Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, also known as the city that never sleeps, due to its vibrant, party-loving people who stay within and near the city. Kampala city happens to be the busiest city in Uganda due to the fact that it is a hot business spot where businessmen and women come to trade. Kampala city is made up of seven hills, which surround it, and these include Mengo Hill, Makerere Hill, Namirembe Hill, Kololo Hill, Rubaga Hill, Nakasero Hill, and Nakulabye Hill. This means that Kampala city is a rift valley and when you hike these hills, you will be rewarded with a 360-breath taking view of Kampala city. Kampala city used to be made of or covered with lush vegetation, which included bushes and forests with a high number of Impalas, which made it a hunting ground for the king of Buganda. From the high number of Impalas that called this place home, this marked the origin of the name Impala hill (Kasozi ke Impala) and was latter after development named Kampala hill which latter become a city. This city is composed of welcoming people of different cultures, a number of historical sites, and religious sites, to mention a few that you can visit during your Kampala city tour. The following is what you should know about Kampala if you are planning to visit or have a Kampala City tour.

Top places to visit in Kampala

Kampala city, as said before, is a city filled with a variety of tourist destinations that will interest you when you happen to go there or visit, and these include,

Cultural and Historical Sites in Kampala

Kasubi Tombs

Kasubi Tombs are a UNESCO World Heritage site, which were built in the year 1882 and were turned into a Royal tomb of the fallen kings of the Buganda kingdom in the year 1884. The Kasubi Tombs were constructed using only local materials, which include principally wood, reed, wattle and daub, and thatch, to name a few. When you visit the Kasubi tombs, you will get a chance to learn about the customs, culture, and also listen to the history of the Buganda kingdom through storytelling, which makes this destination best for culture and history tours.

Mengo Palace

Mengo Palace is another cultural destination or site in Kampala that you can visit during your Kampala city tour. Located on the Mengo hill, Mengo palace is the main palace of the Kabaka (king) of the Buganda kingdom and is open to tourists or visitors who go there to meet some of the Kingdom officials and learn more about the History, culture, and customs of the Buganda kingdom.

Kabaka’s Lake

Made on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in the 1880s to serve as an escape route for the king from the internal conflicts and external conflicts of the kingdom. The Kabaka’s Lake is found or located in Ndeeba in Kampala and is the largest man-made lake in Uganda. Kabaka’s Lake served and still serves a big role in the culture of the Buganda Kingdom. This lake is used to hold the boat competitions among the clans of the Buganda kingdom. The lake is also used to perform cultural rituals.

The Uganda Museum

The Uganda Museum happens to be the oldest in East Africa and was officially established in the year 1908. You can say that the Uganda museum is a summary of all the history, culture, and religion of Uganda at large. This is because a variety of items with cultural, religious, and historical importance or significance were collected and are displayed in the Uganda Museum. These collections tell their own stories, and on top of that, when you visit the museum, a guide is given to you who explains, answers questions, and tells you all the information you need to learn and know about Uganda in terms of Culture, history, and religion.

Religious sites in Kampala

Rubaga cathedral

Rubaga Hill was once the location of the Buganda’s main palace in the years 1856 and 1884. The place was transferred or rebuilt on the closest Mengo hill after it was struck by lightning. At the arrival of the first romans catholic missionaries, who were Frenchmen, Father Lourdel Monpel and Brother Amans, the Rubaga hill land was allocated to them, hence the construction of the St Mary’s Cathedral, which took place between 1914 and the year 1925 with the help of Roman Catholic congregations, and later on, a hospital and a nursing school were also constructed on the Rubaga hill still by the Roman church.

Namirembe cathedral

Namirembe cathedral located on one of the 7 hills that make up Kampala, this cathedral happens to be oldest Anglican church in Uganda, and the Diocese of Namirembe is filled with a lot of history and great architecture.

Other religious and historical sites or places in Kampala include the Ghaddafi Mosque, Bahai temple, the Namugongo shrine, the Kibuli mosque, Hindu’s Temple, the Munyonyo shrine, the Amin Tower chambers, the Independence grounds, and the Uganda parliament, to name a few.

Markets in Kampala

Speaking about markets, the backbone of Uganda is agriculture, so the markets within and around Kampala or across the country always have fresh foodstuffs and fruits to offer to their buyers. You can also decide to pass by any of the markets in Kampala and get yourself fresh fruits, which will leave your mouth watery and wanting more, crafts, and clothes, to name a few. The markets include Nakasero market, Owino market, Bagala craft market, Nankulabye market, and Nakivubo market, to name a few.

Worry not about the food in Kampala because this city favors everyone, including foreign natives or visitors, when it comes to food, because it happens to have hotels and restaurants that cook both local food and international food, which is to die for once you taste it.

During your Kampala city tour, there are things you should keep in mind to ensure your own safety, and these are

• Asking permission from your city guide before doing anything
• Leaving your travel or important documents in your hotel or lodge rooms
• Moving with exchanged money in Uganda currency (shillings UGX)
• Respecting the local people in all ways
• When it comes to street food, you should be keen on what you eat to avoid triggering allergies in case you have any.
• Move lightly on the streets.
• Always stay in your tour group to avoid getting lost.
• Respect the culture and religion mostly when visiting religious and cultural sites. here is a sample of a short Kampala city tour