply and access to electricity.

"Everything is set, we want to start with linking Bussi to the mainland by constructing a road and other services will follow as the saying goes; where roads go, development follows," Naluyima says.

Wakiso District Engineer, Samuel Mwesigwa says they have conducted feasibility studies for a 2.5 kilometer road project from Bubebbere to Muziina. He says they are now waiting for the Environment Impact Assessment licenses from the National Environment Management Authority- NEMA.  The road is expected to cost over six billion Shillings

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In the meantime, the district has ferried road construction and water drilling equipment to the area to work on over 50 kilometres of roads the islands and also set up a mega solar-powered water production project.

Mabira says this is the first time in the last 15 or more years and the second in the history for road construction materials to be taken to the islands. He adds that all roads at the island have been worked upon using hoes and slashers. There are three Vehicles on the island.

Isaac Galabuzi, the District Water Officer, says 58 percent of the department's next budget is to be put aside for Bussi to ensure that the island gets clean and safe water for drinking. Currently safe water coverage at the islands is 20 percent.

"We have already taken our drilling machine and anytime civil works will begin, after drilling we will make designs to distributing water using pipe stands to the populace," he says.

The islanders have welcomed the move, saying that living in Bussi was a challenging task, akin to condemnation. Rogers Mulonde, a motorcyclist says the changes could come with increased opportunities.

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