Uganda’s main commercial and industrial metropolis is Kampala. The banks, insurance firms, insurance bureaus, restaurants, shopping centres, casinos, and government buildings make up the core business district. Despite Luganda being the primary language spoken, there are individuals from all around Uganda living in the city. In Kampala, practically everyone speaks and understands English. Because Kampala has it all action, social services, and opportunities—people are drawn to the city. Because Kampala is located near the equator, it enjoys wonderful, warm weather for the majority of the year. The greatest location for an outsider to understand and value the nation’s cultural richness is Kampala.
Kampala is the country’s largest urban area, home to 1,800,000 people. Kampala was officially the hunting territory of the Kabaka before the British and Arabs arrived in Uganda. Kampala’s name, which translates to “The hill of the Impala,” comes from the fact that it had one of the highest Impala populations in the country. The rolling hills, valleys, and ponds provided perfect habitat for antelopes. The city was once spread across seven hills: Kibuli, Old Kampala, Kololo, Mengo, Rubaga, Nsambya, and Namirembe. It now encompasses almost 20 hills.
Places to Visit on a Kampala City Tour
Kasubi Tombs:
The fallen monarchs of the Buganda Kingdom are buried here. This collection of Buganda monarchs’ tombs spans about 30 hectares of hillside in the Kampala area. Built in 1882 and transformed into a royal burial site in 1884, the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda sits on a hill. The main structure, Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, is round with a dome on top. Inside are now four royal graves. It is an outstanding illustration of an architectural feat utilising mostly organic materials, such as wood, thatch, reed, wattle, and daub. But the site’s intangible values—belief, spirituality, continuity, and identity, are what really matter.
Nakasero Market:
Additionally, you will visit Uganda’s local marketplaces. The right Reverend McKay counselled Buganda’s Kabaka at the time to open the country’s first market in the Lubiri (Palace) in January 1895. The market relocated to Kabugube in 1905, and this was a makeshift building. A vast array of fresh fruits and vegetables, the most of which are native to Uganda, are available here. A lower market with spices, beans, cereals, and handcrafted household goods is located across the street. There are numerous stores, or dukas, all across this market where you can get anything you need for the house. The location is surrounded by stores selling electrical, sanitary, and hard goods.
Owino Market:
One of the biggest markets in this part of Africa is Owino. Owino’s chaotic alleyways are lined with countless stalls that sell an incredible variety of goods, ranging from handmade irons to American secondhand garments still with their price tags on, from an incredible selection of African cuisines to anything and everything under the sun. At Owino, prices are low at first and can be further reduced by haggling. If you’re looking for mementos, stop by the Buganda Road craft market or the slightly bigger one behind the national theatre next to the Garden City complex. If you need clothes to be tailored, there are several tailors on Buganda Road, which is across from the craft market. Additionally, the classy café 1000 Cups of Coffee is a great place for Mzungu hangouts to unwind after a long day of shopping.
Rubaga Cathedral:
Roman Catholics occupied Rubaga Hill (and established the first Roman Catholic church here). The principal palace of Kabaka Muteesa I, who ruled Buganda from 1856 until 1884, was situated atop Rubaga hill. After being struck by lightning, the palace was reconstructed on Mengo Hill, a nearby neighbourhood. Father Pierre Lourdel Monpel and Brother Amans, two Frenchmen who resided close to the hill in 1879, were the first Roman Catholic missionaries to arrive in Buganda. A plot of land atop Lubaga Hill was given to the missionaries as the Catholic Church spread throughout the nation. Between 1914 and 1925, St. Mary’s Cathedral was built on Lubaga Hill thanks to financial gifts from Roman Catholic communities overseas.
Namirembe Cathedral:
The oldest Anglican church in Uganda is Namirembe Cathedral, located on Mengo Hill, home to the main office of the largest traditional monarchy in Uganda. The hill is 1,260 meters (4,134 ft) above sea level. It is next to Mengo Hill, where the Buganda government is headquartered. The political, theological, and geographical histories of the two hills are entwined. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the principal house of worship for the Anglican Church in Uganda, was built in Namirembe between 1915 and 1919. In the 1960s, the Cathedral was repurposed as the headquarters of the Diocese of Namirembe. At that point, the Church of Uganda’s headquarters were relocated to All Saints Church in Nakasero. Since the conclusion of the religious conflicts in the 1890s, the religion most strongly linked to the Buganda Monarchy is the Anglican Faith.
Uganda National Mosque:
The Gaddafi mosque is situated on one of Kampala’s most prominent hills. The construction of the structure was financed by the government of Libya in 2006. With accommodation for nearly 17,000 people, the mosque was built on orders from the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. From the top of its ninety-meter tower, the mosque provides one of the three best views over Kampala’s central area. The mosque has beautiful views of Kampala and is decorated with wonderful carpets and Moroccan architecture.
Baha’i Temple:
There is only one Baha’i temple in Africa, and it is in Uganda. Constructed atop Kikaaya Hill, the temple is an exceptional architectural marvel. Great views of the city centre and adjacent areas may be seen from the temple. The temple is frequented by many city dwellers who come to relax on its lovely grounds and gardens. Visitors are usually given a tour of the establishment to educate them about the Baha’i religion. Following their interior tour, guests are taken for a walk through the gardens where they can snap pictures while admiring the stunning views of Kampala’s skyline or spotting wildlife.
Kabaka’s Lake:
The Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda constructed the Kabaka’s Lake. It’s Africa’s largest artificial lake. The lake was created to serve as a means of escape in the event of an assault or insurrection and to link the King’s palace with Lake Victoria. Regretfully, it was never completed to the original plan, and no connection to Lake Victoria was made. The lake is home to an incredible variety of birds and offers breathtaking beauty. Going fishing or exploring the lake are other options.
The Uganda Martyrs Shrine:
The Martyrs Shrines are located in Namugongo, a Kampala neighbourhood. About twenty-two Catholic martyrs, who refused to renounce Christianity, are remembered at these memorials. More than a million people from all over the world come to the shrine on June 3rd to pray and celebrate in honour of the Ugandan Martyrs. In addition to participating in the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, pilgrims can take in the breathtaking architectural designs or pay a visit to the well that surrounds the shrine, from which they draw water thought to provide heavenly blessings and healing.