Uganda Travel Experiences

Recently the Uganda Tourism Board led a process of branding Destination Uganda. When the brand “Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa” was unveiled to the world, a few people wondered exactly what was there to explore in Uganda. Some even thought that they knew the country so well that they did not have to explore anything new. But they were wrong. Uganda never ceases to amaze, and there’s so much to explore.

There is a part of Uganda that remains unknown, undiscovered and virgin in many respects.

If you have been to Fortportal, perhaps you have seen those magnificent tall eucalyptus trees in the Mpanga valley opposite the Toro Golf course. Those trees were planted in 1954 the very day Queen Elizabeth visited Tooro and perhaps after visiting and naming after herself Queen Elizabeth National Park.

If you have ever studied African history, there is a big chance that you learnt about the Chwezi dynasty! You must have learnt that these guys were Demi gods, able to do things that no one else did. A good example is here.

Many people look at motoke as a plant while others see it as merely food. And others still ask what this is all about! In Buganda matoke is much more than a plant and food. It is one of the most cherished aspects of Buganda culture. Matoke were here long before the arrival of European explorers. It is believed that it was in the rein of Kintu, Buganda’s first revolutionary King after the fall of Ttonda dynasty, that Matoke was introduced. Since that time matoke have been a part of the Baganda, for now close to 800 years.

Uganda is indeed a country of many wonders. Many people talk about the natural beauty of this country and never its rich cultural diversity. Recently, I embarked on a journey to the east of the country. A few kilometers from Jinja, I ended up at Bwonda landing site in Mayuge. Got into a speed boat for about 2 hours into lake Victoria. The The expansiveness of the lake with a few islands scattered far between each other, coupled with a bumpy ride, got me both excited and scared at the same time.