Are you interested in walking safaris or city tours in Kampala but you do not which places to go and explore? Well, Uganda isn’t only blessed with a variety of wildlife but its stunning capital city-Kampala is such an incredible place that you shouldn’t miss paying a visit while on a city tour in Uganda. There are numerous and most stunning monuments that depict a journey this remarkable nation has had since its establishment and they are worth exploring especially while you are on Kampala city tour.
Kampala city can be explored on a guided or self-drive trip. And because there are many cheap car hire companies in Kampala, most guests prefer self drive tours to explore the city in that, they driver their own adventurers while saving some money.
A visit to these places comes with lots of fun and excitement especially as they offer the best ground for you to have incredible selfies; most of these areas are historical and you will be in a position to explore in-depth what they mean as they will be interpreted for you. Below is a list of monuments in Kampala city center;
Independence monument
This monument usually features at the back of Uganda’s currency notes. Uganda was colonized by Britain in the 1890s; Captain Fredrick Lugard an administrator of the Imperial British East African Company (IBEACO) raised the Union Jack also best known as the British flag at a Fort that he founded on old Kampala hill (Fort Lugard) and designated Uganda a British protectorate.
It was from then that Uganda and its resources all belonged to the British government. The natives at that time had no or little say on the future of Uganda till 1962 that it was granted independence something that brought joy and happiness amongst most people. Gregory Maloba set up an independent monument to show the independent Uganda. The monument was instituted within a few month’s time before the October 9th, 1962 independence celebration.
This concrete sculpture is big and comes with very many meanings that are worth exploring while on walking safaris in Kampala. It features a woman lifting a baby on air, a rope around her body that seemly looks like a young boy in her hand who raises his hands in triumphant jubilation. The woman standing on the ground depicts the strong foundation that this country stands for today or in the future. The loose body of the female depicts freedom from the bondage colonialism. This monument straddles on the Speke road next to the wall fence of the Sheraton hotel.
Sir Edward Mutesa 1 monument
Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa the second between 19th November 1924 and 21 November 1969 featured as the King of Buganda till he passed on. He was the 35th King of Buganda and the first president of Uganda. The monument was set up mainly to remember Sir Edward Mutesa the second as the first president of the independent Uganda and the 35th Kabaka of Buganda kingdom for what he did towards gaining Uganda’s independence. The king of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi revealed this memorial site around 2007 and it is also situated along the Speke road and Nile Avenue near the independence monument.
World war memorial monument
This monument was established in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the second world war and this is also reflected at the back of five thousand Uganda shilling notes. This features among the oldest monuments in Kampala and it was constructed by the British colonial government around 1945 in remembrance of Ugandans who lost their lives while supporting the British soldiers at the time of Second World War. This monument stands on Kampala road, near the central police station.
The centenary monument
The centenary monument stands in the popular centenary park on Jinja road just next to Hotel Africana. This monument was set up in remembrance of centenary of the Kampala city council Authority which features as the governing organ of Kampala capital city. The monument was deigned by Makerere University artist-Sylvia Katende and it extends about six feet.
The statue of leadership
The statue of leadership is located in front of the Amber House along the Kampala road in remembrance of electricity introduction in Kampala. This sculpture has Sir Apollo Kaggwa-the prime minister of the Buganda kingdom from 1890 to 1929. He is remembered because he advocated for the extension of electricity and purified water to Buganda kingdom despite several critics from the local Baganda who thought he was wasting time on minor things rather than asking for gold and guns. The statue stands seven feet and it was facilitated by an electricity organ with assistance from National Water and was unveiled in 2002 by the Minister of Energy Hon Saida Bbumba at a time.
The Education monuments
Several learning institutions including universities and colleges feature numerous monuments reflecting the role of education. Makerere University features a monument titled hatching a new generation and it is located just in front of the College of Natural Sciences. This means a new dawn in the world of academics in Uganda with the rising of many institutions under the example of the fully established Makerere University. Kyambogo University featured a monument with 3 children struggling to touch a book and it was set up in remembrance of the 100 years of the education sector in Uganda. This memorial site was uncovered by Kintu Musoke in 1996.
St Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe memorial site
This was one of the Christian martyrs of Uganda who was murdered on 15th November 1885 and his monument stands around Kampala city center. He was the first martyr to be murdered and beheaded, his body thrown on heap of burning firewood and burnt at Nakivubo the current St Balikuddembe market.
The stride monument
The stride monument is situated within Kampala Serena Hotel and the parliamentary gardens and was set up in remembrance of the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2007. It was unveiled by the Queen of England and it is currently the most expensive monument in Uganda with a sum of 150 million Uganda shillings. The monument was constructed by a team of 11 professional sculptors under the supervision of Professor George Kyeyune. The wife husband and son aluminum assemblage moving forward reflects that commonwealth states are developing together as a family.
Other incredible monuments include the East African Development Bank monument, Mutesa Kefeero monument, Mutesa 1 monument, and many more.
In conclusion, Kampala capital city isn’t only the busy commercial center but the best place for one to explore in terms of tourism especially while on city tours. It features many historical monuments that have not yet been explored fully.