All You Need To Know About Kampala City, Uganda

Kampala is the capital of Uganda a country in the region of East Africa, with an elevation of 3900ft, maintaining an average temperature of 26⁰c throughout the year. The capital city of Uganda is sited on 7 hills which give the city a moderate feeling of both hot and cold throughout year with a scenic view when one is having a flying safari over Kampala, the capital has got favorable surroundings which make it a very accessible place compared to the other parts of the country. From the south, the capital city of Uganda is situated along port bell on Lake Victoria which acts as a shipment yard for the imports and exports of the country since it is landlocked and the airport in Entebbe which acts as the immediate supply chain of trade via air for Kampala. It was also built along the east African railway which links the city to Mombasa in Kenya and has got a diverse road network which links it to across all major towns and cities within the country.

The city population is over 1.7million people, making it    the number one hotspot of Uganda’s economy. It is this number of people that have gone ahead to make the capital an interesting economic hub for the country. due to this, Kampala businesses attract even more people from other regions to come and Participate in the day to day activities happening with in the city. By mid day, the city’s population almost triples to over 5 million banakampala (a name given to the Kampala city dwellers and workforce.) coming from across all regions of the country

Kampala is also located in the heart of the Buganda kingdom and most of the inner population is of the baganda tribe. The city as first used by lord Lugard as a capital for the east African trade company before it was later transferred to Entebbe and later on back to Kampala. The capital city goes ahead to measure an estimated area of 73 square miles. The metropolitan area of Kampala occupies an area of 3263square miles. Including mukono, wakiso, mpigi, luweero and buikwe, the metropolitan population has up to 6.7million people as residents.

Economically, Kampala hosts all the major banking headquarters of the Ugandan commercial banks, as well as all the trade centers, the manufacturing industries, hospitality industry. All together, these institutions give most of the capital city dwellers an occupation where they can a living

Culturally, Kampala is the fashion centre, business centre, party centre and the dream of every Ugandan adult and youngster to be at. because Uganda is a multi-tribal nation, Kampala acts as the meeting centre of the country’s tribes, at this round table, different cultures come together to achieve a common a common goal of success.

Transportation around Kampala happens in different styles, if one does not own a private car, one will have to use the different means like a bicycle which is the cheapest one all them. Motorcycles famously known as the boda bodas are the most interesting means of transport to get around the town as a fast way and most convenient. Taxis are also an option since they are the most affordable way of getting around the city in order to conduct business

What Kampala has to offer?’

The Kasubi tombs are the royal burial grounds for the ruling family of the Buganda kingdom and are found in kasubi. The tombs date back to the first kings of the Buganda kingdom together with their families. Furthermore, It gives the visitor an insight of the Buganda culture without retribution however much half of it was burnt down I the great 2010 fire, the tombs have been refurbished without even losing a single touch of their magnificent original architecture. The tombs also provide an insight how the Buganda kingdom came to its rise and the different earlier achievements of the kings together with their subjects. This is a must stop for anybody who has visited Kampala is in need of a cultural experience.

Kabaka’s palace/ haunted palace.

The kabaka’s palace is situated in mengo. This was the original palace that belonged to the king of the Buganda kingdom. The palace also acted as a prison centre for the tyrants who were against the rule of the king. During Obotes regime when all kingdoms across the whole of Uganda were banned, the palace turned into a torture and execution ground or both Obote’s and Amin’s government respectively. The palace also got the nickname haunted palace or haunted mansion because of the deeds o mass massacres that were carried out within the walls of this mighty palace, the palace guides give the visitors a short tour of the prison cells with which leaves the visitor in total disgust of the brutality of the human being species

Makerere University.

Being the first high institution of learning in the whole of east Africa, and serving as the first public university of the east African region, which makes it one of the top most sought for university in the country, offering high ranges of scholarship schemes for the students. The university is highly blessed with quality brains that have acted as a source of guidance to the young educated population of east Africa especially in the capital city Kampala, with the biggest library in the country. The university also carries out the most and main important researches throughout the country. Recently, the university innovation and IT students went ahead to manufacture an electric car (KIIRA EV) that was later on launched by the president. The university is found at the hill of Makerere

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Tourist that have come over to kampala and would love to carry out research concerning different aspects of education is can go ahead to access the university library and archives for research.

Basilica of the Uganda martyrs in Namugongo.

 This is one of Kampala’s main tourist abstractions year in year out. This happened during the ruling regime of kabaka mwanga who was the king of Buganda at that time, multiple Christians denied the orders of the king to stop quite Christianity and resolve to the old traditional way of worshipping. On their refusal to obey as he had asked, the king ordered for the burning of over 22 Christian males in the years of 1885 to 1887. The basilica was built on a spot where two victims of the fire were burnt from. This pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the whole world to come pray and pay respect to the souls of the martyrs. People come from places like the USA, Kenya, Nigeria, Australia, Congo, Tanzania, South Africa and others and visit the basilica as a pilgrimage. The basilica has had the chance of hosting the pope in back in 2013 when he acted as the main lead of the mass on the day of the Ugandan martyrs. The spectacular interior also makes it a wonder for the visitor as it was dearly designed to depict and for one to feel the despair that the martyrs went through while awaiting their executions

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The basilica offers believers the opportunity of making pilgrims from their places of residence to the holy ground.

The basilica is also a tourist attraction centre as one will find the famously talked about Ugandan martyrs to further understand them better as individuals.

 Saint Paul’s cathedral Namirembe.

 This is the

Oldest cathedral blessed to Uganda by the king of the Buganda kabaka muteesa I with an age of over 100yrs, the scenic views of kamala while at the church give a breath taking moment as all the seven hills of the city can be viewed quite clearly from the cathedral. The cathedral is also the acting burial ground of all the archbishops that have served the country’s church.

The Baha’i temple.

This temple is mainly dedicated to the Indian community of Uganda. This was after a realization that there was an Indian population burst in the country especially in Kampala. The Baha’i temple is located right in the heart of the capital city making I conveniently accessible to the Indian communities.

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The temple offers visitors an ultimatum of experiencing the true Indian culture and way of prayer.

The temple also offers a glimpse of the Indian festivals when they so do happen. For example the festival of color.

Uganda national mosque.

This mosque was a present gifted to the country of Uganda by the late Gadaffi who was the then leader of Libya. Upon his death, the mosque name was later on changed from gadaffi mosque to the Uganda national mosque. The mosque sits over 20000 people of the Islamic religion making it the biggest prayer centre of the country, and a remarkable centre for the Islamic visitors.

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The national mosque of Uganda being the largest in the country and located in the Kampala suburbs gives you the  true experience of the Islamic culture given a circumstance that you had not experienced it before. The Friday prayers referred to as the juma prayers, holding the highest prayer count, or the Islamic idd being the natural way of observing how they live together.

Theatre la’bonita.

Or call it the theatre of dreams, is where one finds the true and raw nature of Ugandan talent. From acting to music, drama, cultural shows and all the top entertainment action of the country go down here. At this place we find the top talents of the entertainment industry giving its esteemed visitors a show of their life time. The theatre has also merged a one of the most talent supporting individuals within the country.

The Uganda national museum.

The museum acts as the home of Ugandans most precious antiques dating back from the golden age of the country. the museum in particular hosts a lot of the pre colonial and post colonial artifacts. The countries first automobile, alongside other original Ugandan crafts and inventions together with the country’s history from as far as it can go.

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Come and experience how right the Ugandan actors can make it on the international stages.

You also get a chance to have a crack of the ribs from the tremendously told jokes of our comedians.

African cultural dances, folks and stories will be all told to you by the talented crew all night long

Kampala facts

The name Kampala means, “That is of the impala”. This was because originally, the city was the home to the impalas.

The capital city of Uganda is nick named the Happy city because of the endless hard work by the citizens to make it so through the endless laughter and giggles that echo through the streets. Kampala is also known as the night party city because Ugandans love to party and this so true because when its time to party, they party hard all through the night.

 Staple food is the matooke of this beautiful city is matooke, or the green tropical bananas.

For a cozy and comfortable town tour around Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, please go ahead and contact us info@cycadsafaris.com.