Uganda, the pearl of Africa is a country rich with history that can be brought to life from the numerous museums across the country. Surprisingly, every tribe in Uganda has a traditional museum that showcases the cultures, heritage, traditional and tools unique to the tribe. However, this list brings you some of the most interesting and popular Museums that you shouldn’t miss to visit while a safari in Uganda.
The Uganda National Museum
The Uganda National Museum is found at 3 kilometers along Kiira Road from the Kampala City Center. This site was established in 1908 making it the oldest Museum in East Africa, and showcases a medley of items dating back to the Stone Age period and to the different traditional chiefs. There are items that display the history of Uganda, musical instruments, historical samples and several archeological artifacts among others. Some of the items that will capture your attention include the old vehicles used by Idi Amin Dada, Milton Obote and former Kings of Buganda Kingdom. Not only that, you will see some of the ancient house structures of most tribes in Uganda.
The Uganda Martyrs University Museum (UMU Museum)
The Uganda Martyrs university Museum is found close to the Equator along the Kampala-Masaka highway and is one of the best and few anthropological Museums in Uganda. This Center Museum is where you can visit to explore some of the artifacts and sculptures from Uganda and across. UMU Museum offers tourists especially local and International students and Researchers of Anthropology, Sociology and history with knowledge regarding history of the Country.
The Home of Edirisa Museum
Edirisa Museum is found at the heart of Kabale Town, off the Kabale-Kisoro road and is popular for showcasing the Kikiga Culture and language. Omugurusi Festo Karwemera constructed an exceptional replica of a traditional Kikiga homestead that contains domestic utensils, tools and a shrine among others. Edirisa Museum has grown to serve the local and International visitors and has a cultural Museum, Craft gallery and a backpacker’s Hostel with typical Kikiga setting.
The Iteso Cultural Union Museum
The Iteso Cultural Union Museum is found at the Headquarters of the Iteso Cultural Union within Soroti Town, adjacent to Soroti Hotel. There are several items in this museum and they include cultural regalia, domestic utensils and several hunting tools used by the Itesots. The Iteso Cultural Union Museum conserves the intangible heritage through an interesting film on traditional stories, cultural values and norms of people of Teso.
The Ankole Culture and Drama actors Museum
This Museum is found in western Uganda, within Kabingo sub-county at around 10 kilometers off the Mbarara-Isingiro road in Isingiro district. While at this Museum, you can see several traditional dances and artifacts that show the cultural traditions and history of the people of Ankole. This site also allows the local women to earn a living through the preservation of cultural performances, artifacts and education among others.
The Cultural research Center Museum
The Cultural research Center Museum is found at the Center of Jinja Town (near the Nile Garden), within the Eastern side of Uganda. This Museum is where you can learn more about the cultural values and heritage of the Busoga people and the entire Kingdom in general.
The Igongo Culture Center
Igongo Cultural Center is found in Western Uganda at Biharwe, about 10 Kilometers before reaching Mbarara Town along the Masaka-Mbarara highway. This Site was created and launched in 2009 to promote and preserve the rich cultural and natural heritage of the people of western Uganda-the Banyankole people. Igongo Cultural Center is considered the Cultural hinterland and the fact that it is near Lake Mburo National Park makes is a must-visit site during a safari in western Uganda. It takes prides in its craft shop, the beautiful cultural village and the verdant gardens where several performances are conducted.
The Karamoja Women’s Cultural Group
This Cultural Museum is found in Natumkasikoua Village close to Moroto Town and is owned by a group of passionate Karamajong women. It displays a collection of items such handcrafts, clay pots, the traditional stools of the Karamajong people, headgear and beads among others. This Center offers tourists with the opportunity to purchase pieces of the interesting Karamajong Culture that include their tyre sandals, the Karamajong tartan wrap and hand-made beads.
The Kooki chiefdom Museum
This Cultural Museum is found near Rakai District Headquarters and displays and preserves the rich cultural heritage of the “Bakooki” and the Institution of the Kamuswaga (Chief). You will discover a number of traditional objects used from the time the Chiefdom was started including the Royal bed and chair of one of the former chiefs-Kamuswaga Kezekia Ndawula that he used from between 1820 and 1854, the old shoes worn by Sefasi Joje from 1907 to 1954, the ancient clay pots that were sued for different occasions and so many others.
The URDT Cultural Assets and Wildlife Center
This Cultural and Wildlife Museum is found within Kagadi, Kibale district in western Uganda and was established by the Uganda Rural Development Training Institute as a living testimony of Bunyoro’s lush traditions and Cultural Heritage and display the collection of artifacts within the Kingdom.
The Butambala Heritage Centre of Civilization
This Museum is found within Mpigi district and Butambala is the home of the Akasimba Clan of Buganda Kingdom. The Akasimba Clan are the official blacksmiths of the Kabaka and at this Site is where you see the Akasimba ironsmiths who can take you through the process of melting and shaping Iron into different farming tools, spear and traditional ho e utensils.
The Nyamyarro Royal Museum/Kabalega Development Foundation
This Cultural Museum is found within Karuzika Royal Palace of Omukama (King) of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in Hoima district, western Uganda. It was set up to preserve the rich history of Bunyoro Kingdom and displays the10 Centuries old Traditional throne and some of the Royal Regalia of the Kingdom such as Ceremonial spears, ancient arrows, ancient ivory tucks, several kinds of traditional crowns and the musical instruments used by all the former Kings of Bunyoro Kingdom from the time the Kingdom started.
The Koogere Community Museum
This community Museum is found at 200 meters along the Mugurusi road of Fortportal Town, and was named after the older Heroine who went against traditional customs of Tooro Kingdom to become the leader. This Cultural Museum Preserves and promotes the rich Tooro Culture for purposes of development and education of generations and while at this Center, you will learn about the evolution of the different Cultural Customs of the people of Tooro such as the clan totems, traditional dressing and literature, to mention but a few.
Other Museums within the country include the IK House of Memory, the Zoological Museum at Makerere University, the Bamasaaba Cultural Union, the Ker Kwong Museum of Alur Kingdom, Bulemba Museum, the Bunyoro Community Historical Museum Associates, the Busoga Cultural Museum, the Center of African Christian Studies Museum, the Butambala heritage center of Civilization, the Cultural Research centre Museum in Jinja, the Gakondo Cultural Museum, the Kikonzo language and Culture Center, the Ebirungi Ebyeira Museum in Jinja, the Peace Museum in Gulu, the Kaere African Museum, the Ham Mukasa Museum, the Kabale Museum, the Kigulu Cultural Museum-Iganga, the Mt. Elgon Museum of History and Culture-Mbale, the Obudingiya Bwa Bamba (OBB) and the Social Innovation Museum among others.
In conclusion, if you are an anthropologist or you are a tourist interested to learning and understanding about the history of Uganda or the different cultures while on a Safari, visit any of the Museums across the country and you will achieve your dreams.
