Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is a bustling, cramped city of approximately 1.5 million people located on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. Our study group has been exploring the city during our first week here: visiting important cultural & historical sites, shopping at craft markets, and sampling the delicious cuisine available in the city’s restaurants. During our adventures, one particular aspect of life here has stuck out to me: the abundance of animal life interwoven into the fabric of Kampala society.
Many economically disadvantaged Kampalans practice urban animal husbandry, raising animals like cows, chickens, and goats in the city’s cramped quarters. Raising domesticated animals provide these farmers with additional income and a stable food supply. Animal husbandry provides an economic boon in an area that may not have many others to offer.
However, wild animals also thrive in Kampala. Numerous bird species make their homes here, taking up residence on rooftops, in trees, and in trash piles around the city. One such species of note is the majestic marabou stork. The marabou is a large bird, with a wing spread of around 7-10 feet. It can be spotted in the fields, drains, and trash piles of the city. Similar to a vulture, the marabou has a bald head and neck, which keeps it lean it when scavenging in refuse or carrion.
One final bird that has earned a special place in the hearts of my classmates is the hadada ibis. A flock of these grey-feathered birds seems to live near our guest house. The Ibis’ distinctive cries can be heard at anytime from dawn until dusk when the birds are in flight or at rest. The species is notable for inhabiting both the wilderness and urban & suburban areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
