Places to visit in Kampala for free

Visit a range of places in Kampala for free, except for fuel/rental car costs to get there, and perhaps a guide fee. Kampala, a city that sits on 7 hills, has extensively expanded, encompassing different hills and attractions for tourists to visit. If you are interested in a city tour in Kampala, expect to visit different sites, most of which can be accessed for free.

Top places to visit in Kampala for free include the Independence Monument, Baha’i temple, Rubaga cathedral, Makerere University, Kabaka’s Lake, Nakasero Market, Namirembe cathedral, Art galleries & craft shops.

Rubaga Cathedral

Rubaga Cathedral is a must-visit spot in Kampala during a city tour. Sitting on the Rubaga Hill, the Rubaga cathedral is a catholic religious site known for its distinct architectural design. It is often referred to as St Mary’s Cathedral and is also among the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Uganda, built by missionaries and consecrated around 1925. It is here that the first native African bishop, Archbishop Kiwanuka Joseph, was buried.

Independence Monument

The Independence Monument is among the top places to visit in Kampala for free. This is where Uganda’s history is summarized. Located in the heart of Kampala, the Independence Monument sculpture comes in a unique design with a man carrying a baby symbolizing Uganda’s breakaway from the colonial era.

Bahai temple

The Bahai temple is one of the most amazing religious sites within Kampala and can be explored for free. It is situated on Kikaaya Hill and has a spacious compound comprising of beautiful gardens. It is here that the Baha’i faithful worship in Uganda. While at the Bahai temple, expect to also see a range of birds.

Namirembe cathedral

Namirembe cathedral is an Anglican church of Uganda and is set not far away from the heart of Kampala. Constructed around the colonial times in Uganda by the missionaries, it was opened by 1919. The Namirembe cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Uganda and among the top places to visit in Kampala for free.

Art galleries and craft centres

It is also possible to visit the different galleries and craft shops in Kampala without paying entry fees. The popular craft centres and art galleries to visit in Kampala include Bagala craft, Uganda Arts and Crafts Village, African Crafts Market, and more. The art and craft centres have a range of products for you to purchase at an affordable rate, including painted artworks, handmade jewelries, wood carvings, and others.

Makerere University

Makerere University is more than an academic centre, but also among the best places to visit in Kampala for free. Within Makerere, there exists historical sites, monuments, and bird species for you to explore. To bird enthusiasts, the checklist of birds to find during a guided walk in Makerere University include ring-necked doves, speckled pigeon, red-eyed dove, marabou storks, African openbill, common swift, Ross’s turacos, Great blue turacos, Eastern plantain-eaters, Hadada Ibis, Lizard buzzard, Black kite, Palm-nut vulture, Hamerkop, and pied crows.

Other species of birds to find on the Makerere University campus include common bulbul, broad-billed roller, yellow-fronted tinkerbird, long-crested eagle, purple heron, and more.

Uganda Martyrs Shrine

Located in Namugongo, the Martyrs shrine is a significant religious site in Kampala. Visitors can have free access to the Namugongo Martyrs shrine during the tour and learn more about the faithful who lost their lives during the reign of King Mwanga. Each year, pilgrims globally assemble at the Martyrs shrine on 3rd June.

Kabaka’s Lake

Situated 5km away from the heart of Kampala is a beautiful man-made Lake (Kabaka’s Lake) in Ndeeba. This is Uganda’s biggest man-made Lake and was created around 1885 and 1888. It is a historical landmark in Kampala and also signifies the ambitions of the then King Mwanga 11 of Buganda. This lake comes with not only scenic views but also amazing birding opportunities within the city. The popular birds to find here include kingfishers, grey herons, and African open-billed storks.

Shopping centres/malls

You can also have free access to most of the malls in Kampala. The popular malls to visit on a Kampala tour include Acacia Mall, Lugogo, Victoria, Garden City, Forest Mall, Akamwesi Mall and more. Within these malls, there exist ATMs, bank branches, restaurants, supermarkets, and a lot more for you. These are among the recommended places to visit in Kampala for free.

Night clubs

If you want to experience the vibrant nightlife in Kampala, you still have a place to visit, for free. Within the reach of Kampala, expect to visit clubs such as Vault Ug, L’Amour Bar & Lounge, Club Silk, Alchemist Bar in Bugolobi, Club Guvnor, and Pyramids Nightclub. Around Makindye area, you can visit Vox Lounge Makindye, Comrades, Climax the Entertainment Hub, and many others.

Local markets

Visitors can also have free entry to some of the amazing local markets to witness how locals go about their daily activities. You can visit popular markets within Kampala, including Nakasero Market and Owino. The entry is free of charge, and you expect to have a range of things to purchase, especially if you love fruits and other local products.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.