river that forms the upper section of the Nile River and issues from the northern end of Lake Victoria (Victoria, Lake) at Ripon Falls (now submerged), west of Jinja, Ugan. (Uganda) The river flows 260 miles (420 km) northwest over the Nalubaale and Kiira dams at Owen Falls, through Lake Kyoga (Kyoga Lake), and past Masindi Port and Atura. In its lower course the Victoria Nile is impeded by a series of rapids culminating in the Kabalega (Murchison Falls) (Murchison) Falls on the edge of the Western Rift Valley. At the northern end of Lake Albert (Albert, Lake) (Lake Mobutu Sese Seko) it forms a swampy estuary. Navigation is possible only on Lake Kyoga between Namasagali and Masindi Port.