Agu Swamp

Agu Swamp as seen from satellite. Lake Agu can be seen in the middle.

Agu Swamp is a swamp located along the border of Ngora District and Serere District in Teso sub-region, Uganda. A small lake, Lake Agu, is located within the swamp.

Description

Agu Swamp is located at 1°28′44″N 33°41′6″E / 1.47889°N 33.68500°E / 1.47889; 33.68500, and is part of the Lake Kyoga drainage basin. Agu Bridge on the Serere-Ngora Road crosses over it. The swamp is near Abuket where people take cattle in January due to the intensity of the dry season at this time in Teso.

Agu is one of the largest permanent swamps in Teso. It has water throughout the year. Most of the vegetation around Lake Agu is species of Echinochloa (including Echinochloa pyramidalis), with papyrus, bladderworts, Nymphaea caerulea, and Typha latifolia also being present. Over 30 species of fish have been found in the lake, including redbelly tilapia, longnose stonebashers, and Fischer's Victoria squeaker. Various species of amphibians, including African reed frogs and the Mascarene grass frog, are also found in the lake. A breeding colony of Marabou storks was first reported to live in the swamp in January 1914, and were seen again in the 1970s.

It helps in filtering water and controls floods.

People from Ngora and Serere get fish like mud fish and tilapia. During dry season, it is the main for grazing animals. Agu bridge connects Serere District to Ngora District. It supplies water to people.

Problems facing Agu

The swamp is being destroyed by human activities like growing rice inside it, burning charcoal and over grazing. The government of Uganda has asked people to voluntarily stop farming on the wetland in order to protect it. In 2021, the Ministry of Water and Environment set up a demonstration farm on six acres of land outside of the swamp, in order to provide an alternative for local farmers who previously used the wetland.

In 2024, leaders complained about Banyankole herdsmen bringing more than 2000 heads of cattle into the swamp in just two weeks. This brings many diseases like foot rot, foot and mouth disease and also destroys the environment. Agu swamp is a source of water, food, and life for Teso.

References

  1. ↑ "National wetland information system". Ministry of Water and Environment. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Lake Agu". Freshwater Biodiversity Portal for Uganda. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Behangana, Mathias (August 2004). "The diversity and status of amphibians and reptiles in the Kyoga Lake Basin". African Journal of Ecology. 42 (s1): 51–56. Bibcode:2004AfJEc..42S..51B. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2004.00461.x. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Pomeroy, D. E. (15 June 1977). "Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) breeding colonies in Uganda" (PDF). Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum. 31 (161). Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Independent, The (23 February 2024). "Local leaders want new flow of 'Balaalo' into Teso wetlands stopped". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Emwamu, Simon Peter (16 August 2021). "Ngora leaders struggle to stop locals from depleting wetlands". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 13 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ngora irrigation scheme excites communities". Ministry of Water and Environment. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Uganda's Climate Action Breathes New Life into Wetland Communities". ugandaradionetwork.com. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Local leaders want new flow of 'Balaalo' into Teso wetlands stopped". The Independent. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2026.