President Yoweri Museveni, yesterday visited the sacred Nakayima tree in Mubende.
The president was in company of his daughter Natasha.
The 650-year-old sacred tree called Nakayima, was named after a princess Nakayima, who resided at this place. She reportedly possessed powers to prevent and cure smallpox, helped barren women and treated general illnesses.
The place is now a tourist site called Nakayima Tourist Site which is under the Buganda Kingdom Ministry of Tourism and heritage.
However, locals still go to the Nakayima tree to “consult” the spirit to help them with several problems. They smoke pipes, make sacrifices including money in rituals asking Nakayima to intercede in their problems.
“I donated ShSs30m towards the maintenance of the site,” Museveni said.
Museveni who was on his way to Kagadi and Kakumiro district to campaign for the Woman MP and LC V leaders, also took off time to view the hills surrounding Nakayima Tourist Site.