2 Days Kampala City Tour

Tour Details

This tour offers you an opportunity to view displays on Uganda’s history, anthropology and geography, including a unique collection of traditional music instruments, crafts shopping tour along Buganda road, allowing you to purchase some of the locally African made crafts you love most. The excursion also gives you a chance to visit Mengo royal palace, Kasubi tombs the burial grounds for Buganda kings, Visit Makerere University, Uganda museum, Bahai temple and Namugongo martyrs shrine, a place which commemorates the martyrdom of 22 Christian converts who were burnt alive in 1885 and 1887. You will also have an opportunity to go shopping at Garden City mall and Nakumat mall where you will find a variety of shops. Other shopping areas are in Kisementi shopping area, freedom city along Entebbe road and Lugogo shopping area where we have supermarkets, crafts, bank and restaurants.

Departure & Return Location

Entebbe International Airport (Google Map)

Departure Time

3 Hours Before Flight Time

Price Includes

• Park entrance fees
• Meals as specified (breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
• 4×4 WD vehicle with Fuel
• English speaking Driver/guide

Price Excludes

• Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
• Visas
• Tips
• Souvenirs
• Laundry and any other items of personal nature
• Airport transfers (arranged on request)
• Pre and post safari Accommodation

What to Expect

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. Is also a business and financial hub of the country with the biggest population and many businesses models it is comprised of seven hills and those are Old kampala hill, Kibuli hill, Makerere hill, Rubaga hill, Namirembe, Kololo and Nakasero.

• Visiting Cultural Sites
• Visiting Religous sites

Itinerary Day 1Visiting the six historical heritage sites

1. Nagalabi Buddo, located on Buddo hill-Masaka road. It is the Buganda kings’ coronation site. While there, you will be taken through the king’s coronation tour as it is done whenever the new king goes on power. It is the place where you also listen to the story of the origin of Buganda kingdom and what the names of places in Buganda all mean and how they were made up. 2. Katereke prisons ditch, located on Masaka road past Nsangi. It is at this place where you learn the brutal side of the Buganda kings practices where one of the kings prepared a prison ditch for his brothers to ensure that they don’t take the throne from him as new kings. Whoever proved strong or planning to escape was killed or bitten by the snakes that were being reared in the barrier within the ditch around the island where they were kept. At the moment different people come to this place to ask for blessings from their ancestors. On your way to the prison ditch, you will stop at the point where the 1900 agreement was signed between Buganda kingdom and the British government and learn all the background information about this agreement. It was constructed by the late Ssekabaka Kalema who was an Islamic sympathizer. He controversially ruled Buganda in 1880 after exiling Kabaka Mwanga from his kingdom. Kalema was later to ordered a crackdown of all princes and princess whom he suspected to be his rivals. Many of them were rounded up and exiled at Katereke. These prisoners were later slaughtered without any mercy 3. Suna II wamala tombs, Ssekabaka Ssuna had so many wives that he did not mind giving away one of them. This is part of Ssekabaka Ssuna’s history that intrigues many visitors to his Tomb in Wamala Set in a beautiful and spectacular view, the impressive grass thatched tombs are a 30 minute drive from Kampala. Situated in Nabweru Sub-county, Wakiso district, the tombs are the burial site of Ssekabaka II, the 29th king of Buganda.From the hills on which the Tombs are located, one can see Kagoma Hill atop which Ssuna built a place for his mother. Ssekabaka Ssuna, who acceded to the throne around 1824, was born to Ssekabaka Kamanya and Nnamasole Kanyange, formely called Nakkazi Nganda. This was in 1812 in Kasengejje, Busiro, Wakiso. Originally the hill on which the Tombs are located was called Wamunyenye. It got this name because the roads traversing the hill were lined with stones that glitter like stars. There are two conflicting stories as to how the place came to be called Wamala. It is said that because of the internal strife between the Baganda’s royalty at that time, Ssuna’s mother ran away from Kasengejje. She took her son and laid him near Lake Wamala in Mityana. However, Ssuna’s father died and he had to be brought back to Kasengejje. He decided to settle in Wamunyenye and he called the place Wamala. This was in keeping with the Kiganda culture in which a King names his place according to the place where he comes from. He chose Wamala for it is where he had sought refuge during his time of trouble. The other theory is that on his way back from hiding, when he reached Wamunyenye he was so tired and said, “ Wano Wamala ( Let us Stop here)” thus the place came to be called Wamala. It was during the reign of Ssuna that Islam was introduced in Uganda. It is said that the first Arabs arrived in Buganda in 1844. Their mission was to seek ivory. The Arabs are said to have bribed Ssuna with guns and a mirror. The mirror is said to have impressed Ssuna so much especially when he saw his reflection in it. Boniface Ssebabenge the care taker of the Tombs says that one of Ssuna’s wives fell in love with the Arab visitors because of their skin texture. “Ssuna gave her to the Arabs after all he had 148 wives and 2000 Concubines.” Ssebabenga says. The woman was pregnant and the Arabs took her to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) where she gave birth. It is rumored that she gave birth from the Palace of the king of Abyssinia and thus her off spring was born in royalty. To this day, some Baganda believe there is trace of Ethiopian blood in Ethiopia. During his reign, Ssuna added the counties of Bugalazi and Buyaga to Buganda.Ssuna loved adventure and he spent his free time hunting. The story is told of how one of his subjects told him that a Tanzanian had built a palace similar to his. Ssuna was outraged and with the encouragement of his advisors planned an expedition to Karagwe to attack the man. His mother tried to dissuade him from doing that but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Before he set of, his mother tied a rope in her waist as a sign of mourning, for it is said that she had a feeling that her son would not return.Accompained by a well-armed entourage, Ssuna set off to Karagwe. However, at that time, there was a wide spread chicken pox epidemic. Ssuna contracted the disease and the expedition had to be called off. Ssuna is remembered for having built Kasubi Tombs. Kasubi was his first Palace after his enthronement, but he decided to go back to Wamala to be close to his mother, for whom he had built a house at nearby Kagoma. Ssekabaka Ssuna is remembered as the first Kabaka of Buganda to be buried with his law intact. The word Kabaka according to Ssebabenge, comes from the phrase: “Kano kaba kani?” (Whose jaw is this?) This is because upon the Kabaka’s death, his jaw would be removed and his widows would be asked whose jaw it was. Ssuna is also remembered as the first kabaka to wear a kanzu as this type of clothing was brought by the Arabs during his reign. Upon his death, his Place at Wamala became his Tomb in accordance with Buganda culture, which stipulates that a Kabaka’s palace is his final resting place. The tomb was given the name Batanda bezaala. They are looked after by a number of care takers led by Nnalinya. The current Nnalinya is called Sarah Nattu and she took charge of the Place in 2005 after the death of the former Nnalinya, Nakibiri who died aged 102. At the tomb, a house belonging to the royal twins (abalongo abalangira stands close by while that of the Kabaka’s twins (abalongo bakabaka) stands next to the entrance. These twins died long ago but their umbilical cords were preserved in their respective houses. Outside these houses are fireplaces that are lit at night to keep the twins warm. Before entering the tombs, a visitor is expected to remove their shoes and as one enters, there is a section of the door-way where one’s feet are not supposed to touch. Once inside, you must put some money in the baskets that sit just in front of Ssuna’s pavilion. A collection of his spears and shields is on display here. It is said that it is the place where he would sit and address his subjects or be entertained. To the left of the pavilion is a fireplace. Nabuunya says that this fireplace is lit to keep Ssuna warm during his journeys in the forest. According to Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest. Inside the tomb, one is shown the entrance of the forest, though it is a Taboo to look beyond the entrance. Behind the tomb is an over grown bush and the roof is in in dire need of repair as the last renovation took place in 1958 during the reign of Sir Edward Mutesa II. 4. Namasole Kanyange cultural centre, Namasole is a title given to the queen mother of a king in Buganda culture. It is located 25 minutes drive from Kampala on Bombo road, turn left at Kagoma trading centre From Wamala one can see the tombs of Ssuna’s mother from a distance. Originally called Nakazzi Nganda, Ssuna called his mother Kanyange (one who is bright) because she protected him when his life was in danger. The first and second Nnamasole were buried at kanyange tombs. Kanyange was born to Sambwa Katende of Bukunja of Kyaggwe in Mukono. The fourth of seven children, Kanyange was taken to the Palace of Ssekabaka Kamanya were she gave birth to Ssuna.Not much is known about her and upon her death; she was succeeded by Magdalene Nnambogo. The current Nnamasole Christine Nankya was born in 1942. Her Katikiiro is Samwiri kiwombogjjo Wantate. Her marriage to Nathaniel lubega was terminated when she became the fifth Nnamasole in June 1993. This is in keeping with the cultural norm which says that a Nnamasole should be unmarried. At Kanyange a number of women make mats, baskets and paper. These are sold to the visitors in order to raise money to help maintain the tombs. At the end of history lesson, that is the tour of tombs, one can’t help but appreciate the mother-son bond that existed between kanyange and Ssuna. 5. Ssezibwa Falls, also known as a place of black water, is the location where the Buganda king used to appoint the chiefs. it is located in a 45 minute drive from Kampala of Jinja road. The ssezibwa falls site is now under operations of Ssezibwa Falls resort offering a good picnic site, restaurant overlooking the beautiful view of the falls. The local community normally practices traditional rituals and sacrifices with several shrines in the rocky setting of the area. This black water of the pull bellow the falls is also believed to heal different ailments and gives blessings to the people once bathed in. 6. Bagalayaze Heritage Site, this is the centerpiece of the Bagalayaze community is the site of the Nnamasole Bagalayze Tombs where the mother of Kabaka Mwanga II was laid to rest at the beginning of the 20th century – a historically important site for the Kingdom of Buganda. Today, the community uses the enclosure as a cultural center where they celebrate the people and history. Visitors can enjoy traditional performances, taste authentic Buganda dishes, and hear vividly told stories about the kings and queens of Buganda. In addition to performances and storytelling, visitors can witness and even take part in traditional demonstrations of bark cloth and crafts making. The Bagalayaze Heritage Site is located 1 km from the Mpererwe Trading Centre taxi stage, about a 25-minute drive from Kampala on Gayaza Road.

Day 2Visiting Religious sites

HISTORIC KIBULI MOSQUE:Built at the cost of 250,000 UGX and completed in in 1951 A visit to the historic Kibule Mosque on the hill overlooking downtown Kampala reveals a hidden gem which visitors to the city often miss. However, the history of the mosque and its administration is closely linked to the history of the city, and indeed, country. The mosque’s history is closely linked to the history of Islam in the country. In 1844, Islam came to Uganda. Suuna II was Kabaka of the Buganda Kingdom from 1832 to 1856. He embraced Islam but there were some teachings which were at odds with Buganda practice and when his son, Mwanga II became Kabaka these were exacerbated. Throughout the next generation, with the arrival of colonial powers, the role of Kabaka was split from the leadership of the Muslim community. Prince Nuhu Mbogo (meaning ‘buffalo’) was particularly strong so the British gave him the plot on the hill in Kibule thinking he would build his palace there. Instead, he built it in the valley and donated the land on the hill for a small mosque to be constructed. Later, Prince Mbogo’s son, Prince Badru Kakungulu donated a further 80 acres so that additional institutions could be built. In 1941, the Aga Khan visited and wanted to assist in building a mosque on the site. The cost was to be 250,000 UGX and to help facilitate fundraising the Aga Khan offered a ‘shilling for a shilling’ fund matching programme and as money was raised building began. The mosque was completed in 1951 and opened for service that year. The current patron of the mosque is Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu, the grandson of Prince Mbogo. It has been visited by several dignitaries including the Presidents of Iran, Sudan, Zambia and Tanzania, the current and all previous Kabakas and Presidents of Uganda, the King of Saudi Arabia, and the Aga Khan. Kibuli Mosque The Mosque sits atop Kibule Hill along with an associated nursery, primary and secondary schools, hospital and nursing school. It is easy to access from the centre by either car or public transport. See the map below. When visiting make sure to bring your camera and climb the minaret which offers magnificent views of Kampala. Also, make sure to note the giant Mango tree directly in front of the mosque. It is far older than the mosque and was left as it is as a reference point to all historical pictures. The mosque is open and welcomes visitors between times of prayer. The best times to visit are: 8 am-12 pm, 2-4 pm, and 5-7 pm. Namirembe cathedral The church in Uganda began in the late 19th century after a group of missionaries sailed to Uganda in 1876 in response to Stanley’s 1875 letter in the Daily Telegraph appealing for volunteers to spread the gospel in Uganda. March 18th, 1882 saw the first baptism of Anglican converts and a few years later on January 31st, 1885 three young men were martyred for their faith. Marko Kakumba, Nuwa Serwanga and Yusufu Lugalama died at Busegampimerebera. In October the same year, Bishop James Hannington was also killed, just before the first printing of the Gospel of Matthew in Luganda. 1892 Namirembe Cathedral was built, and by 1896 the whole of the Bible had been translated into Luganda. 1897 the Diocese of Uganda was formed and the following year Bishop Tucker Theological College was opened at Mukono. 1966 four years after Independence the Most Rev. Erica Sabiti was enthroned as the first Ugandan Archbishop. 1974 The Most Rev.Janani Luwum was enthroned as Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire until his murder in February 1977. The next decade marked a terrible chapter in Uganda’s history, but the church continued to grow and develop with many new dioceses being formed. Namugongo Martyrs’ History and the Birth Of Faith In Uganda The Martyrs’ Trail is a route guiding us to various historical and emotional sites that today stand as important religious sites marking the brutal treatment that the Christian faithful then were subjected to for their faith by Kabaka Mwanga 11 as he competed for influence and recognition among his subjects with the Christian missionaries. The arrival of Christian missionaries set a new twist in the religious and political sphere of the people of Buganda in particular and Uganda as a whole as it set a big social revolution among the Kabaka’s subjects. The missionaries then brought with them new teachings aimed at transforming people’s lives. The parallel forces then included; The Arabs (the Moslems), the Catholics, Protestants and the traditionalists who all operated within the inner circles of the King’s court. Unlike Mutesa 1 who let his subjects subscribe to any religious faith of their choice, Kabaka Mwanga 11 who succeeded his father Mutesa 1 as a youth following the untimely death of his father had little experience in handling conflicting forces and did not want to see himself subscribe to any religion saw Muslims denouncing him for his denial in getting circumcised and wanted him replaced by a Muslim prince and he could not as well join the Christian faith for fear of his polygamous lifestyle that saw him die a traditionalist. The competitive struggle among the religious groups in converting people who received it with much excitement required that the people (Kabaka’s subjects) denounce all their old faith and cultural practices as satanic and evil and show allegiance and adhere to the new religious faith saw the Kabaka’s subjects shift their loyalty from the Kabaka abandoning their cultural practices and took on new lifestyles and religious faith. Kabaka Muwanga 11 rightfully realized and saw that the powers and loyalty his old predecessors had enjoyed were no more for him and the disintegration of the kingdom and the humiliation and isolation he continuously received made him turn into an intolerant and vicious persecutor of Christians and all foreigners. According to the old traditions, the Kabaka was the centre of power and authority, and he could dispense as he felt. Given a shift in loyalty, power and values, Kabaka Mwanga 11 was determined to rid his kingdom of the new teachings and its followers who were regarded as rebels. In less than a year after Kabaka Mwanga 11 assumed the throne, he ordered the execution of the first three Christian martyrs; Yusufu/Joseph Rugarama, Makko/Mark Kakumba, and Nuwa/Noah Serwanga who were killed on 31.January 1885 in Busega Nateete. In October 1885 the Anglican Bishop James Hannington who had been dispatched to head Eastern Equatorial Africa with headquarters in Buganda was murdered in Busoga on his way to Buganda on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga 11 as he attempts to come to Buganda through Busoga a then shorter route than that taken by earlier visitors south of lake Victoria. The kings of Buganda regarded Busoga as a backdoor to Buganda with a belief that anyone coming through the backdoor must have evil intentions towards the kingdom and therefore could not be spared. On 15th November 1885, Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe became the first Catholic martyr, when he was beheaded at Nakivubo. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe was a senior advisor to Kabaka Mwanga 11 and a Catholic convert who condemned the Kabaka for ordering for Hannington’s death without giving him a chance to defend himself as was customary. However, this annoyed Kabaka Mwanga 11 on how Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe could question his actions and therefore ordered for his (Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe) arrest and killing. Between December 1885 and May 1886, many more converts were murdered when Kabaka Mwanga 11 ordered the converts to choose between their new faith and complete obedience to his orders. Those unwilling to renounce their new faith would be subject to death. Courageously, the neophytes chose their faith. The execution of twenty-six Christians at Namugongo on 3rd June 1886 was the climax of the Mwanga’s campaign against the converts. The last person killed in this campaign was Jean-Marie Muzeeyi who was beheaded at Mengo on Jan 27, 1887. The list of forty-five known Catholic and Protestant martyrs includes only those who could be formally accounted for. Many more murders went unreported in many parts of Buganda/Uganda without record. The martyrdom of these early believers sparked off the growth of Christianity in Buganda, Uganda and Africa as a whole. The blood of the martyrs became a seed of faith as Christianity is now the dominant faith in Buganda and Uganda as a whole. The 22 known Catholic martyrs were declared “Blessed” by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 as one of the key steps in the catholic tradition that eventually leads to canonization. The 22 Catholic martyrs were indeed canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1964, during the Vatican II conference. Thus recognizing these martyrs by the universal church as being worthy of being honoured as Saints. This was the first for modern Africa and a source of pride throughout the continent. In honour of these modern saints, pope Paul VI became the first reigning pope to visit sub-Saharan Africa when he visited Uganda in July 1969, a visit that included a pilgrimage to the site of the martyrdom at Namugongo where he dedicated a site for the building of a shrine church in honour of the martyrs at the spot where Charles Lwanga was killed. The shrine church was dedicated in 1975 and it was subsequently named a basilica church, a high honour in Catholicism. Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury and head of the worldwide Anglican Communion also came on pilgrimage in January 1984. Pope John Paul II, in turn, honoured the martyrs with his pilgrimage in February 1993. To date, every year, June 3rd, when most of the martyrs were killed, is marked as a national holiday in Uganda. It is also marked worldwide on the church calendar as a day to honour the Uganda Martyrs. Come join a list of pilgrims.

The martyrs’ trail. This is a one-day itinerary that will guide us to key execution sites, however; there other areas where martyrs were killed as will be explained by your guide.

Busega: After your breakfast, you will be picked by your guide who will then transfer you to our first site where the first three Christian martyrs; Yusuf/Joseph Rugarama, Makko/Mark Kakumba, and Nuwa/Noah Serwanga who were executed and burned on 31. January 1885 where the Anglican missionaries set up a church that still stands to date. Ndeeba Monument We proceed to Ndeeba just close to Natete where the last martyr was sentenced by King Mwanga was Jean-Marie Muzeeyi who was beheaded in Mengo on Jan 27, 1887, who even after the execution of his fellow converts could not denounce his faith. Though executed in Mengo, a monument was built in Ndeeba lust a few meters from Mengo.

Mengo This was Kabaka (king) Mwanga II’s palace where some of the Martyrs were sentenced to death. Mwanga lived here with all his palace officials and wives till the time when the palace was burnt down and he relocated to Munyonyo.

Old Kampala We proceed to old Kampala where Matia Mulumba was brutally killed. His limbs were cut off; strips of flesh cut off from his back and he was left in this condition for three days but he never gave up/denounced his faith but instead prayed for his executors and the Country at large till he took his last breath. A church was set up here (St. Matia Mulumba Parish) and still stands to date as a symbol of Christian faith.

Nakivubo This is a site that marked the killing of the first catholic Martyr Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe, who was beheaded on 15th November 1885. A big and busy city market was named after him on the site-St. Balikudembe market previously Owino market. Munyonyo We then will proceed to Munyonyo were there three sites; The King’s palace/court, a shrine where Andrew Kagwa was killed and it is named after him (Andrew Kagwa’s shrine), and Ssebugwawo’s monument built in his honour. Ssebugwawo was speared by Kabaka (king) Mwanga 11 personally but later killed at the age of 16 years by Mukajanga.

Namugongo This is where more remaining martyrs that included about 13 Catholics and 10 Anglicans were condemned and burnt to death on 3rd June 1886 and this date is marked as a national holiday in Uganda and worldwide on the church calendar as a day to honour the Uganda Martyrs and Pilgrims from all parts of the world come to Namugongo on that date to mark and honour these modern saints including Pope Paul VI became the first reigning pope to visit sub-Saharan Africa when he visited Uganda in July 1969, a visit that included a pilgrimage to the site of the martyrdom at Namugongo. Pope John Paul II, in turn, honoured the martyrs with his pilgrimage in February 1993 and also Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury and head of the worldwide Anglican Communion came on pilgrimage in January 1984 among other high ranking religious leaders, politicians, and the local people of all walks of life. Come join a list of pilgrims this year