Bigo Byamugenyi site
Bigo bya mugenyi, referred to by the local as “ fort of strangers,” is yet another renowned historical and cultural site in Uganda, its history dates as far as the Bachwezi group of people and their settlements in Uganda. The Bachwezi were also remembered as demi-gods because of their disappearing tactics. Bigo bya Mugenyi is situated in the current-day Mawogola Country in western Uganda.
Bigo bya mugenyi is known for the woods, shrubs, wild flowers, savanna grassland, and because the history of Bachwezi, who were believed to be the inhabitants of Bigo bya mugenyi, has no traceability in terms of origin, the site has remained a historical site being studied by the locals in social studies as a subject in Uganda’s primary schools, there is being preserved as the country’s historical site.
The Bachwezi people, also known as the Chwezi were famous for their mystical powers, exhibited in their disappearance tactics; they are said to disappear in the air, leaving their marks on the rocks or on the surfaces they stand on. The most recent traces of the Chwezi are at the Amabere Ganyina Mwiru, another popular attraction in Fort Portal city. The Kigere are said to be footprints of the Bachwezi, which correlates with the assertion that they used to disappear and leave footprints back when they disappeared into the air.
The cultural and historical site of Bigo bya Mugenyi spans an area of approximately 10kms km². The people of Chwezi had a system of governance, and they were ruled or presided over by two kings, namely King Wamala and King Ndahura, who was said to be the last king of the Bachwezi. When travelers are tourists visiting these historical sites, they are meant to perform a cleansing exercise, which deems them clean and free from any wrath of the local gods of the Chwezi people.
Bigo bya mugenyi cultural sites consist of several grass thatched huts that are made. The area is believed to be where the chweiz went and sought their gods in pursuit of blessings, wealth, and other personal effects.
Adjacent to the cultural site exist other cultural sites such as Ndauwula and Nakayiwa, it’s also there that they made prayers to their gods in search of blessings. In the two sites, they believed that their gods had disappeared, leaving two baskets at the doorway. This historical site can be accessed from Sembabule town in about 60km. Other activities one can possibly do while on a trail to Bigo by Mugenyi are visiting the savanna areas with possibly awesome views
