Kampala Tourist Traps

What one need to know when in Kampala, Matatu is a taxi while sallon car is called "Special". "Special" has special prices too, especially for mzungus (whites). No car has visible sign for taxi service or taxi-meter but they are available virtualy all over the town. One cannot know wether sitting in a private car or in a special.
Rule number one is, never enter in a car before the price for a ride isn't agreed! If using special late in the night, the drivers will try to take advantage of you by asking double or triple price than usual.

Unique Suggestions: There exist yellow-cab service in Kampala too but you wont see much of them around. Their usual post is around casinos (check in front of Simba). The starting price is 3.500 shillings but they wont switch on the taxi-meter if you don't ask it. However, even if burgain for a ride, yellow-cab is much cheaper than the special.
Good advice is, once you used their service, ask them to give you their card with phone numbers.

There are many crafts shops, both government and privately owned. In my opinion, the products there are grossly overpriced for a budget traveller. If you are planning on travelled to other parts of East Africa like Tanzania and Kenya, then you are better off buying stuff from small stores there than buying it from the crafts stores in Uganda.

Unique Suggestions: If you want to buy the t-shirt that says "Mzungu", then this would be the place. For some reason, it is not available in any of the smaller stores. I know many tourists who want to buy one, and would have expected it to be available in every store in Kampala. The only places where I could find "Mzungu" t-shirts were the crafts stores and the airport.

NOTE: Mzungu means white man. Its not meant as an insult, just the local lingo. Mhindi stands for Indians, and Mchina stands for orientals. They are pronounced as Muzungu, Muindi, and Mucheena, respectively.

Fun Alternatives: Keep your eyes open and buy the same stuff from the street-side stores, especially in the tourist destinations of Tanzania and Kenya.

Peoples and Culture of Uganda
Uganda is a country of many contrasts. The forbidding mountains act as a foil to the softer meadows and broad savannah, while the dry uplands contrast with the swamplands of the lake shores.

The contrasts between the various peoples of Uganda reflect this variety of surroundings and are demonstrated in the multiplicity of cultures traditions and lifestyles.

Uganda has been created by the union of many peoples. Ancient people with their own traditional lands, their own customs and a way of life inherited from their ancestors. They now live together as one people. Today we are all proud to be Ugandans, while we cherish the memory of our history and keep alive the tradition of our ancestors.

Uganda is a result of the unification of ancient kingdoms, as well as many smaller independent chieftainances which are now part of the richness of our modern state. Their heritage lives on in the hearts of the people, their traditional dress, languages, dances and customs.

The largest cultural group are the Baganda people, whose kingdom has always been influential in Ugandan affairs. Amongst our ethnic groups are many others that include those in the the Kingdom of Toro, the Banyankole, the Acholi, Basoga and Lugbara.

Religious tolerance is an important part of present-day Uganda. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others all live in harmony, free to practice their own religion. Our temples and churches are buildings of great slendour, and venues for impressive festivals and celebrations. Of special interest is the Lake Mburo Cultural Village which the Ankole people have created to highlight the customs and history of their kingdom.

Unique Suggestions: Peoples and Culture of Uganda
Uganda is a country of many contrasts. The forbidding mountains act as a foil to the softer meadows and broad savannah, while the dry uplands contrast with the swamplands of the lake shores.

Geography and Climate of Kampala

Kampala, (0deg.20' N, 32deg.30' E ) is the largest urban centre in Uganda, accounting for 800,000 (1993 estimate) persons or 47% of the urban population. Kampala is located on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria- N'yanza at an altitude of 1,310 meters above sea level. (Map 2) The climate of Kampala is typical of an inland tropical city, modified by altitude, and distance from the sea. The mean temperature of the city is 22deg.C, with a mean maximum of 27deg.C and a mean minimum of 17deg.C, a diurnal range of 10deg.C. The temperature however does vary quite significantly, and temperatures up to 35deg.C and down to 12deg.C are not uncommon. The average humidity over the year is 75% typically high in the morning and low in the afternoon. Daily sunshine hours ranges form a low of 5.7 hours a day during the month of July, to 7.7 hours a day during January (a mean of 6.5 hours per day). Four winds are recognised;

South-East Monsoons
Northerly dry current (Across Egypt and Sudan)
North-Easterly Moist Current
Westerly (Varies from North-West to South-West)
Rain fall maxima are associate with the onset of the South-East Monsoons and the North-Easterly Moist Current, both associated with the annual movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Average rainfall for the city is about 1174mm, most falling during the two wet seasons of March to May, and October to November. Dry seasons are December to February and June to July.

Fun Alternatives: Well, well, well.. alot has happened in Kampala over the last few months. Perhaps the most significant is the opening of Garden City
Click for images of Kampala today

Complex. I can swear this is going to be the hottest place to hang out in Kampala. Cineplex has already opened a branch at Garden City. For the Party animals, the roof-top pub; called The Venue will do it ! Allegators, the 1st and only bowling alley in Uganda shares the same floor with Cineplex while Woolworths is just one floor below. Anyway, you will have to check the place your self. Seeing is believing. Lots of other shops are opening up such as Uchumi; the Supermarket chain as well as Bata.

More new places in Kampala include Woolworths on Workers House and The Spot After a night club in Ntinda.