Aruu falls, Acholi’s tourism gem

The Acholi sub-region is usually not among the most sought-after places for those looking for adventure in the Pearl of Africa.

Apart from Murchision Falls national park on the outskirts of the sub-region in Nwoya district, which it still shares with Masindi and Pakwach districts, many are not aware of other breathtaking places this area has to offer.

A recent journey to the region brought me to the magnificent Aruu falls located 47km along the Gulu-Kitgum highway, in Pader district. Branching off the highway to get to the falls takes you through a bumpy and dusty 8km road with sightings of grass-thatched houses and beautiful sunflower gardens.

And just as you near the falls, the sound of the water gushing against the rocks can be heard, creating anticipation on what to expect from these cascading streams of water that offer a thrilling, unforgettable and adventurous experience; a tranquil haven away from the bustle and hustle of the city due to their relative obscurity.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

The waters of Aruu falls are believed to originate from Timu forest in Kaabong district. The water flows through to river Agago, then further to Pader, before meeting the rocky sediments at a steep slope where it pours down in five waterfalls known as Aruu in Lupaya village, Pader district.

The waterfall is believed to have attained its name from the clan of Pyailim. According to Sarah Amono, the tourism officer of Pader district, the falls kept on making noise that could not allow the people around them to sleep at night. Therefore, they names the falls Aruu, meaning wake up.

The falls obtained some cultural attachment from the surrounding community signified by the three different pools around it, named locally as Lacee, Okelogem and Iryanga.

Lacee is situated at the extreme right. It is believed that a certain ritual would be performed so that the concerned deity would control the rain. Okelogem is found in the middle and it is where the natives used to carry out fishing from and could only be easily accessed after offering sacrifices to the deities, after which one would catch as many fish as they wished.

Iryanga is situated at the extreme left with a belief that there exists a rock which keeps shaking but does not fall. After the waterfall, River Agago continues to flow and meets River Aswa in a water pool called Kigenga, which means “I was stopped.”

It is believed that there used to be a man called Kigenga who on several occasions would cross the river from Omel village in present-day Gulu district to Pader for a dance but one day he drowned while crossing the river, making the place to be named after him.

The Acholi call every water point “Wang Kulu” and these water points all have connections to a Jok (god).

THE FALLS

Aruu falls are nestled in the centre of a forest in a rocky area surrounded by lush vegetation; and so, accessing them presents a challenging hiking experience along sharp, steep rocks that requires stamina and patience lest you take an uncalculated step and get injured.

But the tedious descent to the bottom of the falls is soon washed away as you are welcomed by the spectacular view of water coming off an edge, falling and crashing into more jagged rocks. What makes it even more scenic is that it is not just one waterfall but a series of falls, each more beautiful than the one before it as one hikes around them.

The appearance of a rainbow whenever there is sunshine – so near you can imaginarily touch it – is icing on the cake of this breathtaking experience.

The falls plummet into a pool of crystal-clear water, where one can take a dip. For thrill seekers looking at getting their adrenaline fix, they can climb up the exposed slippery rocks to get closer to the falls and immerse themselves in the thrill of the water pouring directly onto them.

Rock climbing against the flowing water is one of the best adventures at the falls, which gives chills. However, management of the falls maintains that swimming and moving around the rocks is done at one’s own risk because of the slippery, rocky nature of the place; so, caution is needed while engaging in some of these activities.

Besides viewing the breathtaking falls, swimming and climbing rocks, Aruu falls offer a variety of activities and other things one can indulge in, which include picnics on the rocks surrounding the falls as one enjoys the cool breeze from the waters; nature walks in the forest and its variety of tree species, insects and animals like monkeys; community walks in the villages dominated by the Acholi and Langi; birding where birds like weaverbirds, hornbills, African wagtails, and stone chat birds can be seen.

The falls also offer a spectacular picturesque setting for photography with the clear blue skies, rainbow and crystal-clear water.

DEVELOPMENT PLANS

There is no doubt that Aruu falls have huge tourism potential for the Northern region, but are still underutilized due to being less known and the undeveloped facilities around them.

For the many tourists that visit Kidepo Valley national park in Kaabong district, the falls can be a perfect stopover to relax and unwind after a long journey.

Near the falls, there are two campsites where visitors wishing to spend a night can pitch tents and camp for the night,
but those looking for more comfortable accommodation may have to travel back to Gulu or Kitgum.

Safety while getting down to the falls is another issue of concern as there are no guard rails along the steep slope which
the former member of parliament of Aruu county and proprietor of one of the campsites at the falls, Eden campsite, Samuel Odonga Otto, says government needs to pump money into developing the falls and construct walkways for easy access.

“This is a very beautiful place but unfortunately no one knows Aruu falls to the extent that it should be known. In the next few years, I hope to build a storied seminar hall, because I want to make the place a retreat centre. I also want to construct a modern swimming pool at the premises and I am already in the last stages of getting an environmental impact assessment report from NEMA so that I can get more land around the falls for further development,” Otto said.

He also called on the government to assist private developers like him through public-private partnerships and tax exemptions, to develop such attractions.

Otto’s request did not fall on deaf ears as the state minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra revealed that his ministry has earmarked Shs 800 million in the upcoming financial year towards the development and upgrade of infrastructure at Aruu falls.

“We have Shs 800 million we are going to inject in the development of Aruu falls and hopefully we shall continue adding more funds to make these falls more attractive. We have seen there are issues of access and safety at the falls and this money will help us resolve some of those issues. There is a lot to develop like constructing boardwalks and guardrails for easy access to the bottom of the falls. The team from the ministry will be having engagements with the local government to see how best we can implement the developments,” he said.

The minister and a group of local tourists and tour operators were in the region in a campaign dubbed Explore North, aimed at shading light on the tourism potential of Northern Uganda.

Aruu falls aside, the Northern region has other features that satiate the wanderlust of those who respond to the whispers of the North; there are historical sites like Fort Patiko – a military fort built by Sir Samuel Baker in 1872 on an imposing rocky hill in Ajulu parish, Gulu district.

The Amuru hot springs in Amuru district are ‘female’ and ‘male’ hot springs, believed by the locals to have healing powers.
One can also visit the Guru Guru hills and caves in Amuru district for hiking and historical experiences as the caves are said to have been a hiding place for the Acholi during the Lamogi rebellion against colonial rule in 1911.

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