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Capital and largest city of Uganda
Photo: not not phil from SF, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kampala, the City of Seven Hills, is the capital city of Uganda and is, by a very large margin, the largest city in the country. Secondary to it is Jinja to the east and Entebbe to the south. Kampala is in the south central part of Uganda, near the northern shores of Lake Victoria.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Uganda National Cultural Centre
A big cultural centre with a theatre that also hosts dance shows/lessons/events, comedy, films, concerts, jam sessions, improv and discussion nights. The current program can be found at the entrance or online on social media or website. Every Monday there's a music night with live music from artists on stage. There is a restaurant located inside the venue, with a wide range of food and drinks. There's also a library, a restaurant and a large African Crafts Village with dozens of shops selling souvenirs, crafts, and also some stuff that is more artsy than all the stuff you can find everywhere else.
Uganda’s National Art Gallery. Calm, spacious, green oasis in the middle of the city with art exhibitions (paintings and sculptures that can be bought) and two restaurants frequented by government employees.
Uganda National Museum
A natural history museum, with some static displays commencing from the stone age and moving forward to Ugandan traditional life. The Uganda National Museum has been closed to the public since August 2024 for renovations; the Ministry of Tourism site still shows a "temporarily closed" notice and no reopening date has been announced. Many tour pages still list it as open, so check before travelling.
Gaddafi National Mosque
Big, beautiful modern mosque commissioned by Muammar Gaddafi, the ex-Libyan despot, as a gift to Uganda and completed in 2007. Said to be second-largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Great, relatively close-up bird's-eye view of Kampala from up the minaret, though there are a lot of steps (272, to be exact) to climb. Just to the north of the mosque is Fort Lugard where the first Governor of the Protectorate, Frederick Lugard, was posted.
Bahá'í House of Worship
Beautiful and incredibly peaceful place. Nice view too.
Ssekabaka's Tombs
Burial ground of four Kabakas (kings) of Buganda and important place for the Baganda people. UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearly completely destroyed in a 2010 fire, but largely reconstructed with foreign aid. The tombs are central to the Buganda people's identity, acting as a historical and spiritual symbol for Uganda.
Tombs where the remains of some of the earlier Buganda kings were buried including Kabaka Ssuuna 11 (1836-1856). During his time he had 148 wives and produced 218 children! The single tomb building was also completely destroyed by fire in 2012, and has now been reconstructed. Meaning there are no original tombs left in the city.
Buwama
By European standards, a small Anglican cathedral. Not very interesting of itself, but some views of the city. This is the fifth Namirembe Cathedral in Kampala, built around the time of World War I, after the four first were outgrown, blown down, nearly eaten by termites, and struck by lightning!
Rubaga Cathedral
Another cathedral, Catholic this time.
Mengo Palace
Royal compound of the Kabaka/king. Historically significant place, but not much to see. The original Lubiri was destroyed in 1966 when Milton Obote took power and the Kabaka fled the country. To the west along the Lubiri Ring Road is Kabaka's Lake, a man-made body of water ordered by King Mwanga of Buganda that you can walk around or canoe in, but, whew-wee, there's a little bit of a stink problem from sewage going directly into it. Cost to enter the lake area is USh 500.
Designed to represent the whole country and with visitors/tourists in mind; eg, look at the gate with the symbols of Uganda's different tribes or the giant carved wood art covering the lobby walls.
Small monument, but of large symbolic importance.
A longstanding Hindu temple in Kampala where the emphasis is on Lord Shiva.
Shrine to the 32 men who were burned to death on order of King Mwanda II of Buganda in 1886 for refusing to renounce Christianity back in turbulent colonial times.
Get a feel for the different parts of the city and see lots of stuff in little time: Like the docks, beaches and fish markets at Ggaba or Port Bell, all the wonderful hills providing great views and nice buildings on top, and the extreme contrasts between different neighbourhoods. For an extra trustworthy driver, use one associated with the place you stay at and have them arrange an extra helmet.
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
Speke is a very fancy resort with a marina, gardens, a pool, beach, gym and squash courts. There is a restaurant in the resort with a large selection of food and drinks for everyone. For entertainment, horse riding is available with guides taking you around the resort, and boat drivers can take you out into the lake and back to experience the breeze and take scenic pictures. The resort also has a lot of walking areas, perfect for romantic endeavours.
Dinners and performances (tribal dance) by the Ndere Troupe. Best to check website for times.
At KK Beach, live music, drinks, food, huts, sunset views, security.
Music, boat rides, food. Maybe you'll be able to see Bulingugwe Island.
Beach and pool and boat rides out on the lake available.
Chinese Restaurant
Owned by Chinese from Beijing, this clean and comfortable restaurant serves big portions of tasty, classic dishes. Menu is in English and simplified Chinese (with strange character mistakes - I suppose 15 years away is a long time). There is a ceiling fan and service is attentive, polite and extremely rapid by Ugandan standards. If you've got a bony bum, bring a cushion.
Chinese Restaurant
Large, plush, well furnished place with many private side and meeting rooms. Well stocked bar. Authentic menu and cuisine.
Even if you're not staying there it might be interesting to spend an evening at this backpacker hangout and get some good travel tips from fellow travellers or listen to stories of some avid backpackers and cross-Africa (motor)bike/car drivers.
A fancy downtown villa serving traditional Ugandan cuisine. Best known for their luwombo and fish dishes. Try snagging a table in their garden when there is good weather.
Plot 34, Impala Avenue, Upper Kololo Terrace, Kololo, Kampala. Features a wide variety of fusion delights from all across continent. Only restaurant in Uganda offering full range of game meat. Starters range from USh 14,000 to 25,000. Main course range from USh 18,000 to 40,000. The wines includes South African and a number of European selections, ranging from USh 30,000 to 150,000. This has a fantastic ambiance, and the food is amazing.
Offers a happy hour.
Kabalagala is an area with many bars and restaurants that is very lively at night and popular both amongst locals and expats. Go there, have fun and get to know some locals, but keep in mind that some girls (not the majority) are actually there to work. Kabalagala has everything from shabby waragi shacks to fancy establishments like Club Venom at the top of Tirupati Mazima Mall.
Bukoto began as a purely residential suburb, but is now spawning many popular nightlife spots. Good alternative to Kabalagala and less mzungus than further down along Acacia Avenue.
Bubbles is an Irish pub in Kampala that serves as the main expat hangout (along with several other places along Acacia Avenue). Go there to get some (shocking) insights into the giant industry that is NGOs, aid and volunteering in Uganda.
Some very fancy clubs with steep prices, others more normal, lots of showing off, students enjoying themselves, dance floors fill easily, good dancing, some old mzungu men, hookers, ... partly bizarre but in the end the same as everywhere else around the world. The popular Club Silk, Ange Noir and T1 are on First Street. Several other clubs are on 6th Street.
Good if you want a quiet and tranquil environment. The Lawns offers beautiful garden lounge bar. Try their wide range of cocktails or wine with amazing starters.
Good chain that is at several locations around the city. Has working Wi-Fi.
Upscale coffee shop popular amongst mzungus. Serving several regional varieties of coffee, American style.
Small guest house (7 rooms). Self contained rooms with own bathroom. Mosquito nets. No WiFi.
Modern building. Self contained, spacious rooms with own bathroom. Very busy road during rush hour.
Double room with own bathroom a walk uphill from the Taxi Park.
Cheapest rooms with outside bathroom. Mosquito nets. No WiFi. Relatively quiet road. Night time security at the entrance. Near the bus offices for buses going to Kenya.
Fan double room with own bathroom and TV and free breakfast.
Twin/double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. Has free WiFi.
Has a dorm with 3 beds per dorm.
single/double rooms with own bathroom. Internet and breakfast.
Single rooms.
Very clean single/double rooms with own bathroom.
Double rooms. Has hot water, and TV.
Single room with own bathroom, net, TV. The hotel has 13 rooms.
Dorm beds. Breakfast included in the price.
Dorm beds. Has a swimming pool.
Camping. Dorm beds. Single/double rooms. A long 3-km walk up hill from the city centre. The Backpackers is more like a bar than a backpackers place. The rooms look run down.
Camping, dorm bed, sharing a bathroom, double room sharing a bathroom.
Dorms, private rooms. Nice bar to have a meal, hang out, or listen to live local music.
One of the oldest hotels in Uganda, dating back to the colonial era. Services lack compared to other nearby hotels, it's still a good choice for lodging the city centre.
Air-conditioned suites with a swimming pool, bar, lounge, free parking and 24-hour reception. Fast free on-site Wi-Fi available.
Well-established hotel with lots of parking, swimming pool, gym, Wi-Fi, apartments; near a large shopping mall but can be noisy on a concert/wedding weekend. Only hotel with its own mosque.
Central location right next to the Sheraton. Well-maintained bed & breakfast hotel with nice gardens and a bar. On-site Wi-Fi available.
Very good, clean and safe accommodation
Budget place with breakfast and pool close to the Independence monument and other central attractions.
This hotel next to the Garden City Complex offers huge rooms and apartments, modern facilities, a large and fancy pool and very relaxing views of the tropic golf course.
Another five-star hotel just further down the road from the Sheraton. Offers modern and spacious rooms. Swimming pool, large garden, a health club and also several restaurants and bars are all on the hotel premises. The hotel is also close to the popular shopping malls at Yuseuf Lule road.
Renovated, the Sheraton is the leading high-end hotel in town, occupying extensive nicely manicured grounds.
In Munyonyo, about 10 km from the city centre by the shores of Lake Victoria, and not to be confused with the Speke Hotel (above). An excellent getaway from city life. You'll find plenty of animals around (and often in) the resort. Has a large swimming pool, as well as an infinity pool by the lake. Gym, spa, and choice of restaurants with lake views. Free cable internet to rooms, but Wi-Fi only in the foyer and restaurant areas.
Owino market is one of the largest in this region of Africa. The endless booths that line the chaotic alleys of Owino offer a mind-boggling array everything from homemade irons, to Western hand-me-down-clothes with charity shop price tags still on, to an amazing array of African foods, to any and everything else under the sun. Everything at Owinio starts cheap and gets cheaper with bargaining. Owino was completely destroyed by fire mid-February 2009, but has since been reopened. Owino is near the centre of Kampala, and any Boda or taxi driver will know how to get you there. Come prepared for a crowded maze of goods and people.
A lot smaller and more pleasant than Owino, good for fruit and veg. More accessible from Kampala road and better suited for a (relaxed) stroll.
African arts and crafts village with dozens of stalls.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Owino is Garden City. and if you are in the market for an Internet cafe, a Forex bureau, coffee shop, an expensive pair of shoes, a travel agent, a cinema, also has a capital shoppers supermarket. and more under the same roof, then Garden City is for you. Garden City can be a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Kampala.
Uganda Crafts, Uganda's oldest fair trade craft shop, has been working with disadvantaged artisans since 1983. They are known for their baskets, but also stock lots of traditional Ugandan products, including musical instruments, jewellery, batiks, carvings and bark cloth items. They also carry products from Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo. They are certified fair trade by the International Fair Trade Association, which means that they pay their artisans promptly and fairly.
Kasumba Square Mall is at the edge of Kampala west at the intersection of Busega Round about and Northern bypass highway, This mall was developed as to alleviate congestion and to deliver goods and services to the community as Kampala is becoming congested city due to rapid population growth.
Has many shops, restaurants, services, and a cinema. Great place for the youth to hang out at.
biggest supermarket Chain in Uganda.
Has six floors, and sells 60% of local-made produce. Mega standard now also have a department store and supermarket in the Oasis mall.
a chain of Supermakets all over Kampala.
The most common way of getting to Uganda is by plane. When coming to Kampala by air, you will actually arrive in the city of Entebbe, 35 km (22mi) southwest of Kampala.
Read in the guideBy boda-boda
The fastest and most dangerous method is the boda-boda. These are motorcycles that can be seen all over the city.
By matatu
Matatus are minibuses that follow relatively pre-set routes all over the city and many other parts of the country. Confusingly, they are known as taxis in Uganda.
By special hire
If you aren't up for the thrill of the bodas and don't have time for a matatu, taxis, also called special hires, are readily available at most central locations.
Car rental
Several agencies offer car rental, with or without a driver.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Entebbe · International · EBB
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