Uganda is a pearl of Africa with the highest diversity of culture. A profusion of ethnicity, languages, foods, people, beliefs and many other cultural norms is comprised of the Ugandan culture. Uganda not only boasts wildlife and nature, but also the Ugandan culture. Uganda includes about 65 tribal groups and 17 tribes belonging to the Bantu and Nilotic groups of people which makes cultural safaris more charming.
Visitors are welcomed by different tribes which are free to Mix and mingle with different tribes and entertained by the hospitable netizens with dramatic traditional performances with local musical instruments and enjoy the well-prepared local cuisine. The people of Uganda are welcoming, hospitable, and warm. You can experience it when you step your foot in Uganda and interconnect with the people.
The different tribes in Uganda include the Nilotics from the north such as Langi, Acholi, kakwa, Madi, Lugbara, Alur, and others; the Bantu who are the majority include Baganda, Banyankole, Bafumbira, Batooro, Bakiga, Bakonjo, Banyoro, Basongola and from the eastern region, there are Bagwere, Banyole, Bagishu, Basamia, Basoga, and others.
A historical-cultural safari in Uganda will bring into proximity to many cultural divergences, including the Igongo cultural center in the western region that confines most of the western culture and its history and several significant historical statues and monuments dispersed in different areas of Uganda such as Kabaka Muteesa 1 statue, liberation statue, Sir. Apollo Kaggwa and many others.
There are over 700 cultural sites in Uganda across all regions and 20 are gazetted by the government while on a cultural trip, expect to see more than your expectations and purchase some of the local souvenirs for remembrance. Below are some of the top visited cultural sites in Uganda.
KASUBI TOMBS.
Kasubi Tombs are one of the main valuables of the Buganda kingdom and the leading tourist attraction in Kampala center in Uganda. The kasubi tombs are found six kilometers away from the Kampala center at Kasubi hill. They are burial ground for four kabakas (kings of Buganda) and other important royals on the Kasubi hill in Kampala including Muteesa II, Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa, and Muteesa I.
The tombs were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. In 2010, Kasubi tombs were set on fire and a large part of the shrines was seriously destroyed. Despite that tragedy, Kasubi tombs still receive more visitors regularly even though they are under renovations. These tombs are the sign of spiritual and social state to the people of Buganda which happen to be the largest sub-national kingdom in Uganda.
NAMUGONGO MARTYRS SHRI
The Namugongo Martyrs Shrine located in the Namugongo Kampala suburbs in the Wakiso district is among the most visited religious sites in Uganda. The shrines were built to commemorate the 25 Christians of the Anglican and Catholic denominations who were killed after refusing to give up their faith.
The shrine was built to honor young men who were pages of king Mwanga II of Buganda who were burnt to death by the king’s orders for refusing to denounce Christianity a king seen as a foreign threat to his ruling. Each year many Christians (Catholics and Anglicans) gather on their death anniversary to commemorate the lives and bravery religious beliefs of the martyrs that marked June 3rd as a public holiday to pay their tributes by all religious denominations from different areas and countries
SOURCE OF RIVER NILE.
River Nile is the longest and most famous river in Africa and comes second in the world after the Amazon River. It was first discovered by John Speke the first European to reach Lake Victoria. River Nile comprises 2 streams that are the white Nile the longest stream wing that splits into 3 parts (the central Sudan region, the lake plateau, and the sud region), and the Blue Nile which connects to Khartoum to form a core Nile that makes the Egyptian Nile and the Cataract.
Recently, the source of the Nile is the prime tourist destination in Uganda. Once you step your foot in Uganda, you realize it’s indeed a pearl of Africa. There are fantastic views of the lake and these can be seen when you take a trip to Jinja and engage in different activities. The perfect tranquility of the surroundings makes for good photo-shoot and bird-watching.
There are several activities that are carried out including Kayaking, water rafting, bungee jumping, boat rides as well as fishing, lucky enough you may even spot the African spoonbill, the Eurasian spoonbill, Kingfishers, African sacred Ibis monkeys, and other animals, attract a lot of travelers. These have attracted large numbers of tourists that visit Uganda. Once you are here, you get to know that surely Uganda is the pearl of Africa.
AMABERE GA NYINAMWIRU
The site is located approximately ten kilometers from Fort Portal, the Breast of Nyinamiwiru is thought to have origins shrouded in myth and legend. It’s one of the famous tourist attractions in the city. It is said that King Bukuku of the Toro and Bunyoro kingdoms had his daughter Nyinamiwiru’s breasts cut off after she refused to marry the man he chose for her.
Today, many visitors to the cave can see stalactites resembling breasts with water dripping from them depositing white calcite. The local guide will tell you the water is breast milk dripping from Nyinamiwiru’s breasts. These damp caves tell a sad story not so far from fort portal town.
Bukuku ordered to cut off his daughter’s breasts since it was prophesized that she would bear a boy child who would overthrow him. She was imprisoned and banned from interacting with boys but later on, she fell in love with Isimbwa when he sneaked into the kingdom, he took off with her and she gave birth to a baby boy named Ndahura, when the king found out, he ordered for the baby’s killing but one of the guards hid the boy in the caves with stalactites with breast milk that are believed to have fed Ndahura hence being called Amabere ga Nyinamwiru.
NYERO ROCK PAINTING
Nyero Rock paintings are found in Eastern Uganda in the Kumi district 8 km away from Kumi town. The thrilling paintings were designed by people living in the area who had no clue about where they originated and their designed paintings. The paintings show several symbols including canoes and animals that floated in the area
When approaching these rocks a little trek and climbing are needed, but it is worth it to see the amazing rock arts dated for many years. Nyero has 6 rock shelters in total but 3 shelters are separated by a good distance from each other and they are referred to as shrines by the locals. They were first documented in the Teso report in 1913 as the most protected rock site in Uganda and entire east Africa. Be sure to visit Nyero rock painting during your next stay in Uganda.
Nyero may be the most protected rock art site in East Africa and justifiably so given its prehistoric value to Uganda and Africa at large. To some, Nyero Rock Paintings are just beautiful rock art, or just another tourism site yet it should be more than that.
SEMPAYA HOT SPRING
Sempaya Hot Springs can be found in Semuliki National Park. Attracting hordes of tourists each year, these hot springs have a geyser that shoots up from a hole at really hot temperatures. The water is so hot you can boil an egg and eat it in ten minutes.
Sempaya Hot Springs’ water temperature is over 1000°C, twice as hot as most hot springs in the world. If you love a good nature tour, the park not only offers the hot springs but also hosts primate creatures like grey-checked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, elephants, chimpanzees, De Brazza’s monkeys, and pygmy antelopes.
UGANDA MUSEUM
The Uganda Museum is found on Kira road just a few kilometers from the city center. It is an ideal place to get some solid ground information about the country, its people, cultures, and traditions. This takes you back about 1000 years ago to all the generations that existed from the colonial period and beyond.
The museum offers to rest and reading place for the shortest time before you proceed on to your next destination neighboring curio shops and Acacia mall at Kisementi offering you a great shopping experience. There’s also an opportunity for you to be able to buy Uganda art and craft as a souvenir for your trip. There are a variety of things to look at and stories behind them from all the ages that existed. Visitors taking a city tour to Kampala have a big opportunity to explore more about the Uganda museum and other attractions in Kampala city.
NDERE CULTURAL CENTER
This center is found in Ntinda, a suburb of Kampala. Ndere is got from the Kiganda word “endere” which refers to a flute. The Ndere Troupe Cultural Center is arguably the best place to experience the culture of Uganda as a whole. Traditional performances from all over Uganda can be enjoyed here.
Apart from learning about the culture of the tribes in Uganda, you can order traditional meals from almost every part of the country. The Ndere Troupe Cultural Center attracts a lot of tourists. It is really the place to be if you are touring Kampala or on a wider cultural trip around the country. You don’t have to worry about accommodation because they have decent accommodation facilities at a good price.
IGONGO CULTURAL CENTRE:
This is a privately owned cultural Centre found in Mbarara District along the highway to Kampala. The Centre is built on the grounds of the former palace of the King of Ankole. It was established to promote the culture of the people of Uganda and entire Africa.
There is no better place to experience the culture of the people of Western Uganda than at the Igongo Cultural Center. The Center has been built to high standards with beautiful gardens and views. The Centre has a museum, restaurant, and nice craft shop. You can also buy local dictionaries and books about Uganda and the local tribes in Western Uganda.
Igongo is a favorite stopover place for tourists heading for Queen Elizabeth national park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park, and also Lake Mburo national park. If you want to spend a longer time at the Centre, you can book a room from the hotel at the Centre or put up a tent at the designated campsite.
BIGO BYA MUGENYI
Bigo bya Mugenyi is also known as “the fort of the stranger”, it’s covered with woods, shrubs, and wild savanna grassland. This incredible historical site is found in and because the history of Bachwezi who were believed to be the inhabitants of Bigo bya Mugenyi has no traceability in terms of origin, the site has remained a historical site being studied by the locals in social studies and history.
The Bachwezi were said to be demigods and the founder of the ancient Kitara Empire in some parts of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are believed to have occupied Bigo bya Mugenyi between the 11th and 15th centuries. Their identity is a mystery and up to now, no one knows where and why they disappeared. But there is a strong belief in some scholars that they acquired other indigenous tribes and that could be the Tutsi of Rwanda and Burundi and Bahima of Ankole.
NAKAYIMA TREE
This tree has got exciting tales and myths that surround its existence. People from far and near have beliefs in what this tree can offer and they travel from all over to this tree to make their offertories and prayer requests.
The tree is located on a hill that overlooks Mubende town about 143 kilometers west of Kampala. Nakayima with her long history that brought about its name is believed to have been King Ndahura’s favorite medium one of the three kings who are believed to have reigned the Bachwezi Empire once lived here and her spirit resides in the tree which is also a symbol for fertility and other blessings.
Particularly there are some rituals that are undertaken to obtain favors and blessings from Nakayima. This includes circling it while making your offering as instructed by a guardian acts as “jajja” at this shrine.
TOORO KINGDOM
The Toro kingdom is located in western Uganda, in Fort Portal city in Kabalore district. It is currently headed by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV who ascended to the throne at the age of 3 years after the death of his father but he has grown up and his influence is paramount to Batooro and beyond.
He is currently the youngest ruling monarch in the world and holds an important eminence among the Batooro. Their culture is quite stronger but somehow similar to the Banyoro in terms of hierarchy. They have a cultural naming system called Empaako (PET NAME) where children are given one of twelve pet names shared with all the communities in addition to their given names known. The town is prominent for its spectacular views and neatness all year round.
SEZIBWA FALLS
The Sezibwa falls are found in the Mukono district. These waterfalls are believed to have been born by human beings years ago. The Sezibwa Falls are one of the most cultural centers visited by many natives from different areas for wealth, blessings, and fortunes. The waterfalls are an important cultural and spiritual site for Buganda and they are visited by many travelers due to their amazing and beautiful scenery and various activities carried out such as camping, birding, rock climbing, and some primate watching that leave them impressed and gruntled.
GADAFFI NATIONAL MOSQUE
The Gaddafi national mosque is located in Kampala on old Kampala hill, one of the city’s seven hills in the city center. It has a wonderful view that attracts various visitors from all corners to have a glimpse of it. The mosque was built and authorized by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi the former president of Libya to the Muslim community.
It accommodates over 15,000 worshipers and another congregation of 1,100 in the gallery, the terrace caters to another 3,500. The mosque mihrab contains 304 stairs to reach its climax. It has a colorful structure with majestic features of art that were built and designed based on a combination of the Arab cultures.
Uganda is blessed with a variety of tourist attractions from national parks, wildlife resources, cultural encounters, and sites, to man-made attractions such as lakes, markets, souvenir shops, and more. These can be visited taking a safari to Uganda the pearl of Africa and only if you have time. Our 15 days Uganda safari can guarantee you several attractions if you plan your safari package accordingly.
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