Salt mining at Lake Katwe

Lake Katwe is a crater salt water lake located in South Western Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lake is salty because it has many inlets but no outlets. In the dry season the water is really concentrated.

Formation of Crater Lakes

When volcanic eruptions occur, the molten lava from the earth’s crust tries to escape through blocked a blocked vent using a lot of pressure which brings upon a force on the earth leaving a wide depression called a crater. Overtime the depressions fill up with water to form a crater lake. This is how many crater lakes in western Uganda were formed. These crater lakes are extinct volcanoes meaning no further eruption can take place however those with a sulphurous smell have a chance of erupting anytime. Uganda has 3 major crater lakes namely; Lake Katwe, Bunyaruguru craters and Nandali-Kasende.

Katwe Salt Lake

On the north of Mweya peninsular in Queen Elizabeth is Lake Katwe. One of the activities around Lake Katwe is the crater drive with an attractive view of Lake Katwe and Lake Nyamunuka where you will have a glance at flamingoes and some wild animals.

In the dry season the water in the lake becomes very concentrated and forms crystals. Salt mining in Lake Katwe is no longer vibrant due to the discovery of other salt mines all over the country. Before that Lake Katwe was a major salt mine producing for both local and international consumption.

Salt mining in an acidic lake

The activity of salt mining is at its peak during the dry season which is January to March and July to September. The dry season makes the saline water very concentrate through evaporation leading to the formation of a hyper solution which turns to salt. The natives mainly women collect the salt from the lake and filter it into table salt while the men shovel salt from the shallow bottoms of the lake. The lake is sectioned with walkways basing on the concentration and quality.

Risks and hazards in salt mining at Lake Katwe

The scotching sun and pungent smell from the lake is an inconvenience to the miners.
The saline water is very hazardous to the reproductive system of the workers especially the women as it apparently leads to impotence and barreness. Women have to put flour in their reproductive organs while men wear condoms which are all not guaranteed to provide safety.

Visit to Lake Katwe

The visit takes just half a day and equips you with first-hand information about mining. The salt mining activity is not the major source of income in the area. The best way to support the natives is through buying art crafts from them.

Other activities around Lake Katwe