No Land, No Problem: Lake Bunyonyi’s House Boat

Tourism round Lake Bunyonyi? Still pretty fresh, buddy!

Before Dr Sharp opened his guesthouse in the 1920s, hardly anyone beyond the town of Kabale had a clue this slice of paradise even existed — land was dirt cheap ’cos it was all just farmland. You could spot the locals who wandered into Kabale from a mile off — pure straight-from-the-soil vibes!

In the 1960s, the boss of Kampala’s Makerere Uni (big up Mr Frank Kalimuzo!) decided to put Bunyonyi on the map with the first proper hotel. Shame that during his mad reign, Idi Amin wasn’t exactly fond of entrepreneurs — Lake Bunyonyi’s first hotelier paid the ultimate price for having a bit too much brain; they “disappeared” him. But his accommodation dream didn’t vanish entirely; decades later it got a stylish makeover and became the famous BirdNest Resort (don’t miss it in the background).

Once folks clocked just how jaw-dropping the lake was, they were snapping up land faster than you could say “sunset cruise”! They wooed the locals with “gifts” — think sugar, bread, salt, and the odd bit of cash. Basically, show up with carbs and you’d be leaving with a plot. Sometimes they’d even sit down for a meal — just to sprinkle a bit of “friendship” before walking off with a shiny new land title.

Fast forward: these days when Bunyonyi “villagers” stroll proudly into Kabale Town after selling their plots, it’s all about sharp suits and cash flying around. Trying to nab a bit of land around Lake Bunyonyi — especially near the roads — is trickier than finding a boda-boda with two helmets. You need to come seriously loaded!

But what if land stopped being an issue?

We spotted a cottage that’s also a boat the other day — no joke! Floats, runs on solar, and looks like it sailed straight off a Pinterest mood board. Apparently the handiwork of some German investors. Mother Nature gives it a thumbs-up!

Where there’s a problem, there’s a solution!