TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN KAMPALA CITY

A short tour in Kampala to discover her magical wonders.

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. It is also Uganda’s national and commercial city that boarders L. Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa. The city is divided into five divisions of Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye, Nakawa and the Kampala central division. All these are open places to visit in Kampala.

Nestled on seven historical hills, Kampala is one of the ancient and oldest cities East and Central Africa. The 7hills in  Kampala include Rubaga-hill, Kibuli-hill, Namirembe-hill, Mengo-hill, Kasubi, Nsambya-hill and Makerere-hill which has the country’s main and oldest university. It is all covered in red-tiled villas and protruding from the rain forests that occupy the slopes of these hills. Kampala has a total population of approx. 2 million people and has been ranked as one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.

Before the coming of British colonialists, it was the capital for Buganda kingdom. The Kabaka (King) of Buganda had chosen it to be a hunting ground. Because of the rolling green vegetation and wetlands, the city harbored several antelopes, particularly the Impala where the city gets its name, “Kampala”.

Kampala city has got a lot of attractions that are all worth your experience. Here are a few places to visit in Kampala.

Kasubi royal tombs.

This is a UNESCO world heritage site and the Baganda people hold these tombs of the former four rulers Muteesa 1(1835-1884), Mwanga (1867-1903), Daudi Chwa II (1867-1939) and Sir Edward Muteesa II (1924 -1969) in high reverence and as a result it remains an important spiritual and site for them.

On the 26 hectare land also sits the royal palace that was built by Kabaka Muteesa I, the 35th king of the Baganda and it also has an open agricultural land where traditional techniques are used for farming. Though it was destroyed by fire in March 2010, Buganda kingdom vowed to reconstruct these iconic tombs and construction started in 2014 with funding from the government of Uganda and the government of Japan. The site will give you a lot to study about the history and culture of the Baganda.

Uganda National Museum.

Located in Kamwokya suburb, the Uganda national museum is the biggest and oldest museum in Uganda and East Africa founded in 1908. The museum has got a remarkable collection of history, culture, and treasures of Uganda all under one roof. With different sections like the Archaeology section with parts of the Stone Age and Iron Age and stone tools that were used over 1 million years ago, the traditional Music section, independence pavilion of science and industry.

The outside the museum is a living museum (cultural village) showing the way and lifestyle of Ugandans exhibiting the whole of Uganda, economic activities, relief and vegetation.

Bahai temple to visit in Kampala

Kampala city shelters the only Bahai temple in Africa. Located on Kikaaya hill, Kawempe division the temple has a unique architectural structure. It is no ordinary house of worship for the Bahai faith. The temple is 130ft tall and 44ft diameter and dome-shaped structure. It has nine sides that represent unity and oneness of faiths.

The temple is open for prayers to any person regardless of religion or distinction. It brings together different faiths to meet and pray together.

Gaddafi National Mosque.

Regarded as the biggest mosque in Africa, this mosque accommodates 35,000 worshipers at a time. The mosque is perched on old Kampala hill and it offers a 360-degree view of Kampala from its minaret. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi commissioned it as a gift to Uganda for the benefit of the Muslim population.

With features of art built and designed based on a mixture of traditional, modern, Arabic, African and European influences the Gaddafi mosque is worth a visit while in Kampala.

Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.

Dedicated to 22 young Catholic believers, the shrine has got 22 pillars representing each martyr. The young believers were killed by Kabaka Mwanga brutally between 1885 -1887.  On it’s side is the Anglican Church and museum that also has the 23 Anglican martyrs. All these were new converts to Christianity by the time they were killed.

The 22 martyrs are the African saints and the largest number of saints to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Every 3rd June of each year believers flock here from different parts of the country on foot. A good percentage also trek from parts of Africa to this place to commemorate this historic day.

Ndere cultural center.

Ndere cultural center is regarded as a home of cultures. Built on 9 acres of well-maintained green, beautifully, flowered walkways and shaded by mature African trees. With the resident troupe (Ndere troupe) enables you to blissfully enjoy artistic and creative Ugandan and African music and performances.

The troupe captures amazing cultural songs, dances, and unique instruments from 56 nationalities (tribes) from Uganda and Rwanda. It also combines with informative stories and always unleashes them to its guests. For the international visitors, it can be the best way of introduction to Ugandan culture.

Royal mile (Lubiri palace and Bulange parliament).

Lubiri Palace was built in 1922. In the preceding years, the building was duly converted to an army barracks, while an adjacent site became a notorious underground prison. This under-ground prison is said it was  a torture-execution chamber used by Idi Amin in the 1970s.

Site guides will lead you to this terrifying site. A dark concrete tunnel with numerous dark, damp cells separated by an electrified passage of water to prevent escape. At the gate of this palace is a traditional fire source that has never burnt out since the inception of the Buganda Kingdom. It is said it shall never stop burning least a king is dead. Here is a representation of all Baganda Clans. And their respective role in this Kingdom since time immemorial as narrated by a royalist at this fire source.

The Bulange on another hand is a parliament. This is where Kings from the past sit with their appointed ministers to debate on developmental issues for the Buganda Kingdom.

The architectural design of Bulange building is spectacular attracting the attention of by passers and visitors on a typical Uganda cultural safari.

A guided tour through the royal mile enables visitors to learn about Buganda traditions and cultural norms. And also the entire city of Kampala.