• Uganda`s Key Political Historical Sites

Uganda`s history has been both graceful and terrifying over the past 2 centuries and its trail of events has left a political footprint that still resounds throughout the region. From the rise and fall of Buganda Kingdom`s power to the terrifying rule of Dr. Milton Obote and President Idi Amin, to the restoration of peace and stability with President Yoweri Kaguta Tibihurwa Museveni, Uganda`s political journey has indeed been quite a journey to remember.

Below are some of the key political historical sites in Uganda that you must visit to experience the wonderful if not shocking history of the current Republic of Uganda.

  • THE UGANDA RAILWAY

    Construction of the Uganda Railway started in 1896 and ended in 1926. Its construction led to an influx of Indian coolies that were brought to Uganda as labour for the construction of the railway. Many of the Indian coolies remained in Uganda and took trade in textile, manufacturing and general trade as economic activities in Uganda. Over 80,000 descendants of these migrant Indians were later expelled from Uganda by President Idi Amin Dada in 1972 and their businesses were awarded to Amin`s cronies. The Uganda Railways building is also one of the oldest buildings in Uganda.

  • Overview

    Uganda`s history has been both graceful and terrifying over the past 2 centuries and its trail of events has left a political footprint that still resounds throughout the region. From the rise and fall of Buganda Kingdom`s power to the terrifying rule of Dr. Milton Obote and President Idi Amin, to the restoration of peace and stability with President Yoweri Kaguta Tibihurwa Museveni, Uganda`s political journey has indeed been quite a journey to remember.

    Herein are some of the key political historical sites in Uganda that you must visit to experience the wonderful if not shocking history of the current Republic of Uganda.

  • NYERO ROCK PAINTINGS, EASTERN UGANDA

    These paintings in eastern Uganda are believed to be the earliest evidence of settlement in Uganda and are dated about 300 CE when the first bantu speaking tribes started settling around the Lake Nnalubale, commonly known as Lake Victoria.

  • KASUBI TOMBS, KASUBI

    In the outskirts of Kampala in Kasubi along Kampala – Hoima highway, lies four of the Kings of Buganda (Bassekabaka), who ruled during the periods of imperialism and are directly responsible for the initial spread of Christianity in the Eastern Africa (1870s – 1960s) These include Ssekabaka Muteesa I, Ssekabaka Mwanga II, Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II and Sir Edward Frederick Muteesa II. The tombs are the final resting place of Uganda`s First President, President Kabaka Fredrick Muteesa II who was also at the helm of ensuring Uganda`s Independence in 1962. Kasubi Royal Tombs were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001 and have since become a must visit location for all tourists in Central Uganda.

  • BUGANDA KINGDOM PALACE AT BULANGE MENGO, KAMPALA

    The Buganda Kingdom Palace at Bulange Mengo is where the King of Buganda Kingdom lived and where he ruled his subjects from. The King of Buganda was at the centre of all Uganda`s early politics. As the king of Buganda struggled to protect the autonomy of his Kingdom, his disapproval meant absolute failure for whoever sought leadership within Uganda. It is here that the agreement that made Uganda a British protectorate 1894, the 1900 Buganda Agreement was and the 1962 agreements for Uganda`s Independence were signed between the British and the King of Buganda as the official head of Uganda as a region.

  • KAREGEYA ROCK IN NTUNGAMO WESTERN UGANDA

    The myth of this fascinating Rock surrounds some local traditional of the Ancient Bachwezi people, believed to be demigods who took human appearance and never died. It is believed that the Bachwezi would only disappear in to the underworld instead of dying like other normal humans. It is also said that these people were the original traditional rulers of the Bunyoro Empire. Apparently legendary Kingdom that existed in the 14th and 15th Centuries and extended through the parts of present day Uganda (of course including Ntungamo), Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania.

    The Bachwezi were also said to be related to the Batembuzi, a dynasty founded by Ruhanga, locally translated as “the Creator”. The last ruler of the Batembuzi dynasty known as Isaza is said in tradition to have married and sired a child with Nyamata, the daughter of King of the Underworld known as Nyamiyonga. Because of this, King Nyamiyonga later sought vengeance against King Isaza for attempting to lie and lure him into the Underwood from where he was never to return to the World of normal men. This Historical Rock is said to form an entrance to the Underworld that the Bachwezi are believed to reside from. A legend is said that the fires seen at night emanate from the Karegyeya Rocks with ashes are Worldly items scattered around them at day break.

  • BUNYORO KITARA PALACE IN HOIMA, WESTERN UGANDA

    Bunyoro Kingdom was a chief rival to Buganda, by the time Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894, Bunyoro lost 2 large counties to Buganda kingdom. The Counties were later restored to them by Dr. Milton Obote in 1964. This led to overwhelming support for Dr. Obote within the Western region of Uganda.

  • INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT ON SPEKE ROAD, KAMPALA

    As a symbol of Uganda`s Independence, and independence monument was erected on Speke Road. Independence Monument was constructed by former British Colonial Government and unveiled by the then Prime Minister Sir Apolo Milton Obote on 5th October, just 4 days before Uganda’s Independence on 9th October 1962.

  • KOLOLO INDEPENDENCE GROUNDS, KAMPALA

    When Uganda got Independence on 9th October, 1962, the union jack was lowered and the Uganda Flag was raised in symbolic resonance setting off Uganda`s journey as an independent state. It was at the Kololo Independence grounds that all of the notables in Uganda and the British colonial gathered to witness this mark in Uganda`s history. For Buganda Kingdom, this independence marked a new era with the hopes of Buganda Kingdom finally having autonomy from British rule and foreign interference, while for the non Baganda in Uganda it was an opportunity to take control and rule over Buganda Kingdom and its surrounding kingdoms and chiefdoms without the internal interference of the British. It is also here that all Presidents are sworn into their terms of service.

  • PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE, KAMPALA

    Bunyoro Kingdom was a chief rival to Buganda, by the time Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894, Bunyoro lost 2 large counties to Buganda kingdom. The Counties were later restored to them by Dr. Milton Obote in 1964. This led to overwhelming support for Dr. Obote within the Western region of Uganda.

  • THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA ON PARLIAMENTARY AVENUE, KAMPALA

    This historical building has housed 7 parliaments the first one was on 1961 and the last one in recent 2020. The foundation stone for the Parliamentary Building was laid on December 18th, 1956, by the then Governor of Uganda Sir Andrew Cohen. Construction of the main building commenced in 1958. On the October 5th 1962 the then Prime Minster Apollo Milton Obote laid the foundation stone for the independence Arch, at the entrance to the Parliamentary Building.

  • LUBAGA CATHOLIC CHURCH ON RUBAGA HILL, KAMPALA

    On one of the highest hills of Kampala lies one of the centres of Christianity in Uganda. Visiting the Catholic Church on Lubaga (Rubaga) hill shall provide you with the best knowledge, and experience of how the Catholic church influenced the political dynamics of Buganda Kingdom and Uganda at large. The hill on which this Grande church sits provides a backdrop for the central palace of the Kabaka of Buganda at Mengo, and it is believed to have been donated by Kabaka Muteesa I to the Catholic missionaries.

  • NAMIREMBE ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL

    On the other hill, right on the fringes of the King of Buganda`s palace sits another centre of Christianity in Uganda. Visiting the Namirembe Anglican Cathedral on Namirembe hill shall provide you with an in-depth understanding of how the Anglican Church became a powerful influence in Uganda`s politics especially during the period when Uganda was a British protectorate. It was almost an unwritten rule that the king of Buganda must be an Anglican and his close allies had to also be Anglican Christians to be trusted.

  • STATE HOUSES IN NAKASERO & ENTEBBE

    Uganda has 2 state houses in Entebbe and in Nakasero whereas state house Entebbe has significant importance in more recent history, state house Nakasero has the longest history of housing Uganda`s Presidents. Visiting the national treasures will not only eliminate your understanding of how far Uganda has come in good governance, they are also a testament of Uganda`s stability since 1986.

  • LUWERO TRIANGLE, LUWEERO DISTRICT

    Located right in the middle of Uganda, his is where the Bush War led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was most heated. The war shed approximately 500,000 lives and many children known as ‘Kadogos’ were used to fight in this was. To this day the horrors of what happened are still awake in the minds and hearts of the people from Luweero. Visiting Luweero will open your eyes to the price that was paid to bring Uganda to where it is right now.

  • ST. MARY`S COLLEGE, ABOKE IN OYAM DISTRICT IN NORTHERN UGANDA

    On the October 9, 1996, a group of rebels attacked St Mary’s College Aboke, a boarding school in Oyam District, Northern Uganda. They kidnapped 139 teenage girls from their dormitories at night, an event similar to the abduction of the 276 Chibok girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria. This was done by LRA rebels led by Joseph Kony who was against the rule of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The girls were raped, abused and many lost their lives. Prior to this within the northern region of Uganda, entire communities were being kidnapped, the girls were raped, mutilated and abused while the boys were forced to take part in various rebel activities. Visiting the rebel sites will take on the journey the Uganda Government took to save Uganda from incessant rebel activity and to restore peace and security throughout the country.

  • UGANDA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (UBC), KAMPALA

    This is the oldest national communication platform in Uganda and has lived to see almost all of Uganda`s presidents. The platform is state owned and has a mix of both local and urban TV and radio stations that spun the entire country. Visiting UBC in the heart of Kampala will open your eyes to the long sightedness of Uganda`s previous political administrations. In previous unstable administrations, this is the communication platform that was used to inform Ugandans of what was happening throughout the country.

  • KINGS COLLEGE BUDO IN BUDO, WAKISO DISTRICT

    Kings College Budo is located about 12km west of Kampala, in Nsangi sub county Wakiso District. It was founded in 1906 by the Church Missionary Society(CMS) for the purpose of educating and skilling future Kings and regional leaders. The school still stands today as one of the best Secondary schools in Eastern Africa. It is also known to have educated Kabaka Muteesa II.

  • UGANDA HOUSE/ UPC HEADQUARTERS, KAMPALA ROAD

    Uganda House was a landmark building for the UPC political party in the 1970s and 80s. In the 1960s, UPC tried to remove Dr. Milton Obote as party president and in so doing he could no longer be the head of state. They were met with severe repercussions. Dr. Obote overrun the decision made by the party and he disbanded UPC`s executive, concentrating all the powers of the Party with himself. This is where all the UPC Party meetings and decisions were made.

  • KAMULI COTTON GINNERY

    The ginnery is Uganda`s oldest ginnery and was known to produce cotton for large scale export.  The ginnery is said to have been fully operational by 1911 and supported over 11 districts of cotton growers throughout the Eastern region of Uganda.

  • IDI AMIN`S TORTURE CHAMBERS IN LUBIRI, KAMPALA

    You may also visit the Lubiri Palace in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The palace once held torture chambers used by Idi Amin. This haunting torture chamber site was originally an armory, but was later converted into a prison where an estimated 19,000 people died from hunger, suffocation or mass electrocution.

  • OLD ENTEBBE NATIONAL AIRPORT, ENTEBBE

    Idi Amin Dada attempted to establish ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine External Operations in June 1976, when he offered the Palestinian hijackers of an Air France flight from Tel Aviv a protected base at the old airport at Entebbe, from which to press their demands in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages. The dramatic rescue of the hostages by Israeli commandos was a severe blow to Amin.

  • CURRENT UPE SCHOOL, KAMPALA

    It`s important to visit some of the achievements of the current political regime. For example, UPE was introduced in Uganda in 1997 to provide free education to Uganda`s lowest income earners and visiting a school that is offering this service to everyday Ugandans will help you appreciate the task at hand. Millions of children have benefitted from this initiative although there is still a lot to be done.

  • ENTEBBE EXPRESS WAY, KAMPALA – ENTEBBE

    President Yoweri Museveni has invested heavily in building infrastructure that will lead to the eventual enabling of Uganda`s economic potential. A case in point is the Entebbe Express Way.

  • MULAGO HOSPITAL NEONATAL WARD, MULAGO, KAMPALA

    President Museveni`s administration has been very keen on delivering better healthcare services to the common Ugandan and with this, 4 specialised hospitals have been put up in the various location of Kampala, one of which is the Mulago Hospital neonatal ward with first world equipment and healthcare that can be accessed by the average Ugandan.

  • UGANDA`S INDUSTRIAL PARKS IN NAMANVE AND SOROTI

    It has also been part of the country`s strategy to revolutionaries Uganda`s industrial sectors and the newly formed Namanve Industrial Park and Soroti Industrial Parks are evidence of the administration steering Uganda in the direction of economic independence.

  • HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT PARTY (NRM)

    The NRM has been the ruling party has been in power since 1986 with the famous 10-point program. And they have since taken intricate steps in bringing this program to life in Uganda. Visiting them will give you firsthand experience of the party`s strategic interests and impact on Uganda`s people.

Saint Kaggwa Pilgrimages And Safaris | Design Javanet Systems

FOLLOW US: