On a tiny island in Uganda’s Lake Victoria, local fishermen have created a rare harmony with nature, guided by strict cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs. But with growing interest from tourists, there are fears it could soon be at risk.

Ssese Islands

Musambwa Island, also known as Ghost Island, is a small five-acre landmass on Uganda's Lake Victoria, home to about 125 residents and a diverse ecosystem, including around 2,000 snakes. The island's inhabitants have long protected its wildlife through strict cultural traditions, avoiding the consumption of birds and their eggs and coexisting with the resident snakes.

Recently, there has been a notable increase in international tourists visiting Musambwa. Local experts and residents express concern that this influx may threaten the island's traditional practices and the natural balance that has preserved its biodiversity. There are fears that if visitors do not respect local customs, the future of Musambwa's unique environment could be at risk.

Uganda's 'Ghost Island' under threat from international tourism

This is Musambwa, or Ghost Island, a five-acre piece of land located on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria. Its name likely comes from its diverse ecosystem, says Frederick Sibambi. He visits the island to study its biodiversity and history. There are many narratives. As far as the origin of the name Musambwa is concerned, but from the Ugandan language, the moment you hear Musambwa, you know what it means. For some people, if you translate it to English, probably you may not get the right version of it. But in Uganda, in English it would be a spirit or a ghost. So, and the narrative on the island is that this spirit is manifested in the snakes. About 2,000 snakes live on the island, including the venomous Gaboon Viper and the Egyptian Cobra. In 2003, when I just arrived here, it took me time to adapt to the situation. Why? Because when you would sleep, you would find yourself surrounded by snakes, so you would sleep while scared. But your colleagues would comfort you, telling you it's a normal thing on the island and you'll just hang in there. But after some time, you get used to the snakes. Musambwa's 125 residents protect the wildlife on the island. They don't eat the birds or their eggs. But there are fears that things are changing. The island is getting exposed. We are getting a lot of international tourists going to the island. So I see a danger of international tourists not respecting the cultural values, the cultural practices of the island. And the moment we start getting people not respecting the local practices that have for so long protected the area, it means its future is in danger. For now, Musambwa continues to serve as an example of how humans can co-exist with nature.

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