Site Profiling of Mabamba Bay and Musambwa Islands: Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Resilience

With support from BirdLife International, NatureUganda has undertaken an initiative develop detailed site profiles for two of Uganda’s most valuable wetlands namely Mabamba Bay and the Musambwa Islands both recognised as Important Bird and Key Biodiversity Areas (IBAs and KBAs). Specifically, the initiative thought to identify opportunities for climate adaptation and resilience while leveraging innovative funding models and technologies. It also emphasised gender mainstreaming and inclusive stakeholder engagement to promote sustainable livelihoods and inform evidence-based policy decisions for long-term wetland conservation.

Mabamba Bay located along the northern shores of Lake Victoria in Wakiso District, covers about 17,000 hectares of papyrus marshland. It is renowned as a refuge for the globally threatened Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) one of Africa’s most iconic birds. The bay also supports about 38% of the global population of the Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), a rare migratory species along with other threatened birds such as the Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Uganda’s national bird the Grey-crowned Crane. In addition to its rich wildlife, Mabamba Bay sustains local communities who rely on the wetland for fishing, eco-tourism, and papyrus harvesting for crafts and construction.

Further west, the Musambwa Islands, part of the Sango Bay–Musambwa Island–Kagera Wetland System Ramsar Site form the largest breeding colony of the Grey-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus) in Africa hosting over 20,000 breeding pairs annually. The islands also support diverse waterbird species, including Cattle Egrets, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, and Sacred Ibis as well as numerous migratory species such as White-winged and Whiskered Terns. Culturally, the Musambwa Islands are deeply significant to local communities, who consider them sacred and home to traditional worship sites and spiritual symbols including snakes that are protected by cultural beliefs.

The profiling process gathered vital data on biodiversity, habitats, and socio-economic dynamics, providing a strong foundation for updating existing management plans and aligning them with Uganda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as well as international ramifications such as the Ramsar Convention. Moreover, the findings underscore the need for adaptive, participatory, and inclusive conservation approaches that integrate scientific monitoring, modern technologies, and traditional knowledge. Overall, this initiative enhances Uganda’s efforts to protect its wetlands and avian diversity while empowering local communities to benefit from and participate in sustainable resource management. It represents a significant step toward balancing biodiversity conservation, cultural preservation, and livelihood resilience within two of Uganda’s most important wetland ecosystems.