Nabugabo wetland (7056)
Uganda, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B1
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Nabugabo wetland
Central coordinates: Latitude: -0.4500, Longitude: 31.9200
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1130 to 1130
Area of KBA (km2): 221.16209
Protected area coverage (%): 3.08
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The KBA consists of Lake Nabugabo (c.3,500 ha), a shallow freshwater lake of c.8 km by 5 km, and extensive swamps and small forests to the north, east and south of the lake totalling 221 km2. Three much smaller satellite lakes, Birinzi (formerly Kayanja), Manywa and Kayugi are located to the north-west at a slightly higher altitude. Nabugabo is separated from Lake Victoria by an arm of the Lwamunda swamp and a sandbar. Large plants such as Loudetia dominate, but Miscanthus and Vossia, as well as Sphagnum bogs, are also present. Papyrus occurs, but does not dominate any part of the swamp. There is a belt of depleted tropical forest along much of the western shore, and sandy shores along the windward, north-western shoreline. Similar forests exist along the eastern sandbank, some of which are gazetted Forest Reserves. The lakes have been isolated from Lake Victoria for about 3,700 years, during which time the cichlid fauna has undergone speciation. Lake Nabugabo is a popular resort, especially at weekends and public holidays.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site meets global KBA status for two plant species: Xyris ednae and Senecio navugabensis which are both only known from this site and nowhere else.
Manageability of the site: The site is an unprotected lagoon separated from Lake victoria by a narrow strip of land. It is a tourist site managed by the Church of Uganda and monitored by NatureUganda
Delineation rationale: The boundary follows the area around the lake and adjacent natural habitat
Habitats
Land use: It is a Ramsar site
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 | |
| Forest | 38 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 53 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |