Kampala is the capital city of Uganda located in the central part of the country. It’s at the shores of lake Victoria a few kilometers from Entebbe international airport with lots of beauty and different attractions that will leave you speechless and people that possess perfect sense of hospitality and many tourist places (activities)

These amazing place include;

  • Kabaka’s lake
  • Bulange mengo (Kabaka’s palace)
  • Ndere cultural center
  • Uganda national museum
  • The Independence monument
  • Makerere University
  • Namirembe cathedral
  • Nakasero fruits market and many more as detailed

KABAKA’S LAKE

The Kabaka’s lake is historically known as the largest man-made lake found in Ndeeba in between Nabunya road and Ring road Uganda. The lake is a few kilometers from Kampala; Uganda’s capital city. This lake was constructed in 1880. Under Kabaka  Mwanga II’s order for he  wanted it to  mainly act as an escape route  during the British armed conflicts.

It was corded as a sigh of respect to the kabaka when 52tribes of Buganda cooperated and agreed to construct it.

The Kabaka had other reasons for the construction of the lake like; It could act as a channel to Lake Victoria such that he could travel on boat to easily reach Lake Victoria for him to enjoy fishing and swimming. Kabaka Mwanga II further wished or wanted an easy way to another built palace in Mulungu hill which is near Lake Victoria in Bunyonyi built by his father Mutesa before his death.

Kabaka Mwanga II was known for his notorious, aggressiveness, pride and ruthless holocaust behaviour. During his regime, despite the Kabaka’s aggressiveness and ambitious plans towards the Kabaka’s lake.

The lake covers an area of about 1.8 square kilometers and approximately 200 feet in depth making it a place never to miss out on your kampala tour and still, it’s a good site for birding since it is a paradise for several bird species. Still, it offers canoeing that’s operated by the locals, has a beautiful relaxing scenery for viewing and taking pictures with an island in the middle of the lake.

KABAKA’S OLUBIRI (PALACE); BULANGE MENGO

The kabaka’s palace is located at Mengo one of the seven hills that make up Kampala capital city and is the official home of the kabaka (King of Buganda). Among the Buganda dynasity, it was a custom for a new king (kabaka) to choose a hill where he would build a new palace. This palace would become the new capital of the Kingdom and the King was free to name it in any way he wished.

The Palace at Mengo is the main royal residence/compound of the Kabaka (king) of Buganda. It was first constructed by Kabaka (king) Mwanga II in 1885. Mwanga II was the 31st Kabaka of Buganda after other kings like Mutesa I, Suuna II, Kamaanya, Semakookiro, Jjunju, Kyabaggu, Namuggala, Ndugwa, Mawanda, Kikulwe, Kagulu, Ndawula, Tebandeke, Kayemba, Juuko, Mutebi I, Kateeregga, Kimbugwe, ekamaanya, Suuna I, Jemba, Mulondo, Nakibinge, Kayima, Kiyimba, Kiggala, Ttembo, Kimera, Chwa I and Kato Kintu.

A tour of the palace presents perfect and detailed history of Buganda kingdom and its leaders. The palace has the kabaka’s official house called Twekobe where no one is allowed to enter, a fire place and is always lit, the royal drums, the  Kabaka’s Collection which has photographs that show Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s life, from the time he was a child to date, a number of regalia and their various ritual, and the dilapidated Rolls-Royce, one of Kabaka Muteesa’s precious possessions. He was the first Ugandan to drive a car.

There are also Lots of scruffy houses are scattered in the compound and these are mostly occupied by guards, although initially they were occupied by ministers of different ministries in the kingdom.

IDI AMINI’S TORTURE CHAMBER

The torture chamber, molded perfectly in an Israeli-built armory was used as a prison by Amin, makes the blood chill and can never be missed when in Uganda.

In 1966, four years after Uganda’s independence, Amin’s forces did it without hesitation. After several days of flood shed, Mutesa forcefully flew to UK in exile. The then palace was converted to an army barracks as an underground part (dungeon) was turned into a prison and torture execution unit. Idi Amin built this grimy dungeon with a dark concrete tunnel, damp cells separated by an electrified water passage as a means to prevent escape. The place is marked with blood stains, charcoal writings by former prisoners and a somber atmosphere that seem to still mourn the deceased souls.

THE KASUBI TOMBS

At kasubi; kampala uganda, is where the Royal tombs are found. The fallen kings of Buganda kingdom and other members of the Baganda royal family are put to rest here. Though a burial ground, there are other things found within is its premises like agricultural sites with which traditional methods of farming are used, former kabaka’s house, whose material used for building it are so magically architectural making it an important place for spiritual and political matters.

In March 2010, a fire whose cause isn’t yet clear attacked the place and most of the buildings almost destroyed. On this point therefore, the Buganda kingdom is in the process of rebuilding the structures since 2014 togher with the Ugandan government. Among the Banganda, the king is said to never die but ‘rest behind the ridges.’ The places comprises of tombs of four kings thus;

Descendants of these four Kabakas are buried elsewhere on the site.