Kampala’s scenic greenbelts, alluring historical sites
A corrosive stench effuses out of a nearby over filled garbage can. Huge flies, of multiple colours, take to feasting
By Oscar Bamuhigire
A corrosive stench effuses out of a nearby over filled garbage can. Huge flies, of multiple colours, take to feasting. A couple of metres away, a totally nude schizophrenic, in dreadlocks, whistles to himself. Else where, within the vicinity, nothing-impressive stares at us: A cow. Thick clouds of dust. Gaping holes. Street kids in tattered attires. Beggars. Malnourished policemen. This is what I perceive of Kampala City.
This is the last place I would expect to find a tourist. “What is there for anyone to want to tour? Garbage?†I wondered. To my surprise, however, as it turned out, Kampala city is a major tourist site, and most tour and travel companies now have a package for a ‘Kampala city tour.’
“Yes, we have such a package,†said Evas Katwesigye, a tour agent working with Airmasters Tour and Travel agency. “Many tourists are interested in major tourist sites within the city. We actually have many tourists showing interest in this particular package. They usually come in groups,†she went on to explain. “And they are people of all kinds and from all walks, including children. Most of them are foreigners though. We hardly get any Ugandans.â€
Pearl Heibomugisha, a travel consultant attached to Airmasters, explains to me what kinds of tourist sites these tourists are interested in: “Our package for the city tour usually combines both Kampala and Jinja cities. The sites in Kampala include The Uganda Museum, the National Theatre, Craft Centre, Owino Market, Kasubi Tombs, Kabaka’s Lake, Kibuli Mosque, Bahai Temple, Namirembe Cathedral, Makerere University, among several other sites.â€
The city of Jinja, on the other hand, is best known for the source of the river Nile, which is situated at what was once the Rippon falls. Other sites include the Owen Falls and the Bujagali Dams.
Other tours and travel agencies, like the Pearl Of Africa tour and travel agency, go further to reveal that tourists actually pick interest in even the most unlikely things: the soothing sites of sugar, tea, and coffee plantations along the away to Jinja. The local fruit and vegetable markets. Mabira forest, with its nature and wild life —birds, butterflies, and primates. The Semakula Islands where tourists get to enjoy sumptuous African dishes.
The more I investigate this matter, the more logical it sounds. All these tourist sites are very important cultural and historical sites. The Kasubi tombs are the resting place of four of the Kings of Buganda: Mutesa I-1856-1884; Muwanga II-1884-1897 (who was forced into exile on the Seychelles in 1899 and died in 1903); Chwa II-1897-1939; Mutesa II-1939-1966 (who was exiled to England and died in 1969).
Other burial sites of the Buganda Kings are to be found in the counties of Busiro and Kyadondo. These include the Wamala Tomb, which is the shrine for Suna II.
The Kabaka’s lake is a man made lake that was constructed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II between 1886 and 1888. It is believed that everybody within the Kingdom of Buganda participated in its construction!
The Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine is the place where 22 christian converts were executed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in 1886. The Pope later canonised the victims in 1969. Both the Catholic Church and the Church Of Uganda have built mountains of churches on the site.
“In Entebbe, tourists are interested in the Botanical gardens,†Heibomugisha went on to say. “And the Wildlife Education Centre. Other sites and activities include the Ngambe Chimps Island, and sport fishing on L. Victoria.
There is also water rafting and Banji jumping at Jinja. Along Masaka road, we have the Mpanga forest.â€
Most tourists, she points out, choose to tour the city after they have been to other game parks and reserves in the country. They usually take on this package in their last days in the country.
Others choose to tour the city upon the completion of their business missions.
The total cost of this tour package depends on the tourists’ itinerary. Most of Uganda’s local tourists, however, turn out to be students moving in groups, or youth belonging to church organisations, or various families moving in small groups.
An English-speaking tour guide escorts tourists. They are expected to pay for their entry fees to the various sites and cover their transport and feeding expenses.
I am amazed at how much beauty lies within the reach of my nose! I am bitter that for so long, I kept my eyes focused on the over filled garbage cans, schizophrenics, pot holes, emaciated policemen, and clouds of dust.
A corrosive stench effuses out of a nearby over filled garbage can. Huge flies, of multiple colours, take to feasting. A couple of metres away, a totally nude schizophrenic, in dreadlocks, whistles to himself. Else where, within the vicinity, nothing-impressive stares at us: A cow. Thick clouds of dust. Gaping holes. Street kids in tattered attires. Beggars. Malnourished policemen. This is what I perceive of Kampala City.
This is the last place I would expect to find a tourist. “What is there for anyone to want to tour? Garbage?†I wondered. To my surprise, however, as it turned out, Kampala city is a major tourist site, and most tour and travel companies now have a package for a ‘Kampala city tour.’
“Yes, we have such a package,†said Evas Katwesigye, a tour agent working with Airmasters Tour and Travel agency. “Many tourists are interested in major tourist sites within the city. We actually have many tourists showing interest in this particular package. They usually come in groups,†she went on to explain. “And they are people of all kinds and from all walks, including children. Most of them are foreigners though. We hardly get any Ugandans.â€
Pearl Heibomugisha, a travel consultant attached to Airmasters, explains to me what kinds of tourist sites these tourists are interested in: “Our package for the city tour usually combines both Kampala and Jinja cities. The sites in Kampala include The Uganda Museum, the National Theatre, Craft Centre, Owino Market, Kasubi Tombs, Kabaka’s Lake, Kibuli Mosque, Bahai Temple, Namirembe Cathedral, Makerere University, among several other sites.â€
The city of Jinja, on the other hand, is best known for the source of the river Nile, which is situated at what was once the Rippon falls. Other sites include the Owen Falls and the Bujagali Dams.
Other tours and travel agencies, like the Pearl Of Africa tour and travel agency, go further to reveal that tourists actually pick interest in even the most unlikely things: the soothing sites of sugar, tea, and coffee plantations along the away to Jinja. The local fruit and vegetable markets. Mabira forest, with its nature and wild life —birds, butterflies, and primates. The Semakula Islands where tourists get to enjoy sumptuous African dishes.
The more I investigate this matter, the more logical it sounds. All these tourist sites are very important cultural and historical sites. The Kasubi tombs are the resting place of four of the Kings of Buganda: Mutesa I-1856-1884; Muwanga II-1884-1897 (who was forced into exile on the Seychelles in 1899 and died in 1903); Chwa II-1897-1939; Mutesa II-1939-1966 (who was exiled to England and died in 1969).
Other burial sites of the Buganda Kings are to be found in the counties of Busiro and Kyadondo. These include the Wamala Tomb, which is the shrine for Suna II.
The Kabaka’s lake is a man made lake that was constructed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II between 1886 and 1888. It is believed that everybody within the Kingdom of Buganda participated in its construction!
The Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine is the place where 22 christian converts were executed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in 1886. The Pope later canonised the victims in 1969. Both the Catholic Church and the Church Of Uganda have built mountains of churches on the site.
“In Entebbe, tourists are interested in the Botanical gardens,†Heibomugisha went on to say. “And the Wildlife Education Centre. Other sites and activities include the Ngambe Chimps Island, and sport fishing on L. Victoria.
There is also water rafting and Banji jumping at Jinja. Along Masaka road, we have the Mpanga forest.â€
Most tourists, she points out, choose to tour the city after they have been to other game parks and reserves in the country. They usually take on this package in their last days in the country.
Others choose to tour the city upon the completion of their business missions.
The total cost of this tour package depends on the tourists’ itinerary. Most of Uganda’s local tourists, however, turn out to be students moving in groups, or youth belonging to church organisations, or various families moving in small groups.
An English-speaking tour guide escorts tourists. They are expected to pay for their entry fees to the various sites and cover their transport and feeding expenses.
I am amazed at how much beauty lies within the reach of my nose! I am bitter that for so long, I kept my eyes focused on the over filled garbage cans, schizophrenics, pot holes, emaciated policemen, and clouds of dust.