Uganda Cultural Tourism

Uganda is a landlocked country situated in East Africa. Uganda’s Culture is rich and dynamic dating from 14th century when the interlucustrine kingdoms were formed. People are very hospitable and receptive to foreigners. Cultural sites such as Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum and Namugongo martyr’s shrines have attracted both local and international tourists.

Kingdoms:

Uganda originally had five monarchies; Buganda, Bunyoro, Busoga,Tooro and Ankole. According to these kingdoms human history begins with a first family whose head was Kintu, but whose origin is mythical and not clear. At the pre-independence negotiations in London the Buganda kingdom, the biggest and most assertive tribe in Uganda was offered the best deal. They were allowed to have an independent kingdom government and to handle their own financial resources.
With these privileges, the Kabaka was above the president of Uganda too. The rest of the kingdoms and other tribes did not take it well. In 1966 the then prime Minister Dr. Milton Obote, ordered his troops to invade the Kabaka in his palace, who fled into exile in the U.K. Obote then declared himself executive president of Uganda and abrogated the five kingdoms and reduced them to a simple administrative districts.Every regime ignored reviving the kingdoms until the N.R.M liberators took power led by Mr. Museveni in1986 that there was great hope for kingdoms.
Buganda kingdom, being well organised was the first to have their coronation ceremony with the 36th king to be crowned in 1993. Tooro, Busoga and Bunyoro later followed, while Ankole kingdom is still in dispute.

Places to Visit:

Kasubi Tombs & Wmala tombs – Buganda kings’ burial sites , Karugutu (Fort-Portal) – Tooro kings’ burial site , Nkokonjeru (Mbarara) – Ankole kings’ burial site , Nagalabi (Budo)– Buganda coronation ground , Kabaka’s Lake.

Music & Dance:

Dance and drama is one aspect which is crucial in the lifestyles of all tribes in Uganda. There is music for every social function and aspect of life and generations. For example; music for birth of a child, naming a child, for twins, marriage and death. In the past, there were different styles of drumming to communicate different messages.
For –instance, today drums for church hours are still sounded in western Uganda, to inform the people that the services are due to start. Hunters’ drums and trumpet calls are another that still naturally lives today in many rural parts of the country. The hamites (cattle keepers) developed epic poetry (ebyevugo) which is linked to be modern rap, today. In Buganda, drums have to be sounded every morning to indicate that the King is well.

Band groups:

There are different bands in Uganda. These include; National Theatre – drama festival , Ndere troupe village , Bagalayaze Namansole , Afrigo band – Local band , To mention but a few

Food and Tastes:

Uganda boasts of a variety of food types due to the diverse climate it is endowed with. The tropical rainfalls help to flourish the fruit and vegetable diversity. These include oranges, mangoes, onions, passion fruits, pineapples, avocados, pawpaws etc .
Uganda is famous for growing the sweetest pineapples. The sunshine is necessary for good harvests and growth of those crops that need little rain. From Africa’s largest fresh Water Lake Victoria comes the Nile Perch and Tilapia. This fish is served either fresh or smoked and is a delicacy for seafood lovers. Matooke, which was formally the staple food in central and western Uganda, has become the national dish. It is peeled, wrapped and steamed in banana leaves and is normally served with beef stew or ground nuts or boiled beans.
While the northern and eastern parts of the country grow and depended on millet, cassava and sorghum. Different tribes offer different delicacies i.e. the Bagisu relish soup from young bamboo shoots, the Baganda crave for green grasshoppers and white Ants while the Bahima enjoy the gee made sauce called eshabwe. The national drink is Uganda Waragi a locally distilled gin, which is a modification of a local brew made from bananas, brown sugar and some cassava. However, there is a variety of local brew made by the different tribes of Uganda.

Art & Crafts:

Uganda tribes offer a variety of art and crafts to reflect their traditions and history. For-instance, Nyero rock paintings in Kumi have a lot to display regards the people who occupied that area, hundreds of years ago. They also offer a number of items like food utensils, stools, drums, drinking vessels and music instruments.
These are made from tropical trees, soil and clay, and gourds/calabashes, which are harvested from a wild plant. Many tribes of Uganda originally are known for great earthen works, which helped in civilization of the local institution through modifying household equipment.