Lake Kijjanebarola in Rakai District in the Central Region of Uganda, which recedes at Kalunga Landing Site, has failed to regain its previous water levels a year later.

On May 12, 2021 fishermen and residents of Kyarulangira Sub-county and Ddyango Town Council in Rakai woke up to the shock of their lives after the water body mysteriously dried up at  the landing site.

The water at the landing site receded by two kilometres, making fishing and travel on the lake difficult. This left at least 50 fishermen who were deriving livelihoods from the landing site jobless. Some have since relocated to other landing sites.

Ever since the lake receded, residents say they have found it difficult to access water for domestic use.

“The women and children can hardly go to the lake and fetch water because there’s a swamp and one can easily drown,” Mr Bosco Byamukama, a fisherman, said on Saturday.

Mr Byamukama, who has been a fisherman for the last 35 years, is confident the receded part of the lake will fill up to its brim.

“This is the second time we have witnessed this [water receding], but I am sure water will return unexpectedly like it did in 1997,” he said.

Mr Wangi Ssemanda, the chairperson of Ddyango Town Council, said some fishermen have resorted to farming.

“We have less than 10 active fishermen, they find it difficult to catch fish for sale,” he said.

The drying up of the lake has been linked to climate change, increased evaporation and low rainfall.