The Pearl of Africa celebrated for its utter beauty of nature, people, and the majestic wildlife that roams across it. But to access most of the marvelous sceneries, most Uganda tours start from Kampala.

Kampala is the largest urban center and the capital city of Uganda. Located only 34 kilometers from Entebbe International Airport and north of Lake Victoria with a population growth of over 1 million people, it is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It is occupied by the prominent seven hills, which are at an elevation of 3900 feet. A visit to Uganda offers a wide range of activities ranging from commercial tours and social visits to cultural sites including, the experience of the contemporary culture, among others view some of places to visit in Uganda- Uganda tours

storm riders performing at the Uganda national theatre Photo by Ninno JackJr on Unsplash

This cultured city is a cosmopolitan mix with some times being very cultural and others very contemporary and funk. Uganda is a multilingual country, but the most widely spoken local language in Kampala is Luganda, the Ganda people language(Baganda). With several cultures in Kampala, the city is full of cultural experiences. It is considered the center of Uganda’s culture, home to universities, architectural monuments, theatres, and the National Museum.

Kampala is also the center of the Ugandan art scene with several galleries in the city exhibiting work influenced by individual influence on the contemporary culture while harkening to tradition, Kampala is easily a fast-growing cultural hub in Africa. The city has many traditional craft markets offering a wide range of African crafts ranging from metal works, hand-carvings, and paintings, among others.

Uganda has an enormous agricultural resource due to the tropical climate with plenty of foods, vegetables, and fruits. Ugandans nation loves food, and no celebration is ever complete without a feast. As a result, there is no shortage of eating places in the country. The cuisines in Kampala have greatly been influenced by cooking techniques from all over the world though most restaurants have local food on offer, which is diverse and robust in flavor unique to Uganda. There has been a growth in cafes and coffee houses so you can readily get Tea and coffee. Street food in Kampala is the most sought for, and abundant withstands almost everywhere you look. The most famous is the Rolex, this snack is a combination of an omelet wrapped in fried dough commonly known as Chapati.

Ugandans, for the most part, are openly friendly and hospitable. With the city being predominant youthful, the city’s contemporary culture is truly experienced during evenings and nights. It fully embraces its nickname as the city that never sleeps with bars and clubs running till morning. Taking a walk around Kampala on any given afternoon, and you would be excused for imagining that the nightlife is pretty quiet. The laid-back nature of the people might lead you to believe that they all head to bed early, after a cup of hot chocolate and some prime-time TV. The reality couldn’t be more different. The nightlife has made Kampala somewhat notoriously known as the party city of the region, with no shortage of nightspots to let your hair down. Ugandans enjoy going out, and Kampala provides quiet several Ugandan clubs and pubs. Uganda’s night does not end until well into the next day.

The separation between the dreamy “pearl of Africa” description and the deprived living conditions that many Ugandans endure is very extensive. Characterized by messy and congested homes, with damaged walled homes, these are regularly densely populated urban outskirts with substandard housing facilities and low standards of living. Life in these Kampala slums in Uganda is a heap of discomfort, confusion, disorganization, struggles, and sorrow. With all the inhabitants below the poverty line and a breeding grounds of crimes.

Some individuals and organizations from these communities with an opportunity to a better life give back to the slums in various ways. An example of these organizations is AFCAD, a nonprofit community-based organization with offices in Bwaise slums in Kampala. It was formed in 2009 by a group of four youths to mitigate the impacts of HIV/AID and Poverty in the slum areas of Kampala, Uganda. They now run tours and also offer various volunteering options, from 1 day to several months. For a 1-day slum tour to Bwaise, where you experience the slum life up close, Twist Africa partners with this organization. The money paid for this trip helps the organization come up with programs and facilitate development and awareness in these slums.

Kampala is the heart of the country filled with young, middle-aged and, old all trying to make it in life. Kampala being the center of Uganda where most people live or regularly travel to for business means that it has a variety of Hotel options. These hotels and apartments range from luxury, midrange to budget booking any of these depends on your choice and budget.

Twist Africa offers some private and group tours to Kampala including, slums tours, cultural and site tours, and nightlife tours. Most Twist Africa tours start from Kampala, and we can also arrange accommodation in the city. Contact us for adventurous trips in the capital city of the pearl of Africa, the city that never sleeps.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN KAMPALA CITY.

Are you interested to Know the best places to visit in Kampala on a short tour, Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda located on the shores of Lake Victoria 40 km from Entebbe international airport in the central region of Uganda. Kampala has a lot of attractions, beauty, culture, hospitality and many tourist activities that will amaze you before touring the rest of the country. Some of the top places to visit in Kampala on your tour include; Kasubi tombs, national museum, Uganda national cultural center, and many religious centers like Namugongo martyrs shrine, Gaddafi mosque, Bahai temple and many more. Below are a few of these in details;

KASUBI ROYAL TOMBS

Kasubi Royal tombs is UNESCO Site, it one of the best places to visit in Kampala. The Kasubi tombs is a burial ground for the four Buganda kings and the members of the royal family that have passed on. This site is rich in cultural heritage and political leadership of Buganda kingdom. Kasubi tombs lies along Masiro road on Kasubi hill one of Kampala’s seven hills. Buganda kingdom was one of the most powerful in Africa before coming of foreign settlers. Buganda kingdom is one of the few that still believe in life after death. Many traditional ceremonies are carried out here like welcoming the moon, consulting the ancestors, traditional medicine people come to seek blessings of their ancestors as well as the kabaka (present king) in case he needs to travel out of the country. These tombs are maintained by the wives of various kings more so the female descendants of the long deceased wives. The four Buganda kabakas that were buried here at Kasubi tombs include;

Mutesa 1 who was born in 1835 and was crowned kabaka in 1856 as the 35th kabaka of Buganda, died in 1884 and was buried in Kasubi tombs where his palace was located.

Basamula Mwanga 11 took over from his father Mutesa 1 at the time when the Influence of Christianity and other foreign religions had grown, he opposed and killed many people who had converted and he was forced into exile where he died in Seychelles island in 1903. His remains were sent back in 1910 and buried at the Kasubi tombs.

Kabaka Daudi Chwa11, was one-year-old when he succeeded his father Mwanga after his death in 1897, he was helped by Christian regents until 18 years. He died in 1939 and was also buried at Kasubi tombs.

Fredrick Walugembe Muteesa 11 was born in 1924 and succeeded his father Daudi Chwa after his death in 1939. He got conflicts with Sir Andrew Cohen over amendments of Buganda agreement of 1900 and he went into exile in England, he returned in 1955 and became President of Uganda on the day of independence. He again went into exile in 1966 after his palace was attacked by government led by Idi Amin under the orders of Milton Obote, He lived there until he died in 1969 and his remains were brought back and buried Kasubi tombs in 1971.

Kasubi tombs are one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda. This place contains a collection of royal artefacts including traditional musical instruments, weapons, shields, fetishes and a stuffed lion that was once kept as a pet by Mutesa 1. Visitors at Kasubi royal tombs are checked at the gate by palace guards and issued a ticket after providing their details at a fee of 5 Dollars or 10,000 Uganda shillings. This fee helps in the maintenance of the tombs. Kasubi tombs is the only UNESCO world heritage site in Uganda.

In March 2010 the tombs caught fire which destroyed the main tomb and other smaller huts plus some of the items kept inside. Everything is being done to restore and rebuild these them.

UGANDA NATIONAL MOSQUE (Gaddafi Mosque)

Uganda National Mosque also known as the Gaddafi mosque is located in an area called Old Kampala on Kampala hill in the city. It houses the headquarters of Islamic faith in Uganda and headquarters of the Uganda Muslim supreme council. The Islamic Moslem council takes care of all people at all levels and takes care of the Islamic affairs of Uganda. Gaddafi mosque is named after the late president of Libya Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. It’s construction started in 1972, by former President of Republic of Uganda Idd Amin Dada and was by then called Old Kampala national mosque, but later it came to a standstill in 1976 up to 2001. When Gaddafi visited Uganda, he was asked for assistance which he gave in form of re-construction of the national mosque.

Construction began again in 2006 and was completed and officially opened in 2007. The mosque was then named after Muammer Gaddafi as Gaddafi National Mosque. In 2013, after his death the name was changed to Uganda National Mosque due to the new Libyan government being reluctant to rehabilitate the mosque in Gaddafi’s name. The mosque sits on 12 acres of land and is known as one of the biggest mosques in Africa. It has the tallest minaret where the muezzin calls Muslims for prayers.

The Uganda National mosque has a sitting capacity of 15,000 worshippers inside the hall, 1,100 people in the gallery and another 3,500 in the terrace. This mosque can be visited by people of all walks of life and can be accessed anytime of the year. It receives many visitors from different origins, countries and culture to explore the beautiful interior and minaret. Visitors pay entrance fees and are given a guide to take them around. If you are interested to visit, you will be required to put on long sleeved shirt and long trousers as a man and women are supposed to veil their heads and out on clothes that cover their bodies. These can be provided at the entrance and returned back after the visit.

BAHAI TEMPLE

Bahai temple located on Kikaya Hill 6km from Kampala was opened on 15th January in year 1962. Also known as Mashriq I’-Adhakar, it is the first Bahai temple in Africa and one of the 9 Bahai temples in the world. The Bahai faith is all inclusive religion that seeks to unite all races and religions of Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, and Islamic and non-believers. It is set up on the idea that human rights are a priority in teaching the true values of humanity. Bahai was founded in 1850 by a Persian mystic Baha’u’llah which literally means God of Glory born in 1812. The temple is a unique architectural master piece with a beautiful park like ground, with beautiful trees and green carpet grass in which many people sit and have peaceful moments.

Bahai teaches that heaven and hell are not places but rather states being reached when one does good or bad. The temple has no dedicated day of the week to meet as it is in the Bahai holy law, but rather Bahai followers choose a day that is convenient for them and the temple has a minimum of three prayers where followers adore God under the dome.

Bahai temple is a great place for tourist visits, family tour, picnics and people who wish to have a quiet peaceful time as to enjoy the beautiful environment away from the city noise.

UGANDA MARTYRS SHRINE NAMUGONGO

The 4th among the best places to visit in Kampala, is Uganda martyrs Shrine Namugongo. This Namugongo martyrs shrine is located off Kampala Jinja road in Kira municipality wakiso district. It is a place where 32 young men were burnt to death after they refused to denounce their faith by order of Kabaka Mwanga 11 (king) on 3rd June 1886. A basilica with a structural design is inspiration from the African hut, built at the spot where Charles Lwanga was burnt to death in slow fire. The Basilica is designed with 22 copper pillars signifying the 22 martyrs and the circular interior contains up to 2,000 seats.

The shrine is surrounded by green compound with many trees leading to a man made pond which according to history, served as cleansing ground for executioners. The 22 catholic martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964 during the Vatican conference these include Kizito, Balikudembe, Charles Lwanga, SSerunkuma and many more. Uganda commemorates martyr’s day every 3rd of June, a lot of people from East Africa and other countries come to commemorate the lives of these dedicated men of God. Some people choose to walk in honor of the suffering the martyrs went through.

Person to person pilgrims walk with faith though tired and exhausted to pay homage to these men of God. Many pilgrims draw water from the lake believing in its healing powers. For visitors interested in Uganda’s faith based tourism this is a must visit.

UGANDA MUSEUM

Uganda museum started in 1908 at Lugard’s fort on old Kampala Hill in Kampala city. It is the biggest and oldest museum in Uganda. Uganda museum, currently sits at Kitante hill along Kira road since 1941. Uganda museum exhibits and displays Uganda’s traditional life, cultural heritage, natural history and treasures. You will find musical instruments, traditional waepons, equipments used for hunting and many others. The museum has different sections each showing the culture and natural resources of the country.

KABAKA’S PALACE (LUBIRI MENGO)

Kabaka is a title given to the king of Buganda kingdom. Buganda kingdom is the largest and one of the oldest kingdoms in Uganda. It holds the capital city of Uganda, Kampala. Kabaka’s palace also called olubiri (palace) is the official residence of the King of Buganda. Every Kabaka of Buganda chooses a hill where he would love to build a new palace and rename it as he wishes. Mengo Kabaka’s palace was built in 1885 by Mwanga Ssekabaka 11 who had admiration of Nkaawo hill on which the Nvubu clan literally meaning hippopotamus clan kept their grinding stones known as Emmengo in local language and so he built his palace here and renamed it Mengo. Mengo palace is the administrative capital of Buganda kingdom

Kabaka’s palace has a lot of attractions to see and learn about especially the Idd Amin torture chambers, these were built by former president Idd Amin himself during his reign in 1971. The dark chambers Were a ditch filled with electrified water that any prisoner who wanted to escape and reached the water would be electrified to death. Mengo also has a fire place(ekyoto) at the entrance that keeps burning whole day signifying that the Kabaka still reigns, a rolls Royce that was one of Kabaka’s great possessions also lies in this palace.

BULANGE MENGO

Bulange Mengo is the administrative headquarters of Buganda kingdom and is located just a few meters away from Kabaka’s palace on Namirembe hill in Kampala city. It was constructed in 1955 fully funded by Buganda kingdom with a plan brought by Ssekabaka Mutesa II, who had admired a similar building in Scotland while in exile. In the beginning the Buganda parliament conducted their business under trees but around the 20th century a parliament made of bricks was built led by then Prime minister Apollo Kagwa, but with increase in the kingdom’s government, Bulange had to be constructed to cater for the growing number.

Bulange houses the Lukiiko hall, which is the Parliament of Buganda kingdom. The Kabaka’s office, Nabagereka’s office(Queen), Katikiro’s office (Prime minister), the offices of Buganda administration, a Kingdom TV station called Central Broadcasting Station(CBS) and the art gallery center.

Bulange Mengo is a great place to learn about the history of Buganda kingdom, the different clans of Buganda and their cultural norms and beliefs. All the 56 clans of Buganda have their symbols represented on this building and with the help of a guide, you will be explained to the meaning of these symbols. The building’s architectural design is spectacular and worth touring, hence being one of the best placs to visit in Kampala city.

NDERE CENTRE (Cultural Centre)

Ndere Centre is a home of cultures opened in 2003. It offers great music and cultural dances, affordable accommodation, restaurant, venues for parties and an information center. The Ndere centre also houses the headquarters of Uganda Development Theater Association (UDTA) and has culture filled nights where the Ndere troop performs and dances.

The performances are about the over 56 tribes in Uganda and East Africa, show casing the different cultures and instruments. These cultural nights happen every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at a fee of Uganda shillings 45,000 for Uganda citizens, USD 25 for non-Ugandan adults and all children 25,000 Uganda shillings / USD 8. These funds help in educating and training some members of the troop so you’re coming helps a lot. Ndere troop got its name from endere which means a flute an instrument that is used in most cultures aims at uniting all people despite their cultural differences. Visitors interested in cultural dance and dramma should include this attraction as the best places to visit in Kampala evening tour.

NAMIREMBE CATHEDRAL (Oldest Anglican Church of Uganda)

Namirembe Cathedral commonly known as St Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Uganda, built in March 1890. It serves as the provincial cathedral of the Anglican church of Uganda and the diocesan cathedral of Namirembe diocese, the first diocese of the church of Uganda.

It has a seating capacity of 4,000 people. Namirembe cathedral went through a lot of transformations to the current church that sits on Namirembe Hill, one of the Seven hills of Kampala city. It was built by British architect known as Arthur Beresford Pite after three churches collapsing due to natural disasters like fire and lightening.

Its construction started in 1915 and was opened for prayers in 1919. A lot of people come for Sunday and weekly services here. Namirembe cathedral is one of the tourist attractions and one of the top places to visit in Kampala regardless of the religion people belong to. Its a place where you can learn about the history of the church and Christianity in Uganda. You can enjoy Spectacular views of Kampala city and the beauty of this building that has been maintained for more than 100 years is worth your visit.

BUGANDA CRAFT VILLAGE

Buganda Craft village, located along Buganda road is one of the best places to visit in Kampala. It’s the craft market that displays a wide selection of cultural items that define Uganda. It’s one of the best places to buy the African textile (kitenge), sculptures, paintings, sandals, drums, wooden animals, dresses, mats, bags, bracelets, musical instruments, bark cloth, weapons like spears, cards like Christmas cards made of local items like banana leaves, souvenirs and many more.

Visit this craft market to buy gift items to carry along with you back home and keep a memory of Ugandan culture and your tour. All these items are handmade and purchasing some of them impacts a lot on the lives of the locals.

NAKASERO FRUITS MARKET

Nakasero market is located at the Centre of Kampala city at the foothills of Nakasero hill, one of the 7 hills that make up Kampala city about 50km off Entebbe road. It’s the oldest and one of the biggest markets in the city that started in 1895 in the Lubiri (palace) by the Kabaka of Buganda before it was moved to its current location in 1927. Nakasero market is managed by Nakasero market Vendors and Traders association.

Nakasero market is well known for selling fresh fruits, but many other food stuffs and other products are sold which include electronics, souvenirs, shoes, textiles, spices, vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken, meat and so many more. The Nakasero market is comprised of both an indoor and outdoor sections. It employs many Ugandans from all parts of the country. The markets supplies food stuffs to most of the restaurants in Kampala city and the produce here is fresh from the Ugandan farms.

Nakasero market is open all through the year and its one of the best places to visit in Kampala. It can be easily accessed by every one duo to being located at the heart of Kampala city. Other markets you can visit beside this in Kampala include, Kalerwe market, Wandegeya market, Owino market(St Balikudembe ), Nakawa market and so many more.

KABAKA’S LAKE

Kabakas Lake is a manmade lake 200 feet deep that was built by Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda kingdom in 1880, to connect his palace to Lake Victoria. This was to provide an escape route during major wars. Kabakas Lake was dug by the 56 clans of Buganda and the Kabaka himself took part. It is the largest manmade lake in Uganda.

This beautiful lake is found in Ndeeba a Kampala suburb and is a tourist attraction offering a good atmosphere for relaxation and perfect birding place.

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