Three Days in Paradise: My Unplanned Adventure to Bugoma Sand Beach

By VICTORIA NABUKEERA

Travelling to an island is one of the best experiences anyone can have, and trust me, I’ve been to most of them. Recently, I travelled to Bugala Island to visit Bugoma Sand Beach in the western province with a group of friends, what you’d call a FAM trip. On Tuesday morning, I woke up ready for an adventure that turned out to be truly memorable.

I packed my bag for a one-day stay, not knowing it would turn into a three-day escape from Kampala’s congestion. Our pick-up point was at Busega Shell Petrol Station along Masaka Road. We took some time to stretch our bodies, refuel the car, and restock snacks for the journey. It was a two-hour drive to Lukaya meat stalls, everyone’s favourite stopover, where travellers buy all sorts of delicacies, chicken, goat, liver, chapatis, roasted maize, gonja (smoked plantain), and drinks. We took pictures and videos for memories before moving on to catch the ferry in time.

The road to the ferry site took about 30 minutes, a distance of 50.7 kilometres. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the landing site, registered, checked in, and lined up to board the ferry, which carries about ten vehicles per trip. We boarded at 5 p.m. and arrived on the island 30 minutes later, just in time to catch the sunset kissing the waves of Lake Victoria.

We were warmly welcomed by the managers, Martin and Allan, who showed us to our cottages. One beautiful touch about the resort is that each cottage is named after a district in the Buganda region. I stayed in the Ssesse Cottage, while my travel buddies occupied Buddu, Bulemezi, Busiro, Ssingo, and Kyaggwe cottages. The rooms were beautifully furnished to meet our needs. After refreshing from the long journey, we headed to our first dinner, where we were served rice, cabbage, and a delicious sauce with eggplant and liver. We enjoyed the meal peacefully as we listened to music, shared stories, and laughed. Later, we gathered around the fireplace to enjoy the beach ambiance over coffee and spring rolls.

Afterward, we retired to our cottages for the night so we could rise early for the beach sunrise, tour, and games. We began the next day with a tour around the resort, sharing ideas with the manager on possible improvements. The two-hour tour was fun and filled with photo moments. The resort offers a wide range of activities, including kayaking, swimming, quad biking, beach volleyball, beach football, pool, ludo, biking, and many more. We tried out most of them and now live to tell the tales. Some members of our group later went to Bugala Trading Centre to buy fish and explore the area.

At 6 p.m., we ended the day’s activities with a dance fiesta, where everyone showcased their skills. After refreshing for the evening, we had dinner served with juice, then gathered once again at the fireplace to relax. One of our travel buddies, Vince, treated us to a karaoke session, which was simply amazing. We were later served coffee and a local meal I had never tasted before called “Kibelo”, a mixture of fish, matooke, and greens. I honestly enjoyed it, probably because it was my first time. After the hearty meal, I headed to bed to prepare for the morning ride home.

At 8 a.m., we woke up for breakfast and checked out of our rooms. Before leaving, we held a pool table match between Dolly, Sukie, and Elly. The game was intense, with each player showing off their skills, and as far as I recall, Sukie emerged the winner.

You know, it’s always hard to say goodbye, especially when you’ve made lasting memories. Getting into the vehicle was emotional, leaving a place that brought so much peace of mind and friends who made the trip unforgettable. We boarded the 10 a.m. ferry back, our spirits low as we accepted that the fun had come to an end.

Three hours later, we were back on the main road and drove straight toward Kampala. We made a stop at Lukaya to refresh and stretch before continuing the journey. By 5 p.m., we were in Kampala, each saying our goodbyes as we headed home.

And I’ll end this story by saying: “Voyager, c’est voir et apprendre”, to travel is to see and learn.