The Uganda National Museum
The Uganda National Museum is among Kampala’s top Attractions. If you have a free Sunday in Kampala, make time for something productive and visit the Uganda National Museum (UM) to learn more about the ‘Pearl of Africa’.
The visit is to the largest and oldest Museum in Uganda, founded in 1908. The Uganda National Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Enjoy African history, culture, and the treasures of Uganda under one roof.
You can explore several fascinating sections at the Uganda National Museum; specifically, the Traditional Music gallery invites you to examine ancient instruments and enjoy live performances. Furthermore, the Archaeology section displays stone tools from a million years ago, while the Palaeontology gallery features fossils dating back 20 million years.
In addition, you can visit the Independence Pavilion to see historic technology, such as Uganda’s seventh-ever car and East Africa’s first telephone model. Consequently, the Ethnography and Ethnology sections provide a deep dive into recent history and various cultural ways of life, even showcasing the country’s first printing press.
Also, discover distinct species of mammals, such as the Long-horned buffalo and the Indian Elephant. Outside the museum is the Living Museum (Museumal village), which exhibits Ugandan ways of life and represents the whole of Uganda.
At the Museum
You enter the museum and find the hall split into two directions; consequently, you must choose between exhibits such as the Stone Age room, traditional instruments, and Palaeontology. I opted to head straight for the history section because the curators presented the information concisely. Furthermore, the deeper I travelled through the museum, the more the spectacular headdresses and professional displays impressed me.
Children will absolutely love the various weapons for war, hunting, and punishment; in fact, these displays would have been my first stop as a child, and they still hooked me even as an adult. Furthermore, the natural history section offers fascinating insights, especially the window that highlights the stealthy attributes of Uganda’s insects.
After I soaked up the museum’s history, I felt the need to blow off some steam; consequently, I decided to “have a crack” at the various Ugandan musical instruments on display. Although I lack a musical bone in my body, Alice enticed me with her serene tuba fiddle tunes and showed me the ropes. Furthermore, we “jammed” together for a while; specifically, this session involved my sporadic drumming alongside Alice’s true finger wizardry across several instruments.
Time in the Museum
The traditional instruments on display are a far cry from the ones you see for sale in various craft shops, and very special, and this comes from someone with no prior interest in musical instruments other than an iPod. Having taken one last quick tour around the museum and grabbed some shots of Museum pieces, I left feeling that my afternoon had truly enriched my understanding of Uganda through an unstressed wander through a fascinating place.
The museum is a great introduction – it offers a variety of exhibits that display the many unique aspects of the country in a way that is far from boring. All ages will take something from their trip, and it provides a great afternoon out – especially those wanting to get out of the hustle and bustle of Kampala and a little deeper into the rich history of Uganda.
Admissions
You can easily pay your admission fees at the entrance; specifically, Ugandan adults and children pay 1,000 and 500 UGX, respectively. Furthermore, non-Ugandan visitors pay 3,000 UGX for adults and 1,500 UGX for children. If you plan to capture your visit, prepare to pay 5,000 UGX for a still camera or 20,000 UGX for a video camera. You can also arrange for a professional guide upon arrival to enhance your experience.
Opening Hours
- Monday to Saturday (10.00 am to 6.00 pm)
- Sunday and Public Holidays (12 Noon to 6.00 pm)
- Plot 5-7 Kira Road, Kampala.