Page 66 - October - December 2022 Edition

Parliament Kampala Ndere Cultural Center Kampala Makerere Uni Main Hall
(Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda) (Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda)

BY Charlotte Beauvoisin
Diary of a Muzumgu’s Top Five Recommendations
Whether you're visiting Kampala for the first time or you’re a local resident, the capital has a variety of
attractions to keep you busy. Traditionally, tour operators send international tourists directly to the
National Parks but there's plenty to see and do on the capital's doorstep. If you're in Kampala on
business - juggling meetings and flights - what could be better than enjoying Uganda’s gorgeous
climate and a pool with a view? The 5 star Kampala Serena Hotel's Maisha Spa is the capital’s best; the
Moroccan-inspired sauna, steam and lavish massage menu are enough to make you want to stay
another day. However, I always want to take the time to get out and explore and, in this article, I share
my top five recommendations for making the most of two days in the city.
No. 1. Watch the Ndere cultural troupe.
My number one recommended thing to do in Kampala is watch the cultural performance at the Ndere
Cultural Centre. This highly professional show takes you on a musical dancing tour of Uganda and Africa.
It is the best possible introduction to culture and the African way of life. I love every life-affirming second
of it! You can read my interview with Ndere's creator, the irrepressible Dr Stephen Rwangyezi, on Diary of
a Muzungu.

No. 2. Walk, cycle, drive or be driven - book a ready-made tour.
To get a feel for the whole city, why not book a half or full day organised tour? Choose from walking tours,
cycling tours or boda boda (motorbike) tours. If you prefer to be collected from home, a tour operator
can customise a tour that includes some of the places listed here and pick you up from your residence.
Generally, a ready-made tour combines history, a local market, something to eat and an insight into
local culture. You can also opt for themed Kampala tours: historic buildings, art galleries, a slum tour or
even a dark tour.
A good free resource for independently exploring Kampala's historic buildings is the Uganda's Built
Heritage mobile app, which is available as an APK file for Android https://bit.ly/3QpPFdM. Install the app,
turn on the notifications and listen out for the ‘ping’ when you pass a historical building. The app even
allows you to create your own walking, cycling or driving routes. Complimentary printed maps are
available from CCFU, the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda. (Jinja, Entebbe and Fort Portal maps are
also available). You can read more on www.diaryofamuzungu.com. Historic buildings that are worth a
special mention include Kampala’s Baha’i Temple, the only one in sub-Saharan Africa. The hexagonal
shaped temple sits on a small hill to the north of the capital and can be seen from afar. The temple’s
garden and tall trees make it excellent for a spot of urban birdwatching.
There is a small charge to climb to the top of the minaret of Gaddafi Mosque – the biggest mosque in
East Africa – but the reward is the best view of the city. (Avoid Fridays). The Royal Mile in Mengo links the
Lubiri Palace and Bulange (Buganda Parliament). Book a walking tour with the Buganda Tourism Board
to learn why this road is so famous. Statues of wildlife give an insight into important tribe totems.
Other culturally and historically significant buildings include the Kasubi Tombs, the Railway Station,
Makerere University, Rubaga and Namirembe Cathedrals. Experience a typical Ugandan village -
without leaving Kampala - on Red Dirt's www.reddirtuganda.com peaceful day trip across Lake Victoria.

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