Uganda Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Uganda, UG, East Africa)



Many of Uganda's main tourist attractions can be found in its capital city, Kampala. Whilst numerous historic buildings were damaged as a result of the lengthy civil war, a period of restoration has made many of these accessible once again for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Among Kampala's most popular sightseeing opportunities are its mosques and cathedrals, as well as cultural sites relating to the ancient Kingdom of Buganda.

Sightseers should keep a look out for the Kibuli Mosque, the Old Kampala National Mosque, the Buganda Parliament and St. Paul's Cathedral, amongst other attractions in the capital.


Kibuli Mosque

Address: Off Prince Badru Kakungulu Road, Kampala, Uganda, UG, Africa
The eye-catching Kibuli Mosque dominates Kibuli Hill, giving great views over the city of Kampala. This mosque is one of many religious buildings in the city. It is particularly significant, however, because it rates amongst the oldest of Uganda's mosques. Prayers are held here five times during the day, a sound that you can hear almost wherever you are in the city.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Old Kampala National Mosque

Address: Old Kampala Road, Kampala Hill, Kampala, Uganda, UG, Africa
Work on a new mosque began in the early 1970s at the behest of Idi Amin. This work ground to a standstill in 1976 and it wasn't until 2004 that construction on the site started afresh, with the demolition of the earlier building and the creation of a new mosque.

After its inauguration it became known as the Gaddafi Mosque. The mosque has become a new attraction for Kampala, not least because of the views it affords over the whole of the city centre. It is regarded as the largest mosque in Africa, reputed to have enough space to accommodate 35,000 worshippers at any one time. The minaret can be viewed by members of the general public - at least those who are up to climbing the 300-plus stairs to the top.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site

Address: Masaka Road, Kampala, Uganda, UG, Africa
Just a short distance along the main Kampala-Masaka Road is the Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site. The Buddo Hill site is regarded as the original birthplace of the Kingdom of Buganda, and is thought to date back to the 13th or 14th century. It is still the place where Buganda kings are crowned today. The most recent coronation held on the site was that of Ronald Mutebi II in July 1993.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Buganda Parliament

Address: Government Building, Kabakanjagala Road Mengo, Kampala, Uganda, UG, Africa
At the end of the ceremonial drive that heads away from Kabaka's Palace is the very centre of the Buganda Kingdom. Whilst it is not possible to tour the Parliament building's interior, it is worth bringing your camera and coming to have a look at the magnificent exterior.
Open hours: daily (exterior only)
Admission: no public entry allowed

Source of the Nile Gardens - Speke Monument

Address: Bukaya, Njeru, Jinja, Uganda, UG, Africa
The Source of the Nile is one of Uganda's top tourist destinations. In July 1862, the British explorer John Hanning Speke went on expedition in Uganda and confirmed his previous suspicions that the River Nile flowed out of Lake Victoria. A monument was duly erected on the site, which stands on a prominent part of the Western Bank of the Nile. The gardens themselves are an area of parkland that is a pleasant enough place to visit, particularly if you are keen to enjoy good views of the largest of Africa's lakes. Boat trips to the point in the lake where it meets the River Nile are also popular.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

St. Paul's Cathedral

Address: Namirembe, Kampala, Uganda, UG, Africa
Built in the early years of the 20th century and today serving as a major tourist attraction in the capital city of Kampala, St. Paul's Cathedral has long been an important place of Anglican worship in Kampala. The cathedral's organ dates back to 1931 and has been heavily restored following a period of neglect during Idi Amin's rise to power.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Nile Brewery

Address: Yusuf Lule Road Njeru, Jinja, Uganda, UG, Africa
It doesn't take long to discover that one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Uganda is brewed by the Jinja-based Nile Breweries Ltd, established here in the early 1950s.

After a period of enforced state ownership, it was finally privatised in 1992, returning to the management of its originator, the well-known Asian-Ugandan entrepreneur Muljibhai Madhvani. Nowadays, it is part of a much bigger multinational brewing concern. The water used to make the beer comes, as the brand name suggests, from the mighty river itself.
Open hours: Tuesday and Thursday (advance bookings for tours is required)
Admission: free