We’ve had the pleasure of visiting Uganda plenty of occasions and had some superb experiences together with gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking. Nonetheless, there’s much more to do in Uganda past these iconic actions!
After we go to Uganda, we at all times spend a few of our time in its capital metropolis, Kampala. That is by far the biggest metropolis in Uganda, and also you’ll discover a number of issues to do in Kampala, together with cultural sights, museums, markets, and extra.
We’ve already written about issues to do in Entebbe, which is the city closest to the worldwide airport. That’s discovered on the shores of Lake Victoria and can be price visiting. Nonetheless, we expect no go to to Uganda is full with out spending just a little little bit of time in Kampala.
Sure, it’s chaotic, crowded, and the visitors could make getting round a little bit of a problem. However it’s the capital metropolis, the nation’s most populous metropolis, and actually the one place in Uganda the place you’re more likely to see metropolis life. It’s a spot many Ugandans come for enterprise, education, coaching, purchasing, and spiritual gatherings. It additionally has plenty of vacationer points of interest!
Most worldwide vacationers to Uganda spend little or no, if any, time within the nation’s capital, and we expect that Kampala deserves a cease in your itinerary if you wish to get a greater understanding of the nation and its individuals. So, in case you have the time, we suggest no less than a day right here earlier than zipping off to go to the nationwide parks and to go trekking for chimps and gorillas.
Jess and I’ve been in Kampala 4 occasions, most occasions only a day or two, however on one journey we spent a number of days exploring town. So, we’re fortunate to have visited many of the locations that might be of curiosity to worldwide vacationers and wish to encourage extra individuals to take the time to cease and provides town a glance.
On this information, we’re going to share a few of our favourite issues to do in Kampala. Whether or not you simply spend a day seeing a number of the highlights as a part of an extended tour in Uganda or are on the town for an extended time frame, we hope this information conjures up you to see as a lot as you possibly can.
We’ll additionally share some recommendations on issues like getting round in addition to staying secure and the place to remain. Let’s get began!
Issues to do in Kampala Uganda
Right here’s our overview of our favourite issues to do in Kampala, based mostly on our private expertise visiting. You need to be capable to do all these actions throughout just a few days or pick your favorites for a full day of sightseeing!
Kasubi Tombs
Earlier than Uganda grew to become a British Protectorate within the late nineteenth century, the area it occupies right now was comprised of a sequence of smaller kingdoms.
The most important of those kingdoms was the Buganda kingdom, residence to the Baganda individuals. The Baganda are dominated over by Kings, often known as the Kabaka, in a convention that dates to the early fourteenth century, and which continues to this present day.
The Kabaka are clearly essential to the Baganda individuals, a reality which is especially obvious on the Kasubi Tombs, discovered on Kasubi Hill in Kampala.
That is the ultimate resting place of 4 of the Buganda Kabakas. It’s a main historic, cultural, and non secular website in Uganda. It’s additionally the one UNESCO world heritage website in Kampala and stays an vital non secular place for the Baganda.
The location, which takes up 64 acres of land, dates from 1882. The first attraction is the massive conical thatched constructing which homes the tombs themselves, which is sometimes called the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga. Due to its dimension the constructing is taken into account a grand instance of a constructing utilizing conventional strategies and pure supplies comparable to picket poles, spear grass, reeds, and wattle.
Additionally on website are a gatehouse, a drum home, and cemeteries the place the youngsters, wives, and different relations of the kings are buried. The world additionally has plenty of historically constructed houses the place the widows of the previous Kings reside and have a tendency the graves.
The Kasubi tombs have been really nearly completely destroyed by fireplace in 2010, nonetheless a serious renovation venture was launched and so they reopened in 2025. We visited as they have been within the strategy of rebuilding and there was plenty of craftsman from varied components of Uganda working.
We actually loved our go to to the Kasubi tombs and may extremely suggest inserting this in your to-do checklist in Kampala. This is a crucial non secular website so make sure to costume conservatively. Girls might want to cowl their legs with a protracted skirt or tie a big scarf round their waist to go to. Jess had on pants however was nonetheless requested to tie a protracted skirt round her waist to enter.
There’s an entry price to go to, payable on website. You may be accompanied by an on-site information to your go to. It can be visited as a part of a guided tour like this one or this one which incorporates a number of stops in Kampala.
Wamala Tombs
In case you are curious about tombs and Baganda tradition, you might also wish to add a go to to Wamala Tomb to your checklist. That is smaller and fewer central burial place of the twenty ninth Kabaka of Buganda Ssekabaka Ssuuna ll who dominated from 1832 to 1856. By most accounts, he was not a really good man who had nearly all his brothers executed!
This can be a smaller and fewer well-known website in comparison with Kasubi. The tomb is inisde a standard thatched constructing like that in Kasubi. There’s additionally the stays of the previous palace, tomb of Suuna’s mom, and a set of royal artifacts.
Observe that the Wamala Tombs are a couple of 30 minute drive north of central Kampala. In case you are wanting to go to Wamala Tombs, you may think about this tour which additionally consists of visits to Kasubi Tombs, Kabaka’s Palace, and the central markets.
Kabaka’s Palace (Mengo Palace)
The Kabaka’s Palace, or King’s Palace, is the standard residence of the Buganda King. The palace, which is also referred to as Lubiri and Mengo Palace, could be discovered on the highest of Mengo Hill, and the situation affords glorious views of the encompassing metropolis.
Right this moment the palace grounds are open to the general public to go to, though you possibly can’t go contained in the precise palace residence (Twekobe Palace). The Twekobe Palace is now not used as a residence however remains to be used for official visits and ceremonies The primary place of work for the Kabaka is on the Bulange which is related by a straight highway often known as the Kabaka Anjagala or “Royal Mile”.
So the go to takes place primarily open air. Visits are guided, you mainly flip up on the entry gate. pay the entry price, and a information can be allotted to you.
After we visited we had a wonderful English-speaking information named Fred who confirmed us across the grounds and defined loads of the historical past of Uganda. In addition to being residence to the spectacular palace constructing, the grounds are additionally residence to the torture chambers of Idi Amin.
These underground concrete cells have been the ultimate holding location of anybody deemed a risk to Amin’s regime, and it’s estimated that over 200,000 individuals have been murdered right here, their our bodies dumped in a close-by lake.
This darkish interval of Ugandan historical past is included on the tour, and is in stark distinction to the beautiful palace on the hill. Determined messages written in charcoal and blood and damp stained concrete are all that continues to be of those hundreds of misplaced lives.
In addition to the above, the tour consists of different fascinating data on Ugandan historical past. Our information was additionally educated in regards to the timber, fruits, and vegetation we noticed alongside the stroll.
We learnt about bark fabric, a standard material constructed from tree bark which lengthy predates woven textiles. Many Ugandan artists use it as a standard medium upon which to color. There’s a small store which sells painted barkcloth and different historically made gadgets which make for good Ugandan souvenirs.
Total, a go to to the Kabaka’s Palace grounds is an effective method to study Ugandan historical past, together with it’s darker occasions. The on-site guides we visited with have been actually glorious, and this was a really worthy expertise.
There’s in fact a price to go to. You’ll be able to go to your self, as we did, or as half of a bigger day tour. The vast majority of excursions of Kampala will embrace Kabaka’s Palace, comparable to this one or this one.
Uganda Museum
Based in 1908, the Uganda Museum is without doubt one of the finest locations in Kampala to go to to study in regards to the historical past of the nation. It’s additionally the oldest museum in East Africa.
It options quite a lot of reveals, masking the historical past and tradition of the Ugandan individuals, with objects together with musical devices, weapons of warfare, barkcloth work, conventional medical provides, garments, and much more. There are additionally reveals from pre-historical occasions, that includes fossils and different relics that time to the historical past of human evolution within the area.
Exterior, you’ll discover the cultural village, which contains a vary of various conventional buildings and gadgets that have been used throughout totally different intervals in historical past. This was our favorite a part of the museum, and it was so fascinating to see the totally different types of home in addition to the gadgets utilized by the totally different tribes throughout Uganda.
The museum isn’t enormous, and may positively be visited in 2 to three hours. There’s an admission price. You’ll be able to go to by yourself or you will get a information in case you favor a guided go to. You’ll be able to see extra about opening occasions and what you possibly can see on the official museum web site.
Observe: the Uganda Museum closed for renovations in August 2024 and is because of reopen in mid-2025. Verify the official web site for the most recent standing.
Independence Monument
Uganda gained independence from the British on October 9, 1962, and this monument, which was unveiled the day earlier than the date of independence, symbolises that second.
The 29 foot excessive concrete sculpture, which could be discovered within the King George V Jubilee gardens, depicts a mom lifting her youngster into the air with ropes round her legs. The ropes symbolise the liberty from colonialism, whereas the kid’s pleasure showcases the enjoyment of freedom.
The statue can be depicted on Ugandan foreign money, showing on paper notes between 1,000 and 50,000 UGX. So it is likely to be acquainted to you earlier than you even see it!
It’s free to go to the Independence Monument in Kampala. It’s also usually included on excursions comparable to this one and this city-centre strolling tour. We visited it as a part of this guided strolling tour.
Different Historic Monuments and Statues in Kampala
Along with the Independence Monument, there are additionally plenty of different monuments and statues that you may see round Kampala. These embrace:
- World Battle Memorial Monument – constructed by the British in 1945 to recollect the Ugandans misplaced within the first and second world wars. One of many oldest memorials in Kampala. Discovered on Kampala Highway by the central police headquarters.
- King Mutesa II Monument – Monument to the thirty fifth King and first President of Uganda who died in exile in 1969. The monument reveals him in British army fatigues, which is a nod to his service as a Queen’s Grenadier Guard. He was additionally the primary Black Commissioned Officer within the Grenadier Guards. This was initially positioned on the intersection of Speke Highway and Nile Avenue, however as a consequence of highway works it has been moved to take a seat between the Serena Lodge and Imperial Royale Lodge
- The Centenary Monument – Commemorating the centenary of the Kampala Metropolis Council, this monument symbolizes the identification of town’s governing authority. Present in Centenary Park alongside Jinja Highway
- Stride Monument – Created to honor the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly, this monument contains a household transferring ahead collectively, symbolizing the unity of the Commonwealth. Discovered between the Parliamentary Gardens and the Kampala Serena Lodge
- Lengthy Break up Drum Statue – The statue is of a tall drum or engalabi, a standard lengthy, cylindrical drum coated with pores and skin. It’s positioned on the Nantawete roundabout alongside the Kabaka Anjagala, or highway between the Kabaka’s Palace and the Bulange.
- Wildlife Statues – You’ll discover plenty of wildlife statues alongside the roads in central Kampala, significantly Outdated Kira Highway. Statues embrace a lion, gorillas, cranes, giraffes, impala and plenty of different native wildlife species
Observe that there’s usually safety round public memorials and monuments and round authorities buildings in Uganda. So you might be requested why you’re there and requested to not take photographs. For instance, we have been stopped on the warfare memorial by police and we have been solely allowed to method and take a photograph as a result of we have been with an area information.
Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe
The following few entries in our checklist of issues to do in Kampala are locations of worship for a number of the main religions you’ll discover in Uganda. We’ve visited all of those, and every location is fascinating and price visiting in its personal proper. It simply depends upon your pursuits.
The primary within the checklist is Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe, extra generally known as Namirembe Cathedral. That is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Uganda and the headquarters of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
The church was consecrated in 1919, and is the fifth church constructing to be discovered on this location, with the primary 4 buildings (relationship from 1890) all having been deserted or destroyed for varied causes.
The current-day church is a formidable giant pink constructing with a domed roof, constructed from earthen bricks and earthen roof tiles.
The church could be discovered on the highest of Namirembe hill, simply to the west of town’s central enterprise district. As with many of the hills within the space, the hilltop location affords glorious views of the encompassing metropolis.
Observe that it’s free to go to the skin of the cathedral however in case you want to go inside as a customer there’s a price which features a guided tour. The church is in fact a working church so visits should not at all times allowed if worship companies or different occasions are happening.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga
St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, additionally generally referred to as Rubaga Cathedral, is discovered on the high of Lubaga Hill, which is simply east of town heart. This commanding hilltop location affords glorious views of the encompassing metropolis.
That is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kampala, which is the oldest diocese within the nation. Rubaga has been the seat of the Bishop since 1883, and the cathedral itself was consecrated in 1925. It was initially arrange by the White Fathers, French Roman Catholic missionaries, who got the land by the thirty first Kabaka of Buganda.
The cathedral is a big brick constructing with two spectacular towers on the entrance, and the capability to carry as much as 5,000 worshippers. There are some fascinating stained-glass home windows, murals, and different artwork items that inform the story of the Catholic Church in Uganda. We had a information from the church who gave us a brief tour inside.
Right this moment, most Ugandans establish as Christians (over 80%) and Roman Catholicism is the biggest denomination, adopted by Anglicism.
The church is free to go to though donations are inspired. The church is in fact a working church so visits should not at all times allowed if worship companies or different occasions are happening.
Baha’i Home of Worship
The Baha’i religion is without doubt one of the smaller and newer faiths in Uganda, however its important home of worship and site remains to be nonetheless price a go to. Discovered on Kikaya Hill on the sides of town, this imposing octagonal constructing towers 127 ft above the bottom, topped by a big inexperienced dome. It may be seen for miles round.
The constructing, which dates from 1958, is discovered on a fifty-acre property which incorporates pretty, landscaped gardens in addition to plenty of different buildings. It has a surprising location.
Actually, we knew little or no in regards to the Baha’i religion earlier than we visited, so the chance to study that was welcomed. All visits are by free guided tour, and our information was glorious, displaying us the important thing highlights of the property and answering all our questions in regards to the historical past of the constructing and the Baha’i religion. It’s positively one thing just a little bit totally different and definitely worth the small effort to get right here in our opinion.
We really visited twice, the primary time we took a ride-share right here however arrived too late because it had already closed. You’ll be able to solely go to the grounds throughout visiting hours. On our second go to we deliberate a bit higher and arrived throughout opening hours.
We signed in and got a tour by a beautiful information named Esther. She informed us lots in regards to the historical past of the religion and of the Kampala temple. No companies have been occurring after we visited so we have been allowed to go inside, no speaking or pictures is allowed inside.
Because it’s discovered to the north of town heart it’s a good location to cease in case you are heading north out of town, maybe to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary or additional north to Murchison Nationwide Park.
Uganda Nationwide Mosque
The Uganda Nationwide Mosque, beforehand often known as the Gaddafi Nationwide Mosque, is the biggest mosque in East Africa. Round 15% of the inhabitants of Uganda is Muslim, and this mosque has room for nearly 20,000 worshippers!
Development of the mosque really began in 1972 throughout the regime of Idi Amin, nonetheless the instability of the regime meant that development halted in 1976. It wasn’t till 2001 that development restarted, because of the assist of the Libyan chief Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The mosque lastly opened for worship in 2007 and was renamed the Uganda Nationwide Mosque in 2013 after the loss of life of Gaddafi.
The mosque has one minaret, and it’s open to guests to climb to the highest. From the highest you will get nice views over town. This minaret was really featured in a Season 31 episode of The Wonderful Race (2019), the place they needed to climb and rely all of the steps (272 of them!). For those who plan on climbing, simply observe that you just want to have the ability to climb up and down all these steps to get to the highest as there’s no elevator. We have been the one ones contained in the tower throughout our go to.
The mosque could be visited by non-Muslims as a part of a tour. Simply observe that in Fridays and different holy days, you will not be allowed to go inside the principle components of the mosque. However you must nonetheless be capable to go to the outside and climb the minaret.
There’s an entrance price to go to as a foreigner. We visited as a part of this guided strolling tour and have been assigned to a mosque information for this a part of the go to. The inside of the mosque is de facto architecturally spectacular, however for us the spotlight was going up the tower for the views throughout town.
As with every non secular constructing you’ll want to observe the costume code. All guests ought to costume modestly. Girls ought to put on free becoming garments masking to the wrist, ankle (ideally a protracted skirt), and canopy their heads. Males ought to put on trousers and shirts with sleeves. Coverings can be found at reception to borrow (as a part of entrance price).
After we visited Jess felt a bit suffocated because it was sizzling and she or he needed to wrap a big scarf (kanga) round her waist (she had on pants/trousers not a skirt), put on a head scarf, and a face masks (COVID-19 rules on the time). We additionally needed to take our footwear on and off just a few occasions and she or he spent loads of time fumbling with the coverings and footwear. Total she loved it however it’s one thing to remember.
Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Basilica
The Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs is a minor Catholic Basilica discovered within the township of Namugongo, round 7 miles northeast of Kampala.
The basilica is a novel design, consisting of an enormous round constructing, which was designed to copy a standard African hut. It’s additionally one of the visited pilgrimage websites in Africa, because it serves as a shrine to the Uganda Martyrs.
The Uganda Martyrs have been a gaggle of twenty-two Catholic and 23 Anglican Christians, who have been killed between 1885 and 1887. Most of the martyrs have been members of the King’s Royal Courtroom who had adopted Christianity towards the King’s needs, and whom he ordered to be executed. The vast majority of the martyrs (twenty-two males) have been burned alive at Namugongo in 1886.
The loss of life of the Uganda martyrs had a serious influence on the political and spiritual panorama in Uganda. It resulted in widespread well-liked assist amongst the British public for buying Uganda as a protectorate, which occurred just some years after the deaths of the martyrs. It additionally led to a extra widespread adoption of Christianity in Uganda, with about 80% of the inhabitants right now being part of the Christian religion.
The 22 Catholic Ugandan martyrs have been beatified in 1920, and canonized as saints in 1964. Since its completion in 1968 the Basilica has served as the focus for the annual Martyrs Day Celebration. That is held on the third June, which is the Feast of the Uganda Martyrs. On this present day lots of of hundreds of individuals go to the shrine.
Pope Francis visited Uganda and the basilica in 2015. He celebrated Mass exterior the basilica at Namugongo November 28, 2015.
Nonetheless, you possibly can go to the shrine at any time of 12 months and discover the grounds and basilica throughout visiting hours. There was a small price to go to for worldwide guests.
There’s the bascilica, just a little museum space, shrines to the martyrs, a small lake, an amphitheater, a small cafe, and a present store. It’s a relaxed and peaceable place and properly price a go to.
Kampala Markets
Markets are an important place to get to know the native tradition and to additionally choose up some souvenirs out of your journey. Uganda has many markets, with two of the biggest being Owino Market and Nakasero Market.
Nakasero Market is the oldest market in Kampala. It’s divided into two areas, an inside and an out of doors. The surface space primarily sells contemporary produce, whereas the within space has extra of a give attention to issues like clothes, textiles and souvenirs.
Owino Market is the biggest central market in Kampala and whereas it sells a little bit of every part, it’s significantly recognized for distributors promoting secondhand clothes, footwear, and trend equipment.
There are in fact dozens of different smaller markets in Kampala, and every space or neighboorhood may have some form of market.
In case you are particularly in search of souvenirs, then you definitely also needs to think about a go to to Publicity Africa. Positioned on Buganda highway, this market has over 30 stalls that includes arts and crafts that are usually made both in Uganda or Kenya. It has quite a lot of antiques, native crafts, artwork, and souvenirs.
We suggest visiting with a information to get essentially the most of your go to to the markets. They’re giant, busy, and could be actually overwhelming for a first-time customer. An area information can even enable you talk with stall homeowners and be sure you get a good worth.
Whereas we felt secure strolling round Kampala, thieves, pickpockets, and scammers will goal vacationers. You additionally wish to be very cautious of your valuables when contained in the markets. We suggest that you just depart any costly jewellery, cameras, and different gear at your lodge.
Images is commonly discouraged and you might be requested to cease taking photographs or filming. At all times ask earlier than taking a photograph of an individual or their items. Our information requested permission of one of many market homeowners to permit us to take some photographs from sure areas at Nakasero Market and even then we have been watched and requested solely to take photographs from a sure place.
Outdated Taxi Park
The Outdated Taxi Park is the oldest and largest transit terminal in Kampala. Right here you’ll see lots of of minibuses coming and getting into organized chaos.
That is on no account a must-see place however it’s included in loads of strolling excursions as a cease, and it’s a good place to cease to study transportation in Kampala.
Ndere Cultural Heart
One in all our favourite actions in Kampala was our go to to the Ndere Cultural Heart. The cultural heart showcases the cultural heritage of Uganda, with dance performances, artwork reveals, and meals.
The Ndere troupe was based in 1984 by Rwangezi Stephen in 1984 as a cultural group “for common unity by music, dance and drama”. They’ve now additionally unfold that message round Uganda with touring teams.
The primary expertise for guests in Kampala, which is what we’d suggest and did, is to go to for one of many night performances. These range however usually embrace a mixture of dance, theater, and music and infrequently even have the choice to have a buffet dinner throughout the present.
These performances happen just a few occasions every week, and usually run from 7pm – 10pm. Exhibits are held exterior below a big mango tree, and in addition to the present there’s the choice to buy meals and drinks.
We visited for the Wednesday night Sherehe present. This was a very enjoyable night with nice performers and a beautiful setting. The present tells the tales from the totally different Ugandan tribes with conventional dance. There’s additionally a wonderful and entertaining important host who explains what you’re seeing so all of it has context, and brings all of it collectively.
Dinner was a buffet with conventional Ugandan meals which was additionally good. We are able to extremely really useful reserving a ticket for a efficiency right here if one is occurring throughout your go to to Kampala. Its an important night out and supporting a superb native group.
It’s simple sufficient to go to the Ndere Cultural Heart your self, or you possibly can guide a tour which incorporates plenty of sights in addition to the present and dinner like this one.
Nommo Artwork Gallery
For those who’re curious about seeing and even shopping for up some native artwork throughout your time in Kampala, then a go to to Nommo Gallery is price your time. It’s a small gallery however it’s considered one of few in Uganda.
The Nommo Gallery was established by the Uganda Nationwide Cultural Heart in 1964, and could be discovered within the coronary heart of town close to to State Lodge. It serves as Uganda’s Nationwide Artwork Gallery.
After we visited the principle artwork exhibited was a black-and-white pictures exhibition about incapacity. There was additionally plenty of different artwork on the market, largely work, but additionally statues, wooden carvings, paper artwork, and so forth. made by native artists.
Observe that attending to the gallery could be difficult. We had a taxi, however he needed to drop us off a couple of 10-minute stroll from the gallery due to highway closures and safety checkpoints. The gallery is positioned close to the State Home which frequently results in elevated safety within the space. So we needed to go on foot by a few totally different safety checkpoints (a photograph ID was required) to achieve the artwork gallery (after which return).
Lately, there was discuss of relocating the gallery to someplace that’s simpler for guests to achieve however no choice has but been reached. Within the meantime, if you wish to go to make sure to be ready and take alongside an official picture ID with you and put on snug footwear.
Take a Meals Tour
We love exploring the native meals after we go to a rustic, and among the best methods we’ve discovered to try this is to take a meals tour. On considered one of our visits to Kampala we took this three-hour meals tour.
This was a wonderful method to strive a variety of Ugandan meals, and included Rolex, deep-fried grasshoppers, fritters, fried fish, contemporary fruit, sugar cane juice, and samosas from quite a lot of avenue distributors. It then completed with a full buffet at a restaurant specializing in Ugandan meals. Some of the frequent meals eaten in Uganda is matooke (a boiled and mashed inexperienced bananas) so I’d make sure to strive that.
The true spotlight of the tour although, past the superb meals, was our tour information Andrew. The excursions are led by extremely passionate and enthusiastic Ugandans who like to share their ardour for Ugandan meals and their data of Kampala. We have been fortunate sufficient to be the one individuals on the tour, so we bought to talk with our tour information about all types of subjects, from the political historical past of the nation, to his favourite meals, sports activities, and what it’s prefer to reside in Kampala.
If you would like an immersive native expertise and to strive loads of native produce and dishes, this meals tour is a wonderful method to do exactly that. This gives you an important introduction to Ugandan meals.
Go to AFFCAD
Like many international locations all over the world, poverty is an actual subject in Uganda, particularly affecting youngsters. They usually have restricted entry to every part from clear water to training to healthcare, which doesn’t end in constructive life outcomes.
One group that’s working to empower these in poverty is AFFCAD, which stands for Motion for Basic Change
and Growth. This nonprofit was arrange by 4 younger males from Bwaise in Kampala, one of many poorest neighborhoods within the metropolis.
This township suffers from an absence of city planning, speedy inhabitants development, and a location on a former wetland, which all conspire to create dwelling circumstances affected by floods and unsanitary circumstances.
We suggest watching the movie Queen of Katwe earlier than your go to to Uganda to get an concept of life within the slums in Uganda, in addition to study in regards to the superb real-life story of Phiona Mutesi, who grew up in Katwe, and her mentor Robert Katende.
AFFCAD are working to enhance alternatives out there to the individuals in Kampala’s poorest areas, together with the Bwaise neighborhood, by a spread of instructional, healthcare, and financial applications. That is achieved by vocational coaching, colleges, and entry to healthcare.
AFFCAD additionally affords a slum consciousness tour to guests to Kampala, the place you possibly can study in regards to the challenges going through neighborhoods like Bwaise, and perceive what AFFCAD are doing to assist. We’ve written prior to now about moral slum tourism so we positively suggest studying that earlier than reserving any slum excursions. Primarily based on our expertise, we really feel that visiting Bwaise with AFFCAD positively ends in general constructive outcomes.
We took our strolling tour with Jaffar, one of many 4 founders of AFFCAD. We visited the assorted AFFCAD buildings the place they provide vocational coaching. It was not a “college” day, so it was a comparatively quiet day, however we noticed the assorted instruments used for instructing expertise together with computer systems and stitching machines. The tour then took us on foot across the Bwaise neighborhood to get extra of an understanding of the challenges confronted by the residents.
Lastly, we have been served a standard meal of kikkomondo, which is mainly beans and chapati, and is scrumptious. A pleasant method to finish the tour.
Our tour lasted about 2.5 hours and included transport from our lodge in Kampala. We did it in 2023 and the fee was $35 per particular person. We paid in money initially of the tour of their workplace.
The proceeds from the tour go on to serving to AFFCAD enhance the lives of a few of Uganda’s poorest, and may make an actual distinction. It’s additionally an excellent method to get insights from an area about life on this a part of Kampala.
You will discover out extra about visiting AFFCAD at their web site right here. These excursions do must be booked upfront. One of the best ways to arrange a tour is to e-mail them straight, which you are able to do at data@affcad.org.
E book a Strolling Tour of Central Kampala
We are able to extremely suggest reserving a guided strolling tour for no less than a few of your time in Kampala, particularly if you wish to navigate the native markets and monuments, or if you’d like another person to deal with transportation.
Kampala is usually a bit chaotic, particularly for a primary time customer, and letting another person take care of logistics and route planning will allow you to give attention to the sights. It might additionally enable you navigate a number of the language limitations and safety points that you could be come throughout.
We took this glorious strolling tour of the highlights of central Kampala with information Arthur who is part of the ImmersionUG tour firm. It’s the high firm we are able to personally suggest for strolling excursions as we now have taken a number of strolling and meals excursions from them throughout our visits to Uganda.
This firm was setup by a gaggle of younger native Ugandans eager to showcase one of the best of their nation, and we additionally took excursions with them in Entebbe and Jinja. In addition they ran the meals strolling tour we did in Kampala. You’ll be able to see extra of their excursions right here.
The tour we did with Arthur coated a number of the important highlights of central Kampala, and included sampling of a Rolex, visits to Nakasero Market, Owino Market, a Hindu temple, Parliament Sq., and the Outdated Taxi Park, an area espresso on the 1000 Cups Cafe, and time at a number of the monuments in Kampala together with the Independence Monument. We additionally took the choice to go to the Uganda Nationwide Mosque.
Total, we are able to extremely suggest reserving a strolling tour of Kampala as a part of your go to to town. Ideally we suggest doing one thing like this at the start of your time in Uganda because it helps offer you a superb introduction and an opportunity to ask loads of questions.
Day Journeys and 2-Day Journeys from Kampala
Clearly, there’s much more to do in Kampala itself, however in case you are within the metropolis for just a few days (maybe as a part of a convention or one thing), you is likely to be questioning what choices there are for exploring additional afield.
The excellent news is that there are many good day journey choices from Kampala, in addition to choices for 2-day journeys. Most of those could be accomplished as a part of a day tour. Listed below are some to contemplate:
- A day journey to Jinja and the supply of the Nile. Jinja is a comparatively laid-back metropolis on the shores of Lake Victoria, round a 2-hour drive to the east of Kampala. It’s famous as being thought to be one of many sources of the River Nile, as that is the place Lake Victoria begins to feed into this mighty river. A tour from Kampala is an effective method to see the sights of town in a day.
- Entebbe day journey – Most guests to Uganda will go by Entebbe as that is the place the worldwide airport is positioned. It’s solely about half an hours drive from Kampala and could be simply reached with a ride-share or shuttle bus service. There’s a lot to do right here on a day-trip, together with visiting the zoo and the botanical gardens. See our information to Issues to do in Entebbe for some concepts.
- Go to the Chimpanzees at Ngamba Island. Chimpanzee trekking is a well-liked exercise in Uganda, however the majority of the chimpanzees are too distant from the capital metropolis to make a day journey possible. Nonetheless, there’s a inhabitants of chimps on Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria. This tour consists of round-trip transport from Kampala with a boat-cruise, in addition to a guided chimpanzee trek, snacks, and lunch. Observe that that is additionally one of the best place to see chimps in Uganda in case you have youngsters as all different websites have minimal age restrictions.
- See the shoebill storks at Mabamba Swamp. One in all our favourite experiences in Uganda was our boat birding safari on Mabamba Swamp to see the superior wanting shoebill stork. These birds have an unbelievable shovel formed beak, and are solely present in just a few areas in Uganda. The boat tour additionally consists of the chance to see many different birds, however the shoebill stork is the spotlight.
- A day journey to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is at present the one place to see rhino in Uganda. Consists of round-trip transfers and admission to the park. We’ve visited Ziwa twice and have at all times seen rhino, a extra outstanding expertise since you really trek and discover the rhino on foot. Additionally, you will possible see loads of birds and different wildlife as properly right here. Extremely really useful.
- For those who actually wish to go on safari in Uganda however don’t have loads of time to spare, then think about this 2-day in a single day journey to Murchison Falls. It’s round a 4 hour drive every manner, however you’ll nonetheless have time to see the spectacular Murchison Falls, take a ship trip, and do a morning sport drive. There’s additionally the choice to incorporate a cease at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
- There are additionally many multi-day safari targeted excursions from Kampala, together with excursions which function chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking. You’ll be able to see a number of the finest choices on GetYourGuide right here and Viator right here.
There are in fact many extra choices for journeys from Kampala, particularly in case you have extra time. You’ll be able to see a vary of choices right here. The one factor we’d at all times suggest is to examine driving distances. Uganda is pretty giant, and also you don’t wish to spend all of your time simply sitting in a car getting from Level A to B.
Practicalities for Visiting Kampala
The right way to Get to Kampala
As the principle metropolis in Uganda, Kampala is properly related to the remainder of the nation by highway. The primary airport in Uganda is in close by Entebbe, with an specific freeway between the 2, which solely takes round half-hour to journey by automobile. Observe this can be a toll highway, however the price is properly price paying because the previous Entebbe-Kampala highway can take over 2 hours to traverse as a consequence of visitors.
In case you are arriving into Entebbe airport and staying in Entebbe or Kampala, your lodge may be capable to prepare an airport switch for you. You too can guide this your self utilizing a service like this.
There’s additionally a shared shuttle bus service from Entebbe to Kampala and Jinja often known as the Pineapple Categorical. This affords an inexpensive scheduled service from plenty of Entebbe areas together with the airport, and you’ll guide this on-line right here.
The right way to Get Round Kampala
There are a selection of various methods of getting round Kampala. Town and its points of interest are fairly unfold out, so while you possibly can stroll to see some points of interest, it’s possible you will have some type of transport throughout your go to.
There are a selection of choices, together with bike taxis (boda boda), minivan taxis (matatu), trip sharing apps like Secure Boda and Uber, in addition to non-public drivers and tour corporations. You can additionally hire a automobile and drive your self, though given the visitors and a number of the highway conditons we’d in all probability advise towards that.
As a global traveler, your two important choices for fast journey are to both use a automobile (both a personal taxi or by way of trip sharing app) or to get a boda boda. The boda boda is unquestionably the quickest and most cost-effective choice of the 2 and if it’s essential get someplace fast, these are sometimes the one choice. They are often hailed from nearly any avenue. However we caught to automobiles as a result of there was the 2 of us and we felt extra secure in automobiles.
For almost all of our Kampala sightseeing we used a ride-sharing app (Uber) to get across the metropolis. This made issues simple as we may pay by way of the app. Nonetheless, we did have points with drivers not likely understanding how one can use the app appropriately or nonetheless asking us to pay in money (we’d refuse and nonetheless pay by way of app). So simply know many drivers are new to Uber so there can nonetheless be points.
One other well-liked choice is SafeBoda, which lets you specify if you’d like a automobile or a boda boda (bike). For those who do wish to take bike taxis, we do suggest reserving by them as you possibly can pay by way of the app and so they embrace a helmet and security vest.
For a number of the sights we visited they have been shut sufficient to our lodge that we visited them on foot. So strolling is an choice, simply make sure to put on snug footwear you don’t thoughts getting soiled (our footwear bought a pleasant layer of reddish brown mud from our walks).
On considered one of our later visits to Kampala we walked out lots, sufficient in order that the native safety individuals within the space would say whats up to us and ultimately stopped asking if we needed them to name us a taxi. Whereas we felt secure wandering round on foot, it could not really feel snug or be a superb choice for some individuals as you’ll possible draw consideration. We solely walked throughout daytime, and wouldn’t suggest strolling by yourself after darkish.
After all, in case you are doing a tour that features transportation in Kampala (or a part of a a lot greater Uganda tour), then that can be a well-liked manner for guests to get round. On our first go to to Kampala, our driver simply dropped us off and picked us up at designated locations, making it very simple.
In case you are visiting by yourself (with out a tour information), simply know it isn’t that onerous to get round Kampala by yourself. In case you have any questions or need assistance getting a taxi or boda boda, your lodge can simply enable you prepare this.
The place to Keep in Kampala
There’s a variety of lodges to remain at in Kampala, throughout varied worth factors. Listed below are some choices to contemplate, together with the lodges we’ve stayed at throughout our time within the metropolis.
- Bushpig Backpackers – in case you’re in search of a hostel in Kampala (or only a finances pleasant lodging choice), then this is a wonderful alternative. Each non-public rooms and shared dormitory rooms can be found, and it’s only a quick stroll from the Uganda Museum. There’s additionally an on-site bar and restaurant the place the included breakfast is served.
- ONOMO Lodge Kampala – we’ve stayed right here twice and had a cushty keep every time. This is without doubt one of the newer and extra trendy lodges in Kampala. There’s free WiFi, snug air-conditioned rooms, a pool, an on-site restaurant, and glorious buffet breakfast.
- Humura Resorts – we stayed on this pretty stress-free boutique lodge on our first go to to Kampala. Rooms are very snug and provide air-conditioning, and there’s an on-site restaurant and pool. It’s a really peaceable place that gives an oasis of calm away from the bustle of town.
- Kampala Serena – we now have stayed in plenty of Serena properties and at all times had a superb keep, so we’re glad to suggest this 4* lodge. That includes a big swimming pool, air-conditioned rooms, and on-site eating places, this lodge would make an important base for exploring town
- Sheraton Kampala – This 5-star Sheraton lodge is one other luxurious choice discovered within the metropolis heart proper subsequent to the Independence Monument. It has a pool, plenty of eating places, snug air-conditioned rooms, a health heart, a sauna, and a magnificence salon.
After all there are various extra choices throughout Kampala, you possibly can see an entire vary of properties at various worth factors on reserving.com right here.
Security in Kampala
Lots of people ask is Kampala secure? That is not possible to actually completely reply however it’s safer than many different African cities however it does have its share of violent crimes, petty crimes, dangers of terrorism, and well being threats.
That mentioned, we now have personally felt fairly secure in Kampala as overseas guests on our 4 visits to town. However you do have to take regular precautions for touring in a big metropolis.
The primary dangers most vacationers will face in Kampala can be pickpockets and thieves. Understand that a $1,000 digicam or smartphone could also be regular to you however might imply an entire lot to somebody dwelling on just a few {dollars} a day. So, you’ll want to be vigilant together with your valuables and carry a minimal sum of money on you.
The danger will possible be larger in busier areas like crowded markets, or on a public bus. Retaining any valuables like costly jewellery, watches, smartphones, or cameras out of sight is a smart concept. For those who don’t want them, I’d hold them within the lodge. You’ll in all probability discover in a number of the photographs that at the same time as a photographer I left my huge digicam at residence most days and simply carried just a little compact digicam with a thick neck strap.
A cash belt, comparable to this Eagle Creek one (which is the one we personal), is an effective method to retailer cash, bank cards, lodge key, passports, and so forth. You’ll want to guarantee something that may be snatched is secured, so for instance a cross-body purse or digicam strap that goes round your neck goes to be higher than having one thing slung over a shoulder that may be extra simply taken. For those who select to put on a backpack, be sure that the closures/zippers could be secured.
Having a information or becoming a member of a tour will assist cut back your danger; nonetheless, observe you continue to must be vigilant even with a information as they will’t at all times be watching you and your valuables.
For those who select to hire a automobile (not really useful for most individuals), keep away from leaving valuables in your automobile and park it in a safe spot at evening.
As with anyplace on the earth, the chance will increase at evening, and it’s usually finest to keep away from strolling alone at evening in most areas. Taking a ride-share as a part of a gaggle, or simply touring with a personal information, is probably going going to be safer.
A particular consideration for journey to Uganda ought to be made for LGBTQ+ vacationers after the passing of the Might 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act. In keeping with the U.S. Division of State, LGBT individuals (or individuals perceived as such and people selling LGBT points) are at elevated danger for fines, violence, harassment, imprisonment, and may even face the loss of life penalty.
Language in Kampala
The official languages of Uganda are English and Swahili; nonetheless, there are loads of native languages spoken in Uganda.
Essentially the most broadly spoken language within the space is Luganda. Luganda is the language of the Baganda individuals (Kampala is a part of the Buganda area, the biggest of the standard kingdoms in Uganda).
Though Swahili has been made an official language, we hardly ever heard locals talking it until chatting with guests from different East African nations. Some informed us they like to not converse the language because it reminds them of the time of Amin and army violence. Nonetheless, it’s the language they share with many of the remainder of East Africa.
As a vacationer in Entebbe and Kampala, you will get by fairly properly with English as most individuals within the tourism business right here converse no less than some English. At points of interest and museums, the data is commonly written in English.
For those who don’t converse English, Swahili, or an area language comparable to Luganda, you must think about hiring a information or translator to get essentially the most of your time in Kampala. Or no less than convey a superb written guidebook with you.
Foreign money in Kampala
The primary foreign money in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling, or UGX. That is accepted in all places.
The US greenback can be usually accepted, however you need to be conscious that they must be current payments in superb form. Any form of marking or harm to the invoice means it’s unlikely to be accepted as a consequence of a worry of the financial institution not accepting it. We had this occur plenty of occasions in Uganda (and different African nations). So it’s usually simpler to only discover an ATM and withdraw UGX.
Bank cards are additionally accepted at most lodges and bigger eating places, however this isn’t common, so it’s finest to at all times carry some foreign money with you.
Well being in Kampala
As with many international locations all over the world, you’ll want to take some precautions to make sure you keep wholesome as a customer to Uganda.
Earlier than you go to you’ll want to guarantee you’re updated on any vaccinations you want. You also needs to talk about any present suggestions for journey to Uganda, which can possible embrace anti-malarial remedy.
You will get malaria in Kampala though the chance is decrease than in most different components of Uganda. Observe that along with malaria, mosquitoes can carry and transmit plenty of different illnesses so prevention is essential (insect repellent, sporting lengthy sleeves and pants, and so forth.)
We additionally extremely suggest studying the well being recommendation given by your native authorities for vacationers to Uganda. You’ll be able to see the U.S. CDC journey well being data and suggestions to vacationers right here, and from the UK authorities right here.
Studying the well being warnings issued by governments is usually a bit scary as there have been outbreaks of some fairly severe issues like ebola, mpox (monkeypox), cholera, and yellow fever in Uganda. However simply know that these are usually small outbreaks and you aren’t more likely to come into contact with them as a vacationer. However you must nonetheless be educated and take essential precautions.
The primary well being subject most travellers are more likely to face goes to be an upset abdomen. This may be attributable to quite a lot of issues, however is most frequently attributable to consuming or ingesting one thing with contaminated water.
On the subject of water, you’ll want to follow filtered, handled, or bottled water. You’ll additionally wish to keep away from contemporary salads, raw greens and fruits (until you possibly can peel it), unpasteurized milk, cooked meals that aren’t served sizzling, and so forth. until you already know they’re from a good and licensed meals vendor (comparable to your lodge restaurant).
For those who’d favor to keep away from shopping for bottled water in Kampala, you possibly can learn this text on secure ingesting water when touring for methods that you may deal with water when touring. We used a Grayl water filter bottle for filtering faucet water for ingesting, cooking (e.g, washing fruits), and brushing our tooth whereas in Kampala on our final journey. This made it in order that we didn’t want to purchase any bottled water.
For meals, it’s finest to attempt to eat at respected institutions the place attainable. If you wish to be extra adventurous, a good suggestion is to take a meals tour like this one that we did, the place the tour information will steer you in the direction of secure dishes and take you to locations which have good hygiene requirements.
As individuals who have been sick in Uganda (most certainly from consuming contemporary greens on a sandwich), we extremely suggest being cautious and following the really useful tips. We had been in Uganda for just a few weeks at that time and let our guard down for a day which was a mistake that left us sick for a number of days.
Excursions of Kampala
There are a selection of excursions of Kampala that you may take, which can give you a secure, guided expertise in Uganda’s capital metropolis. We’ve taken plenty of strolling excursions in Kampala and so they have been all glorious, with pleasant, educated guides who helped us actually perceive what we have been seeing. Listed below are some excursions we suggest.
- This meals tour, which incorporates a variety of tasty meals, from avenue meals classics by to a sit-down buffet meal. We’ve taken this tour.
- This strolling tour, which incorporates lots of the highlights of Kampala that we point out on this information. We’ve taken this tour as properly.
- That is one other tour of Kampala, which additionally visits plenty of highlights within the metropolis. We haven’t personally taken this one however it’s extremely reviewed.
Getting On-line in Uganda
You could have just a few choices for getting on-line once you go to Uganda. First, many locations together with nearly all of lodges have free WiFi, so it is possible for you to to attach a smartphone, pill, or laptop computer to WiFi. There’s additionally usually free WiFi at espresso retailers and eating places, particularly these catering to vacationers.
Nonetheless, you’re possible additionally going to wish to be on-line even when not in vary of a free WiFi hotspot. Most guides for instance use WhatsApp for communication, which works over the web. If you wish to use a ride-sharing service like Uber you’ll additionally want to have the ability to get on-line.
So which means you’ll want a SIM card with knowledge connectivty. We’ve used Airtel, and we purchased a SIM card from the Airtel kiosk on the arrivals corridor within the airport. There are just a few totally different carriers, however Airtel labored properly for us and was a superb worth. It additionally had the benefit that as we have been visiting just a few totally different East African international locations we have been in a position to buy a roaming knowledge bundle which coated us in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania as properly.
Another choice can be to make use of an eSIM service in case your telephone helps it. We’ve used Airalo in Uganda. We frequently use Airalo after we journey (see our full Airalo overview right here). It’s usually barely dearer than shopping for an area SIM, however will allow you to get on-line as quickly as you land and skip having to discover a SIM card and undergo the native strategy of registering it.
If you would like extra recommendation on web entry when touring, see our information to getting on-line when touring for some suggestions and recommendation.
Energy Retailers / Journey Adapters for Uganda
Uganda makes use of a three-pin plug (Sort G plug), as you can see within the UK and plenty of different international locations in East Africa. In case you are coming from the UK or different nation that makes use of the British plug, then your gear can be positive and also you shouldn’t want a journey adapter.
In case you are visiting from a special nation, comparable to from the USA, Canada, or most of Europe, then you will have a journey adaptor like this.
Moreover, Uganda makes use of a 220v-240v system. That is just like a lot of the world aside from components of the Americas, together with Canada and the USA, the place 110v is the norm. In case you are travelling from considered one of these international locations, you will have to examine in case your gear helps the upper voltage. It ought to be written on the plug.
Typically, decrease powered units like cameras, laptops, and telephone chargers assist 110v – 240v, while larger energy units like hairdryers don’t. See our information to journey adapters for extra on this subject.
Additional Studying
That sums up our information to issues to do in Kampala. We hope you discovered it helpful! Earlier than you head off, we needed to share some hyperlinks to different content material we expect you may discover helpful in planning your journey to Uganda and the broader area.
- We’ve an in depth information to issues to do in Entebbe, that will help you plan extra of your journey.
- We’ve an in depth information to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda in addition to gorilla trekking in Uganda. These are each well-liked actions for guests to Uganda and properly price doing in our opinion
- We’ve a information to picking the finest safari digicam, and a information to getting higher photographs on safari, so you possibly can make sure you get nice recollections of your journey.
- We even have an in depth safari packing checklist that will help you determine what to convey with you
- In case you are planning on visiting Kenya, take a look at our information to issues to do in Nairobi and our recommended 1 day Nairobi itinerary, which has a number of concepts for town
- We’ve a information to getting on-line when travelling, that will help you keep related in Uganda
- You’re going to wish to energy all of your units once you journey – see our information to the finest journey adapters so you possibly can select the fitting one for Uganda
- For those who’d like a journey information, think about the Uganda Bradt Journey Information, which is mostly thought to be the best choice for Uganda. We’ve used the previous version and may extremely suggest this guide because it has every part from the historical past of the nation and it’s individuals, by to packing suggestions, planning recommendation and extra. It additionally consists of detailed data on chimp and gorilla trekking.
- E book smart, we additionally pack and journey with each the Pocket Information: Birds of East Africa and the Pocket Information to the Mammals of East Africa. These are each very conveniently sized and can allow you to establish loads of what you see on a go to to any east African nation.
And that’s it! As at all times, we hope you discovered this information helpful. In case you have any questions or feedback, simply pop them within the feedback part under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we are able to.
