Kampala the capital city of Uganda, is the largest city and major business center in the whole country. Kampala has seven major hills that influenced its name, which originated from the word ‘impala’ meaning hill.
The hills on which Kampala sits are Mengo, Rubaga, Namirembe, Nakasero, Kololo and Old Kampala. The average elevation of the city is at 3,900 feet above sea level.
Kampala was named the capital city of Uganda by Captain Fredrick Lugard in 1890, who set the headquarters of the British East African Company to be situated in the heart of the city but later transferred it to Entebbe after the construction of the airport in 1905.
Kampala became an independent capital city in 1962 after independence. Since it’s a major administrative and commercial area, this is where the Parliament of Uganda is found as well as other commercial buildings like banks, market centres, churches and mosques. The city is also a busy trading centre for all business in Uganda.
It is also has well developed and improved infrastructure like hospitals, good roads, banks, churches, recreation sites, education sites like Makerere University among others. Kampala capital city is known as one of the fastest developing areas of Uganda.
Kampala has the tropical kind of climate characterised by uniform weather. Heavy rains are usually seen in the months of march, April, and may not forgetting November. Dry season comes in during the months of January through February and July. It is very important for one to understand the weather conditions in Kampala if they want to enjoy their tour and stay.
WHAT TO DO IN KAMPALA CITY
Kampala should be on your bucket list before or after you have finished the safari in the wilderness. There are numerous interesting sites to see and do in the city that never sleeps. The city is known for hosting nice hotels like Sheraton, Serena, Speke Resort among others.
One of the thrilling places you will find interesting is the Uganda Museum. Located in Kampala showcasing natural, historical and traditional collections and gatherings from way back in the 1908’s. This is where you find information of Uganda’s past sequentially. Uganda’s past is displayed through statues, old-age fashion from the early days like the first car, first gun among others.
Uganda Mosque is another interesting place that one should visit while in Kampala. This mosque is located 2km from the city centre on one of Kampala hills at old Kampala in Uganda. The Ghaddafi mosque is known to be the largest mosque in East Africa accommodating about 15,000 worshippers, 1,100 in the gallery and 3,500 in the terrace.
This mosque was gifted to Uganda by the late colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. This place is usually open for Friday prayers and the Islamic festivals like Iddi.
Uganda national theatre is a 400-seater that was designed for the middle class community residents. Opened in December 1959 after the Uganda parliament had just passed the national cultural centre. This theatre is fenced and covered in an elegant lattice of concrete rings keeping the architecture of modernity.
Uganda Marty’s shrine is one of the largest Christian pilgrimage places in Africa that is dedicated to the 22 Christian Martyrs who were killed by the king of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga in 1885. These shrines are located about 15km away from the city centre in Namugongo Kira. About 2500,000 pilgrims all over the country and beyond always turn up every 3rd of June annually to pray and remember the brave martyrs who were killed because of their faith. There is a pool filled with water which believers come to fetch because they believe its Holy water.
Saint Paul’s cathedral Namirembe usually referred to as the Namirembe cathedral is the oldest church in Uganda. it was constructed in 1890 on Namirembe hill. The cathedral is located in Rubaga division in Kampala the capital city. The cathedral serves as the provincial cathedral of the Anglican church of Uganda.
In the cathedral holds the remains of bishop Hannington who was killed in 1885. Namirembe cathedral diocese is headed by Rev Kityo Lulwalila along other 103 clergies. Have a spectacular sight of 360 degrees of Kampala city. On Sunday, come catch the English service at 6:45 or 8:30 or the Luganda service at 10:00am.
Tombs of Buganda kings at Kasubi is a burial ground for all the Kings of Buganda kingdom. These tombs are located in Kasubi.
In March 2010 an unknown fire almost burnt everything but the Buganda leaders vowed to renovate everything.
This is a significant and important spot to the Buganda kingdom because it’s the burial grounds for the four of the kings that ruled Buganda.
It’s a great place to explore culture in Kampala. The first king to be laid in the Kasubi tombs was Kabaka Muteesa 1 who holds the 35th slot on the kings’ list.
The tombs are located about 6km away from the city of Kampala and about 20 minutes depending on the traffic hence, it’s easily accessible.
The easiest way to get to the tombs is by using the Makerere route and joining Nankulabye along Hoima Road. Get a chance to learn about the culture of Buganda, the largest kingdom in Uganda.
