List of cultural sites in Uganda

List of cultural sites in Uganda : Uganda  as a country comprises of different regions with different cultural systems, different norms and cultures varying from the Eastern region, western region, central region to the south region. This creates a multitude of culture, traditions as well as cultural sites.

Based on Uganda’s history, believes and traditions of each tribes and regions, there are a variety of cultural site conserving and showcasing traditions and customs of these tribes. Tribes in Uganda include Buganda, Busoga, Bagishu, Itesot, Banyankole, Bakiga among many more other tribes.

Some of the cultural sites in Uganda are as follows

1. The Mengo Palace

The Mengo palace is an important cultural to the Buganda kingdom as it is one of the many palaces of the Kabaka (the King) of Buganda kingdom, the palace is situated in the heart of Kampala on Mengo Hill.

The Mengo Palace was originally transformed from Twekobe to a giant Bulange (Buganda’s parliament), for generations the palace has been the official residence for 4 generations of the reigning monarchies of Buganda kingdom since 1885. Mengo Hill has reeds representing the 52 clans that form the Buganda Kingdom.

2. The Nakayima Tree

The Nakayima Tree is one of the popular spiritual sites in Uganda located on the extreme top of Mubende Hill along Kampala – Fort Portal highway approximately 3.8 kilometers from Mubende Town and 181 kilometers from Kampala City.

Nakayima Tree is one of the strongest and oldest trees in existence, this tree is claimed to have been planted by Nakayima, a wife to Ndahura – a leader of the Bachwezi and it dates approximately 4 hundred years ago. Nakayima Tree is surrounded by exciting tales and myths, according to the tales, The beautiful princess Nakayima from whom the tree gets its name from, was the a favorite to King Ndahura wwho is one of the 3 kings of the Bachwezi Kingdom. The spirit of princess Nakayima is said to to be residing in the tree and many people visit the tree for fertility and other blessings.

3. Uganda Museum

Uganda Museum is a trademark cultural site in Uganda located in Kampala in Kamwokya along Kira road and is about 15 minutes drive from the city centre. Uganda Museum displays and exhibits ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life collections of Uganda’s cultural heritage.

The Uganda Museum was founded in 1908 after Governor George Wilson call for the articles of interest on Uganda to be procured, among the collections showcased in the Uganda Museum are playable musical instruments, hunting equipments, weaponry archaeology and entomology.

Uganda Museum is an ideal place to visit to  get some solid ground information about the Uganda as a country, its people, culture and traditions.

4. Kasubi Tombs

Kasubi Tombs is a burial grounds for the 4 kabakas of Buganda kingdom and other members of the Buganda Royal family, this site is an important spiritual and political site for Buganda kingdom and its people. The Kasubi tomb is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uganda because of its unique traditional architectural and it is described as one of the most remarkable buildings using purely vegetal materials in the entire region of sub-saharan Africa.

Kasubi Tombs is situated on Kasubi hill with Kampala city, Buganda kabakas (kings) buried in this site include

• Muteesa I (1835 – 1884)
• Mwanga II (1867 – 1903) died in exile on Seychelles island and his remains were returned in 1910
• Daudi Chwa II (1896 – 1939)
• Sir Edward Muteesa II (1924 – 1969) died in exile in Lodon and his remains were returned in 1971

The Tombs of Bunyoro

Bunyoro – Kitara kingdom is one of the oldest kingdoms and Uganda and Africa as well, according to history. The kingdom is said to have had the strongest military and economic power of the Great Lakes Region between the 14^th and 17 centuries. During this period of time, the Kingdom dominated a large area currently known as Uganda, parts of Eastern Congo, Western Tanzania, Northern Kenya and small areas of Burundi and Rwanda.

In 1880s, the British colonial officials waged war on Bunyoro – Kitara Kingdom because they were desperate for power. There purposes for attacking Bunyoro – Kitara kingdom was to weaken their authority, influence and prestige of Omukama Yohana Cwa II Kabalega and also put an end to the only independent and wealth of the Bunyoro Kingdom.

The Tombs of Bunyoro are  where the former kings of Bunyoro were buried with the Royal Regalia, there is also a place where the Omukama Kabalega was laid to rest. This site has so much history about the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom from the Kingship to the local people as it was one of the greatest and largest kingdoms to ever exist in Uganda, this kingdom was under the leadership of a powerful King Chwa II Kabalega.

Toro Kingdom

Toro Kingdom is one of the surviving and a powerful kingdom in Uganda found in the western region, Fort portal, Kabarole district and is situated between the Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. Fort Portal is the major city in this kingdom and is known for being a tourism city, cleanliness and most scenic views.

Toro Kingdom is currently headed by King Oyo Nyimba kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who is one of the youngest ruling monarch in the world with an important stature among the Batooro people. However his influence has grown to beyond the Toro Kingdom and its people. Some of the amazing sites to visit in the Toro Kingdom include the Toro Palace, the royal burial site among others.

Amabeere ga Nyinamwiiru

Amabeere ga Nyanamwiiru are significant cultural sites in Uganda, this site are damp caves situated in western Uganda not far from Fort Portal Town. These caves tell a story of a beautiful daughter Nyinamwiiru born to a gate keeper Bukuku after took over kingship after overthrowing the then king and his master Isimbwa who had wandered away from his kingdom.

Following the prophecy which stated that Nyinawiiru will bear a boy child who would overthrow Bukuku, he ordered to cut off his daughter’s breasts, imprisoned her and banned her from interacting with boys. But later Nyinamwiiru fell in love with Isimbwa when he sneaked into the kingdom and took off with her, she gave birth to a baby boy named Ndahuru and when the king found out. He ordered for the killing of the baby one but one of the royal guards hide the boy in the caves with stalactites (breast milk) which is believed to have fed Ndahura  thus the site and the caves being named Amabeere ga Nyinamwiiru.

Nyero Rock Paintings

Nyero Rock paintings are another fascinating archaeological and cultural site in Uganda located in the North East of Kampala- the capital city in Kumi District, from Kampala it is 5 hours drive to Kumi and 8 kilometers to Nyero Rock Paintings.

Nyero Rock Paintings are a pride of Teso and is one of the most visited archeological and cultural sites in Uganda. Nyero Rock paintings are believed to be about 600 – 650 years, the site features drawings telling a certain story but no one is able to understand exactly what they mean. It is believed that the people who made these paintings were exceptional and in 1997, these drawings and the site was designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Fort Patiko

Fort Patiko also known as the Baker’s Fort was a military Fort built by Sir Samuel Baker, this site is found in patiko, Aswa, Gulu in Northern Uganda. Fort Patiko was used as an assembling point for slaves collected from the Equatorial province before being transferred to the Mediterranean Sea, today the site is ruins and is one of Bakers enduring monuments to his swashbuckling days.