Uganda cultural tours

Cultural tours in Uganda offer the best way to understand the different cultures in the Pearl of Africa. Uganda has different cultures and traditions from different regions and tribes in the country. When it comes to cultures, Uganda is very much diverse as over 50 tribes co-exist within the country and speak different languages. All these tribes have different cultures and traditional beliefs.

Uganda is indeed a peaceful country, even with these numerous tribes, cultural differences never restrict harmony in the country. English is the national language and is widely spoken all through the country.

For Uganda Cultural trips, you are free to explore any cultures of interest or as much as you would wish. Cultural institutions, museums and traditional leaders have made it possible for the history of their tribes to be passed on to anyone interested. Within the central region of Uganda, the best places to learn about cultures and the history of these traditions are by planning a visit to the Uganda Museum, the Kasubi tombs, Ssezibwa Falls, and Kabaka’s palace.

Unique Cultures in Uganda

The Baganda culture

Buganda kingdom is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda’s Central Region. The Baganda had a centralized system of government which by 1750 was the best organized in the interlacustrine region. The Kingdom has a centralized system of governance with the King as its titular head with absolute powers. In the past, Abataka had a lot of political influence but after 1750, the Kabaka assumed a position of political significance far superior to that of the Bataka. The position of the Kabaka is hereditary and not confined to any clan since the king takes his mother’s clan. The King would marry from as many clans as he could which would encourage loyalty to the throne in the sense that each of the 52 clans hoped to have one of their own producing a King.

The culture and beliefs of the Baganda are amazing and one can learn more about them during a visit to the Kabaka palace or Kasubi tombs within Kampala Capital City.

The IK and Karamojong

The IK people are the marginalized group in northern Uganda and one that has been less affected by Western world cultures. The IK live on the hills of Moroto and live an authentic African way of life. They are traditional cattle hunters and cattle are an important aspect of their lives. Their way of life, homesteads (manyatta) hunting skills, and entertainment are unique and give an amazing experience to their visitors. A cultural tour in Uganda to the IK and Karamojong can be included in a Uganda wildlife safari to Kidepo Valley National Park.

The Batwa pygmies

The Batwa people were inhabitants of the tropical rainforests of Uganda who have now become conservation refugees after they were kept out of the forest for conservation purposes. The Batwa pygmies depended on the forest and these acted as their hunting and gathering grounds as they co-existed with the mountain gorillas for years. The Batwa have a creation story that they believe in and this is that their creator gave some people height, and others prosperous land however, when it came to the Batwa such gifts were no more and therefore they were given the rainforest.

In the rainforest, the Batwa did not destroy the forest their shelters did not destroy the forest and they left a low ecological footprint in the jungle. When the rainforests, were to be turned into national parks, of Bwindi and Mgahinga the lives of the Batwa started to change. They were sent out of the forest and now living around the forests. However, they can share with any interested traveller their previous way of life in the forest. It is even possible to take a forest trail walk for a cultural experience with the Batwa. A Batwa cultural tour can be tailored together with Uganda gorilla safaris.