How to spend a day in Kampala 2024 – 2025 : Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and it is located in the central region of Uganda. There are many things to do during a day spent in the vibrant city of Kampala and they include the following;
1. Visiting city landmarks
In the mornings, tourists visiting Kampala city can visit the different landmarks around the city including the Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace, the Uganda museum, visiting the local markets, independence monument, Gadhafi mosque, Namirembe cathedral, Rubaga cathedral among others.
The Kasubi tombs are the burial site for the kings of Buganda and it can be visited during a day tour around Kampala. The tombs are a repository of the cultural heritage of Buganda. The architectural design of the tombs which is inform of grass thatched huts reflects traditional Ganda architecture and building techniques.
Another activity which can be done when visiting Kampala city is a visit to the Kabaka’s palace for a chance to get to know more about the culture of the Buganda kingdom and to explore the palace grounds with a local guide.
Visiting the Uganda museum is another activity to take part in during a tour around the city of Kampala. At the museum, tourists can see different exhibitions of historical artifacts, cultural objects and also different arts and crafts.
There are different local markets which can also be visited during a city tour in Kampala and they include the Owino market and also the Nakasero market which are found within the city center and are known for selling different items including food stuff, clothing, spices, fruits, vegetables among others.
The Gadhafi mosque which is one of the largest mosques in East Africa is also found in the city of Kampala. It is also known as the Old Kampala mosque and it is known for its beautiful architecture and tours can also be done around the mosque.
The Namirembe cathedral which is located on the hills of Kampala is another place to visit during a tour around the city. This Anglican church also known as St Paul’s cathedral and it was the first cathedral built in Uganda.
Rubaga cathedral is the oldest catholic church of Uganda and is located on Lubaga hill which is one of the seven hills of Kampala. The cathedral is also known as St Mary’s cathedral and it is built in a roman architectural form and can be visited during tours around the city.
2. Culinary experience
Tourists during their city tours in Kampala can also try out the different local foods at the restaurants and hotels found in the city.
Some of the local foods to try out include matoke (cooked plantain), luwombo (steamed stew), or rolex (a popular street food which is made of eggs and chapati). This experience also involves learning how to prepare the local food which can be done in some places around Kampala city.
In addition to the Ugandan local food, there are also a diverse range of restaurants which offer international cuisines such as Indian food, Chinese food, Italian food, Ethiopian food, and other international cuisines at restaurants found across Kampala city.
The different restaurants also have stylish ambiance and menus which are carefully curated by the chefs for meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are also different dessert places found around the city to try out the fresh pastries around Kampala.
3. Visiting craft shops and art galleries
There are different craft shops and art galleries found around Kampala city which can be visited during tours in Uganda.
These different galleries showcase world of art for different local artists including paintings capturing different things in Uganda, sculptures, clothing as well as jewelry. The different artworks can be bought at affordable prices.
Visiting the local craft shops and art galleries in Kampala also offers an opportunity for tourists to immerse themselves in the vibrant and diverse nature of Ugandan arts and crafts. By buying from the local galleries and craft shops, tourists promote the rich cultural heritage of the country and also support the locals who earn income from selling the different artifacts.
4. Theatre experience in the evening
The city of Kampala also has different theatres which can be visited during a tour around the city such as the National theatre.
Different performances are showcased at the theatres in Kampala city capturing stories of Uganda, traditional performances through dance, storytelling, plays, musicals as well as the diverse cultures of Uganda.
Tourists can also take part in cultural experiences at the Ndere Cultural Center during their tours around Kampala. Traditional dance performances of tribes in Uganda are showcased different nights at the cultural center. There is also a restaurant where tourists can try out local food while enjoying the traditional performances.
5. Night life
The tour around Kampala can be wrapped up with going to some of the clubs found around the city to enjoy live music, Ugandan music and dance and more diverse entertainment options to suit every preference.
Kampala city has a vibrant night life and bars are found in different parts of the city and they are open throughout the night offering some of the best entertainment and tourists can also enjoy the hospitality in the night hot spots of the city.
6. Sight seeing
Kampala is known for being the city of seven hills and the original hills of Kampala include Mengo hill, Rubaga hill, Namirembe hill, Makerere hill, Kololo hill, Nakasero hill, and old Kampala hill.
From the different hills found in Kampala, tourists can enjoy views of the rest of the city during the evenings and during the day time.
There are different ways to move around Kampala during the day spent in the city and they include use of private transport and public transport means. Some of the public means used to get around the city include taxis which can be got from the old taxi park and new taxi park and also using boda bodas (motorcycle) which are a more efficient way to navigate the city.
