Kampala City Tour $150 per Person

Your Kampala City Tour will begin shortly after your breakfast and you will start with a visit to Kasubi Tombs a great World Cultural Heritage site in Uganda for the Buganda Kingdom. Proceed to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine where the 22 martyrs were killed between 1885 and 1887 by Kabaka (King) Mwanga of Buganda in Uganda; 13 of the martyrs were burnt to death at Namugongo.

Proceed to visit the Uganda museum on your Kampala City Day Tour. Lunch break at any Good restaurant in Kampala preferably your choice. Thereafter drive to Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo and a visit to Kabaka’s Lake is amazing. Time permitting visit the Rubaga Catholic Cathedrals and Namirembe Protestant Cathedrals. The evening will then be spent on leisure shopping at various craft markets in Kampala.

Kampala City Tour package includes:

  • Transportation in a safari van
  • Entrance fees to various sites
  • Fuel expenses
  • Guides allowances
  • Lunch En route
  • Excludes: Any other activities not mentioned in the program.

Top 11 tourism places to visit on a Kampala City Tour.

1. Uganda National Museum

Uganda Museum is the oldest museum in East Africa which was started in 1908. It was first located in Lugard’s fort on old Kampala Hill then transferred to Makerere University at the school of industrial and fine arts and lastly to Kitante Hill where it stands today. It emerged when Governor George Wilson called for “all articles of interest in Uganda”. The museum is a collection of traditional culture and Ugandan Music with all kinds of musical instruments, archaeology, history, science, and natural history. The Museum is one of the tops and best places today you can visit in your Kampala city tour because it gives you the real picture of Uganda and its people.

2. Kasubi Tombs

This is the burial ground for the Kings of Buganda (Kabakas of Buganda) and it has been recognized by UNESCO in December 2001 as a World Heritage site of local and international importance in the entire region of sub-Saharan Africa. This is because it was built purely with plant materials and so far four (4) kings of Buganda have been buried at this site in the house called Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, it was constructed in a circular shape in 1882 and also other members of the Buganda royal family have been and are always buried here. Kasubi tombs as a world heritage site comprise 26 hectares of land and it is used for the agricultural purpose by using traditional techniques by the royal family members. Today, Kasubi’s tomb is one of the interesting and top places to visit while on your Kampala city tour, you will explore the history and culture of the kings of Buganda Kingdom.

3. Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo

Between 1885 and 1887, 32 young men were killed to death for their refusal to renounce Christianity, 22 were killed as authorized by King Mwanga of Buganda, 13 of 22 were burnt to death, others were killed in different ways and also other 2 martyrs were speared to death in Paimol, Gulu in the Northern part of Uganda in October 1918.

The current building of Uganda Martyrs Shrine was started in 1967 at Namugongo and it was finished after 8 years, on 3rd June 1975 and the shrine was officially opened by Papal envoy, His Eminence Sergio Cardinal pignoli.

Due to the history and Since then Uganda receives a lot of martyrs pilgrims on the 3rd June of every year to celebrate martyrs day in Namugongo Martyrs Shrine and this has attracted many visitors over years and not only during the martyrs day celebration but even other days. The unique lake in the gardens of Namugongo shrine is so beautiful and anyone on his / her tour to Uganda would not want to miss a visit to this place. The visitors, who always visit here, often fetch water from this miraculous lake because it is said to have blessings to the extent that some people come to give testimony that the water of the lake can heal various diseases.

Organizers say that over 5,000 foreigners attended the martyr’s day celebration on 3rd June 2019. They moved to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine using plane, bus, and foot outside of Kampala, so the Uganda safari company has eased this visit for everyone who would like to visit Namugongo martyrs shrine at any time to explore the history and the culture of Ugandans.

4. Kampala Central Mosque

Kampala Centrals Mosque formerly known as Gaddafi National Mosque is located on the old Kampala hill in central Kampala city, Uganda. It was a gift to the Muslim community in Uganda by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. The construction of the mosque was completed in 2006 and it accommodates up to 15,000 worshipers and also can seat another 1,100 in the gallery, while the terrace caters to another 3,500.

It was officially opened in June 2007 after the construction was completed and it was named Gaddafi National Mosque since then until 2013 when it was renamed as Uganda National Mosque following the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. This was a result of the new administration of Libya was reluctance to rehabilitate this Mosque.

Today the Mosque acts as the head office of the Uganda Muslim community and supreme council and it is among the most visited place in Kampala by various tourists. Do not miss visiting the Uganda National Mosque, your tour will start right away from the outside while seeing the nice structure of this Mosque, the inside is so good and comfortable with soft and nice looking carpets, and women’s and men’s sides are all nice looking however the men side is bigger than the women side and whenever you are here it is worthy to revisit.

Apart from being excited about the outside and inside part of this mosque, you still have another wonderful experience rather than climbing the Minaret which is composed of 272 steps more than a skyscraper and it will take you almost 15 minutes to climb it. The minaret gives you chance to see the whole of Kampala not excluding the seven hills of Kampala, roads, Kabaka’s Lake, and various tall and short buildings if you have not seen your favorite place, please tell your guide will point it out for you while on the top of the Minaret.

5. Bahai Temple

This is the oldest and the first mother temple to be built on the African continent in 1958 and it was the tallest building in East Africa when it was completed in 1961. The Bahai faith started to increase in 1951, 500 Bahai’s in 80 localities joined, including 13 Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies, and this number of people was represented by 30 tribes in Uganda.

Unlike other religions in the world, they have specific days in the week for gathering but the Bahai people do not have specific days they just decide the day when they should be meeting every week and in Uganda, they meet every Sunday of the week.

They have at least three prayer sessions every day, as it is written in their holy book of prayer, “the Kitáb-i-Aqdas”.  Also, the grounds and the surrounding is one of the most beautiful places one would wish to enjoy as it is covered with beautiful flowers and trees this has attracted very many indigenous species of birds and it is worth visiting.

The temple is visited by many people from Uganda and many other countries in the world to explore the beauty of this temple especially its architectural design, beautiful natural environment, and the history behind temple.

6. Independence Monument

The independence monument was constructed during the days when Uganda was celebrating its first independence on 9th October 1962 and it was funded by the British Colonial government. The monument is located on Speke road and Nile Avenue in Kampala city bordering the fences of Sheraton Hotel gardens, overlooking Grand Imperial Hotel on the right and opposite Standard Chartered bank. With the beauty of this monument and around this place, you will require a camera to take memorable pictures. During your Kampala City Tour, please remember to tell your driver guide to take you to this top and most accessible attraction within Kampala city.

7. Ndere Cultural Centre

Uganda which is known as the pearl of Africa is the country with the most cultural diversity in the world as noted by the current UN report in 2019. Ndere cultural center was founded in 1986 to promote cultural activities in Uganda which include performing arts, music, dance, storytelling, and poetry which has been translated into happiness and love during this wonderful performance.

Today Ndere center with its troupes represents over 60 groups of people and over 30 indigenous languages (a summary of Uganda’s Culture and tribes) however English and Kiswahili are the official languages being used by most people.

The performance takes place every Wednesday and Friday at 7:00 pm as well as on Sunday at 6:00 pm ready to enjoy and watch the music and dance of the Ugandan tribes with Ndere troupes performing at Ndere center.

8. Namirembe Cathedral

This is the oldest cathedral in Uganda located in Namirembe hill since March 1890. It is also known as Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe which serves as the provincial cathedral of the Church of Uganda and the diocesan cathedral for Namirembe Diocese. The church of Uganda was moved to Nakasero in All Saints Church and taken back again to Namirembe hill where it is located today.

The church of Uganda has been built several times and the fifth structure which accommodates over 10, 000 people stands today at Namirembe hill. This has been a result of various circumstances like the Swampy area, Strong winds, termites, and fire hence it being constructed five times.

It is open to all kinds of visitors while on your Uganda Safari and the guide will take you through this interesting church and its Museum to see and learn the history of this church.

9. Kabaka’s Palace

The palace was constructed in 1885 by Ssekabaka Mwanga11. This was when he took over the dominion in 1884 at age of 18 years old.  It is a rule in Buganda Kingdom for the new king to choose a hill where to build his palace, so Mwanga 11 constructed his first palace at Masaja and after some time he thought of shifting his palace away from Masaja.  He had always appreciated Emmengo which was also by then called Nkaawo hill where members of the Nvubu clan stored their grinding stones for herbal medicine.

So the king decided to construct his palace at Nkaawo hill (Emmengo) and the name Mengo was adopted. Today the palace became Mengo Palace and the hill became Mengo hill. The king was much scared when the palace caught fire after the construction was completed and this fire destroyed the all-important documents for the Kingdom, it scared the king and he escaped away to Nalukolongo where he was hosted by Roman Catholic Missionaries. After some time, the king left the missionaries and went to live with Mukasa who was the Katikiiro to his father Ssekabaka Muteesa II.

When he was still staying at Mukasa`s place, lightning struck and destroyed everything at Mukasa`s home in 1886. He again ran away from Mukasa`s home and went to Munyonyo where he constructed another palace at Mulungu hill next to Lake Victoria. The prime Minister of Uganda (Milton Obote) ordered a strong attack to remove Kabaka Mutesa 11 in 1966. By the commands of Idi Amin’s forces, they attacked angrily the palace and after many times of attacks and fighting, the King was forced to flee and live in exile in the United Kingdom.

The palace was completely turned into army barracks and it became a dangerous underground prison and torture chamber for Idi Amin in the 1970s. This underground torture chamber built by Idi Amin was a dark concrete tunnel with numerous dark, damp cells which were separated by an electrified passage of water to prevent the escape of prisoners, also you can see charcoal messages written by former prisoners on the walls: one reads ‘Obote, you have killed me, but what about my children and on the grounds are also the scrap metal remains of Mutesa’s Rolls Royce destroyed by Idi Amin.

10. Kabaka’s Lake

This is the largest manmade lake in Uganda located between Ring Road and Nabunya Road in Ndeeba Rubaga Division, It is 5 km away from the Kampala City center. It was constructed between 1885 and 1888 by fifty-two (52) clans of the Buganda Kingdom during the regime of Ssekabaka Mwanga 11.

The Kabaka (King) had planned to construct a wide channel so that he can cruise by boat to reach Lake Victoria for swimming, and fishing purposes and also to enable him to stay at his palace which he had constructed at Mulungu hill in Munyonyo next to Lake Victoria, it was also to serve as an escape route in the event of armed conflict with the British. Unfortunately, all of his plans were veins distorted by religious war which broke out in Buganda Kingdom on 2nd August 1888.

The lake occupies an area of around 2 square kilometers and is about 200 feet deep and water level is constant throughout the year yet it has no water outlet which supplies it with water but only the underground springs since 1885, the environment surrounding this manmade lake is so beautiful with tall trees and green grasses and the two islands make it more beautiful, walking on shores is an experience and you will also see local people and learn about their behaviors and culture about this lake, it is also home of various bird species like Great White Egrets, Hadada Ibis, Black Headed Weaver, Open-billed Stork, and African Darter among other bird species.

11. Nakasero Market

It is located in the heart of Kampala at the foot of Nakasero hill, it is among the famous, biggest, and largest markets in Kampala city just 50 meters away from Entebbe road. It was set up in 1895 when the King of Buganda was advised to set up the first market in the palace. Later after 10 years, the market was moved to Kagugube which is currently between Sir Apollo Kagwa Road and Gaddafi Road lastly it was moved to its current location Nakasero hill when the temporary structure of the market was built by then.

The market was divided into two areas; the first area is the open part which is temporarily covered and this is the area where people buy fresh produces.  The closed area which is shown by an old building is a place that contains hardware, clothes, and other tourist items being sold.