Steeped in a multi-cultural heritage and history, Kampala city is a modern and rapidly growing commercial and an administrative capital of Uganda and a seat of a thriving Buganda kingdom. Kampala’s rise to a power center began 100yrs ago when the British elected their colonial flag atop the newly constructed fort on old Kampala hill declaring Uganda as a protectorate. The British named the new established regional colonial office and the capital as Kampala from the local Baganda name of these hills; “Akasozi k’empala” translated as “a hill of Impala” after the beautiful antelope that was abundant in these rich hunting grounds of the Buganda kings and princes.
Today the city stretches over an area of 190km2, outgrowing the original historical 7-hills that made up the city by independence time. With a youthful population of up to 3m people on a single day, Kampala is a melting pot of diversity from business, political, cultural and religious classes earning it a name “the city that never sleeps”.
6 Highlights on Kampala City Tour
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Explore its History on Monument and Museum Tour
Over its centenary heritage, Kampala is rooted in political, socially and economical history that has shaped its current status as the regional powerhouse. The vibrant business streets with diverse architectural designs tell of humble days of this city’s commerce, where Indian merchants first established. These entrepreneurs who made a fortune from their tin-walled dukas or iron walled retail shops are credited for introducing retail business in Uganda that has flourished and transformed the city skylines with modern shops, theaters and temples. Further across, the quiet and posh neighborhoods with characterful tree-lined streets, green 18-holed golf course, posh offices and variety of real estate exposes the current and past social status of this great city residents. Monuments elected across green parks and streets, tell of significant events and story through which Kampala has grown through from its infancy to a vibrant, peaceful and lively metropolis.
These historical monuments include independence monuments, the parliament of Uganda, Uganda Cultural Centre, magnificent religious estates and higher educational institutes of learning that has shaped this city and the nation. Finally, appreciate the recent and the future at the National Museum that showcase Uganda’s heritage, and strides its making towards the future.
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Visit the Vibrant fruit Markets and busy Business streets
Uganda’s enterprising spirit comes alive on Kampala’s buzzing streets, lively markets and along down town! Here is the center of commerce and business where daily, over 3 million people exchange services, merchandise and shop their food from several fruit and food markets spread across this vibrant metropolis.
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Shop like local
Test your negotiating skills along arcade-lined streets that are stocked with all classes of merchandise from cheap designer shoes, smart phones, watches and sports items to fresh food stalls in Nakasero Market the oldest food market in the country.
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Take a Cultural Tour
Kampala is a seat of Buganda Kingdom, the oldest and powerful kingdoms within the great lake’s region. Stretching as far as 13th century, Buganda is the biggest and populous kingdom with a highly organized political structure headed by a 36th Kabaka (king) Ronald Mutebi 2 at the helm with a parliament and chiefs administering his rule up to the grassroots level. This level of organization is what shocked the colonial powers who later allied along it to extend their rule across other small kingdoms in the region, thus the new Uganda country was modelled upon the same power structures of this ancient kingdom.
On this cultural tour, learn of its past, business and power brokering maneuvers that not only spared it but strengthened and prospered it to become a powerful ally during and after colonial storms that shook this equatorial region and its contribution to the birth of the current state of Uganda. A tour further explores traditions, beliefs of different clans’ status, rank and responsibility that has enabled it to flourish and survive several political and religious waves that has rocked this kingdom.
A tour includes a visit to the Kings Palace, Parliament, Torture chambers, Kabaka’s Lake the biggest man-made lake on the continent, a walk along the Royal Mile and the UNESCO heritage site of Kasubi Tombs (currently closed for renovations).
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Explore several religious Attractions
Uganda is a highly religious country, and Kampala city reflects this diversity with 65% of the population identifying themselves as Christians, 20% Moslems and the rest divided between Hindu, Bahai, Jews and other African religions. Foreign religions can be traced to early traders and explorers that introduced them in Buganda kingdom from where they spread across the region. These new and “modern religions” brought in different lifestyles and beliefs that crushed with culture, local beliefs that led to bitter conflicts that shaped the course of history.
Toady standing tall on several Kampala hills are cathedrals, temples and mosques of these religions adorned with architectural artwork imported from across the world.
Notable religious sites:
- The Bahai Temple, the biggest on the continent sitting atop the Kikaya Hill, 6km north west Kampala
- Ghaddafi Mosque also known as Kampala Grand Mosque the largest in the sub-Saharan Africa,
- St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe for Anglican, the oldest in the country
- St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, a Catholic Archdiocese.
Uganda Martyrs Shrine and Museum at Namugongo
Here at Namugongo shrine is a testimony about the cultural resistance and brutal price new converts paid for their new faiths including paying with their lives. That price to the death, is the reason they are cerebrated as martyrs every 3rd of June annually as Uganda Martyrs whose faith led to rapid growth of the new found faiths. Across the region, schools, roads, hospitals and cathedrals are named after these faithful.
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Take a Boda Boda or Matatu on a Kampala Tour
Other cities have yellow-cabs, tube, metro, trams and so forth, but Kampala has taxi and Boda-boda.
Surprising to a first-time visitor, Kampala’s taxis are the blue-side striped mini-vans that pry and connect local suburbs to its city center. The city’s narrow and congested roads are notorious for their heavy (but short) traffic jams especially in the peak hours. Without a major bus or train services to connect to its suburbs, these smaller private mini-bus taxis (matatu taxis) with a capacity of 14 passengers and boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) serve the local commuters that trade and work in this bustling city.
The smaller two wheeled Boda bodas are quicker beating and negotiating crammed roads but be sure to put on a safety helmet, as these riders tend to be reckless. The safer well-organized riders, operate via a phone app and can be reached to pick/drop you at a desired destination.
Bigger buses set out daily for longer routes to upcountry towns and even as far as other regional capitals. Other service providers include Uber and local taxis locally called “special hire” that park strategically outside major supermarkets, shops, hotels and markets.
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Experience Night Life – Dine, Wine and Dance like a Local
Kampala’s nightlife is remarkable in the region. As the sun sets over towering hillsides, the suburbs come alive with friends and colleagues dinning away the evening. Its kind of a ritual for Kampalans to pass by local pub/joint or Kafunda as its locally known to catch up, socialize, watch a soccer game together and dine away an evening. Weekends are lightened up by lively party themes that run till late earning the name “the city that never sleeps”. These social areas serve diverse cuisine types suiting the city’s diverse social class.
Street food vendors serve diverse food categories from roasted chicken and a notable local delicacy “Ugandan Rolex”.
Advisory on Kampala City tour
- How safe are Kampala’s streets?
Kampala’s streets are safe, however personal vigilance and safety precautions is advised. While out on this tour, keep your valuables like expensive watches, phones and cash out of the public eye, to avoid attracting attention of pick pocketers. If you have to book a taxi/ boda to transport you to a destination, use providers from your hotel, or on Apps from your mobile phone, these have a safety record. You can find Uber, Safe Boda and Bolt among others. If u find yourself running late, inform in time your host/hotel and avoid dark galleys.
- Dress Code on Kampala’s City Tour
Modesty and respectfully. Cover the sensitive parts, shorts as long as knee level and trousers are widely acceptable including on streets. On a visit to cultural and religious sites, women are required to dress respectably. Descent coverings are provided on several entrances to these sites.
- Is Kampala’s Street Food safe?
Much as appetizing and adventurous street food is, we discourage visitors to just eat anywhere, apart from descent restaurants whose hygiene are up to standard. Before travelling, do take further inquiries from your GP doctor for advice on tropical food reaction.
- Is water safe for drinking?
On our tours we encourage visitors to drink only bottled-mineral water. Several brands in Kampala have a great international safety standard.
Shopping
Kampala city is an economic hub of Uganda and major shopping center for the region. In several upscale malls, top range international branded goods from clothing lines, phones and accessories are stocked and the prices mostly in UGX is suitable. The lively downtown business district however is flooded with variety of imported and locally made goods where one can practice his/her bargaining skill. Here new and second-hand clothes, utensils, building materials, furniture and gadgets are on sale.
Fresh food and vegetable markets are fully stocked with local produce from all the regions of the country and prices vary to one’s bargaining power.
How to get to Kampala
Kampala only lies 40km north of Entebbe international airport