When talking about Amuru district, it’s literally hard to skip an eye on where the name ‘’Amuru’’ originates and what it entirely means. Two descriptions here to note, the word ‘’Amuru’’ means ‘’Warm’’ and so is the most famous Amuru Hotsprings named due to the heat nature of any hotspring according to the Rwot Justine Ociiti Binyi a resident of Larong Village and also Chief of the Pagak Clan, one of the 152 clans in Acholi sub-region. Like many districts in Uganda, Amuru district was named after its chief town where the district headquarters are situated.
While in Amuru, you’ll get to dive into the rich historical tales of the Lamoji rebellion era in the early 19th Century, traditions and diverse cultures not forgetting traditional dances of Larakaraka and Bwola performed by the Acholi people as the district also serves as home to three wealthy historical tourism sites comprising the male and female Hotsprings and the most famous rock guru guru caves where the name ‘’Gulu’’ the city we all know now originated and also a former battlefield during the Lamoji Rebellion – a war that ensued between the Acholi people and the British Military in the year 1911, as the Lamogi led by Rwot Onung entered a cave in the Guru-Guru hills and lived inside for three months without food
With an all year round moderate climate blended by long and short rains all through the 12 months of the Calender, Amuru district is also blessed with vast greenery a distinct for nature lovers as the guru guru hill and caves are a perfect stop for hard adventure fanatics especially when it comes to rock climbing on top of learning about the rich history of the site.
Amuru male and female Hotspring surroundings are naturally blessed with a big Forestry which is also home to a variety of birdlife species as thousands of birds live therein, plus the area consists of herbal medicine that can treat all sorts of ailments including producing herbs that can supplement western medicine on treating the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The traditional history in this fertile Acholi land is really fascinating as their god called ‘’Jok’’ or ”Rubanga” provides very wealthy spiritual and traditional aspects at the most untouched divine Amuru hotsprings as while here, all your problems cease to exist after going through the spiritual sacrifices and meditation processes, issues to do with barrenness, bad omen, poor crop harvests, soars and wounds among others remain history to human life provided one has self-belief about the healing process. Hundreds of years ago, brides were mandated to bathe in the hotsprings so as to receive blessings in their marriages and bear good fruits of children. Also, on the side of harvests, out of the two yearly crop harvest seasons, good harvests for once a season would be taken to the gods as a sign of appreciation.
According to Rwot Chief Justine Ociiti Binyi , Amuru has one of the biggest fertile soils – a good move for Agribusiness and Agritourism , as these fertile soils can feed the whole of destination Uganda while the district is said to have upto 100 commissioned farmer groups and SACCOs although majority of these are into subsistence Agricultural practices. Some of the popular food crops grown in there are; Rice, Simsim, Soya, Groundnuts, peas among others not forgetting cattle grazing is also done in Amuru.
‘’We can feed the whole of Uganda, if we can have modern day Agricultural practices from partners and investors willing to add a boost to Agriculture in the region’’. He adds’’ We are rich in fertile farm land and also willing to offer free land to investors so as to improve Agriculture in the region and increase on production per capita and improve livelihoods’’.
Rwot Chief Justine Ociiti also reveals that, ‘’currently, there’s an ongoing partnership between the Government of Uganda and Madhvani Group so as to have Amuru Sugar factory established and through this, we will be able to add to our catalogue of fast moving consumer goods on top of the food crops, and supply the whole of Uganda.
Daniel Ociiti, the LC 3 of Amuru Town Council reveals that Amuru hotsprings for centuries has been a communal spot where elders also graze cattle and also the most respected divine centre among many the 152 Acholi clans.
‘’The cultural practices here are so stringent, as one is only allowed to get close to the hotsprings bare footed and if they came with sandals or shoes, they can face to the wrath of the gods, therefore even when it’s raining, you’re entitled to proceed for much more blessings’’ he quotes
Mr Daniel adds that, ‘’These Amuru hotsprings water used to perform miracles as beeds when called upon arise from the bottom, but also while at these spots, one has to be careful not to abuse the site as they can be hit with hailstorms and rain severely’’.
On Improvements, Mr Daniel calls upon Government to add Amuru hotsprings and Guru Guru caves to the tourism cluster of other regional tourism sites and attractions in Acholi sub-region as these sites are good for tourism learning, plus also assist on constructing a proper road network to ease access to these tourist sites as well as collaboratively engaging stakeholders in the hospitality sector to come with good tourist accommodation facilities so as to attract large numbers of tourists in the Area.
About Tourism visit Experiences at these Historical and Cultural sites
Uganda Tourism Board, Deputy CEO –Bradford Ocheng on his maiden visit and experience at Amuru hotsprings recently, he was super excited about the traditional and rich cultural heritage of the spots as he revealed that besides the main tourist attractions, there’s a lot more to tour around Uganda especially Amuru hotsprings and Guru guru caves since they are located few kilometres from Murchison falls national park.
He reveals, ‘’my experience here has been very rich given my maiden visit, the place is so untouched with vast ecological natural greenery’’.
He notes, ’We are in Inclusive development as is the theme for this year’s World Tourism Day. We are looking at Inclusive development NDP III as UTB, while we try to identify and see which tourism opportunities are available in Amuru district so as to include all Ugandans in the Tourism development processes, so that we can market these sites and attractions to both local and foreign visitors in in partnership with Amuru district authorities and also with mother Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities together with sister tourism agencies; Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda Wildlife Conservation and Education centre’’.
He adds, ‘’As a Country, I believe we have a lot to explore all across the different regions as while here, you get to learn that there are some gems you didn’t know’’.
He adds, ‘’there’s a whole bunch of authentic experiences outside the capital Kampala, while at Amuru hotsprings you can enjoy nature walks, community tours, enjoy local cuisines, interact with amazing locals among many more and as the board, we mirror these to the World to attract international investors for potential tourism investments’’.
Sandra Natukunda, the Senior Public Relations Officer at UTB, also narrated her maiden visit to these virgin tourist spots as she said, ‘’I am super happy to be in Amuru district today given its my first time, I trust one of the pick-up points will be centred much on tourism education upon return to Kampala’’.
She adds, ‘’While here, I learnt of the environmental degradation practices happening which I believe is linked to inadequate tourist information, I believe if the locals are cognisant with all this information when well documented on the cultural and societal aspects, they will preserve and conserve this natural greenery for generations. Also, there’s opportunity to develop the trails in the area so as to ease access into these beautiful jungles, plus we are going to document these tourism sites through working collaboratively with the production office such that by the time we return with more visitors, atleast there would be a lot to avail’’.
Muhereza Kyamutetera, the Managing Director at the Firm, a Media Consulting Agency for UTB confessed to having made his first step at Amuru hotsprings and Guru guru caves despite having visited several other places in Acholi sub region.
He said, ‘’this has been quite a humble experience as this is a place I had never heard of despite being to Northern Uganda many times. I call upon Ugandans and the international community to pay a visit here as there’s a lot to experience. Many times as we travel, its important to find out which other places to pay visits to besides the main tourist attractions we all know and see as Uganda as a Country is gifted with lots of vast ecological tourist sites and attractions. Plus, its important to spend money in communities, increase expenditure and monetary flow in the areas visited as tourism is a value chain business’’.
Amuru hotsprings and Guru guru caves are located in Amuru district approximately 47.8 kilometres a 1 hour and 19 minutes drive on the West of Gulu city on the main Gulu-Nimule road, and 58.6 kilometres from Fort Patiko.
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