City Focus: Kampala- the city with one of the best nights in Africa

Kampala, the capital of Uganda, with a long history and of course a very lively city. Before the British, Kampala was the capital of the Buganda Kingdom. The city sits on several hills, each housing an important government or religious building. Kasubi Hill is the home of the Kasubi Tombs, a sacred burial ground of Buganda Kings. The kololo hills features the Uganda Museum and most collection of traditional musical instruments. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Rubaga Division. Surrounding Kampala is the rapidly growing Wakiso District, whose population surprisingly increased between 2002 and 2014 and now stands at over 2 million.

HOW TO GET THERE

Getting to Kampala is quite easy if you know the right route and the right airline to board just to fly there.Few among the airlines fly from Abuja to Uganda, among the airlines operating a direct flight to Uganda are Rwandair,Ethiopian airlines, Kenya airways and Egyptair,

WHERE TO STAY

Kampala has a wide range of places to stay ranging from luxury hotels to budget ones with all the basic facilities. Most of the hotels are concentrated in Central Kampala.
Sheraton Hotel, Emin Pasha Hotel, and Golf Course Hotel among others are some of the options in the city, if you want to spend your vacations in the whirlpool of luxury. For upscale hotels that don’t burn a hole in your pocket you can try the deluxe hotels in the city. Protea Hotel, Grand Imperial Hotel, Speke Resort, and Cassia Lodge among others are few of the options that you can try while in the city

THINGS TO DO

SIGHT-SEEING

Religious buildings and museums dot the city. The Uganda Museum is particularly worth a visit because of its display of traditional musical instruments, which one is also allowed to play! Uganda is renowned for its religious tolerance and this is evident from the temples of diverse religions that coexist in Kampala. The gleaming white Kibuli Mosque , the Roman Catholic Rubaga Cathedral , the Anglican Namirembe Cathedral and the enormous Hindu Temple in the centre of the city are the sightseeing highlights of the city.

The Kasubi Tombs reflects the ancient heritage of the Buganda tribe. Here, the traditional houses of the rulers of the tribe made of bark-cloth and reeds are still in existence

SHOPPING

Souvenirs that might interest you include bangles, bracelets, necklaces, woodcarvings, tea, coffee, ceramics and basketry. Owino market is the biggest market in Kampala offering the cheapest of everything. But be prepared for a crowded maze of goods and people. Shopping hours are 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

VISIT TO TOURIST CENTRES

Kampala offers Nile Horseback Safaris as one of the many recreational activities in Uganda. Abundant wildlife, huge rapids, views of Lake Victoria and the Nile make this experience distinctive and fascinating. White water rafting at the source of the River Nile is another activity that is a must experience. For those asking for more, these activities can be coupled with bungee jumping at the only jumping platform, Nile High Camp. Come experience the adrenaline as you plunge from 44m into the legendary River Nile

EATING OUT IN KAMPALA

Kampala has a wide choice of restaurants that serve the wonderful local produce from the fertile countryside and fish filled lakes. There is a wide range of cuisine available in the luxury hotels, which have restaurants attached to them. It is easy to find a restaurant to suit your budget in Kampala. The nightlife is very lively in the city. There are bars featuring live music, discos and pubs that are open till the wee hours of the morning