Tourism in Uganda is as old as Uganda it’s self. Uganda is wealthy in terms of Tourist attractions though Uganda tourism sector has a gradual growth. Though tourism started some time back, Uganda Wildlife Authority was established in August 1996 to conserve and sustainably manage the wildlife and protected areas of Uganda in conjunction with the neighboring communities and other stakeholders for the benefit of Uganda and the global community.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Uganda is a landlocked country bordered by Kenya in the east, Sudan in the north, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the west, Rwanda in the southwest and Tanzania in the south.
Uganda has a total land area of 241,559 sq km. About 37,000 sq km of this area is occupied by open water while the rest is land. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda is situated on the East African plateau, averaging about 1,100 meters (3,609 ft) above sea level. The plateau generally slopes downwards towards Sudan explaining the northerly tendency of most river flows in the country. Although generally equatorial, with different types of climate -this is influenced by altitude. Uganda is estimated to have a total population of over 40 million people.
When we talk of Uganda, we cannot forget its large variety of forests, drainage features, grasslands and wildlife reserves.
As far as tourism is concerned, the total land area covered by Uganda National parks is 93000sqkms. On record, Uganda has ten National Park names:
- Kibale National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Mgahinga National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Mountain Elgon National Park
- Semliki National Park
- Mountain Rwenzori National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Above all, Murchison Falls National Park is the largest in Uganda- followed by Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Park as the smallest Savannah Park in Uganda.
Uganda hosts people of different tribes and each tribe exhibits different culture, norms and traditions. There are many cultural sites in Uganda but the major ones are:
-Kasubi Tombs
-Uganda Museum
-Mabeere Ganyina Mwiru
-Nakayima tree
Uganda has a rich history, but on the side of Tourism, below are some of the Historical sites where you can go to witness, read and learn about the history of Uganda:
-Uganda Museum
-Fort Patiko
-Kasubi Tombs
Social centers include major towns and cities. You can organize your party in Kampala city, Jinja town, Mbarara town, Mbale town among others. Such social centers exhibits sweet night life with 24hrs working night clubs, Casinos, the fascinating market centers, Art and craft shops are accessible in towns and city centers.
Drainage features include swamps, Lakes and Rivers.
TOURISM AND RELIGION IN UGANDA
In Uganda, religion plays a bigger role in promoting tourism. The fact that many people walk distances to the worshipping places- others move from different countries to Uganda for worship – Uganda Martyrs shrine Namugongo serve as a case study here. Every 3rd June, Uganda receives hundreds and thousands of pilgrims to Namugongo to remember the Uganda Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for faith. Some of the Martyrs who were killed at Namugongo include Charles Lwanga, Mattias Mulumba K, Noe Mawaggali, Kizito, Joseph M Balikuddembe, Athanasius Bazzekuketta, Gonzaga Gonza, Luke Banabakintu, James Buzaalilyawo, Gyavira, Ambrose Kibuuka, Anatoli Kiriggwajjo, Achilles Kiwanuka, Mbaga Tuzinde, Muggaga, Mukasa Kiriwawanvu, Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo, Bruno Sserunkuuma, Jean-Marie Muzeeyi.
Ugandans are religious and the country’s motto affirms this; “For God and My Country”. The country is religiously diverse with Christianity and Islam being the most widely professed religions. Basing on the 2002 population census, 85.2% of the population was Christian while 12.1 % of the population adhered to Islam (mainly Sunni). The northern and west Nile regions were dominated by Roman Catholics, and Iganga District in the east of Uganda had the highest percentage of Muslims.
It’s evidenced that Uganda has received three different Popes on apostolic journeys – the last and most recent papal visit being that of Pope Francis on 27th of November 2015.
Munyonyo Martyrs shrine – It’s believed that martyrdom in Uganda started from here. On his visit to Uganda, Pope Francis reached this place hence its current popularity. This is where the first martyrs were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II on 26th May 1886 and were canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964. It is the same place where in 1886 Saint Charles Lwanga – leader of Christian community in Uganda baptized St. Kizito, St. Mbaga, St. Gyavira and St. Muggaga.
Baha’i temple – The Bahá’í Faith in Uganda started to grow in 1951 and four years later there were 500 Bahá’ís in 80 localities, including 13 Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies, representing 30 tribes, and had dispatched 9 pioneers to other African locations.
Gadaffi Mosque – the Uganda National Mosque and another key destination for religious tourism Uganda is a mosque located at Kampala Hill in the Old Kampala area of Kampala, Uganda.