The people of Kampala, and Ugandans in general, are very kind and friendly and are very approachable. Additionally, Kampala is very safe to walk around, even at night, a welcome fact for many a high-strung visitor arriving from Nairobi. Uganda hosts large numbers of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Most of those NGOs are based in Kampala, so there is an established expat scene in the city.

BRIEF HISTORY

Kampala
Before the arrival of the British, the Buganda King, the Kabaka had chosen the area that was to become Kampala as one of his favourite hunting grounds. The area was made up of numerous rolling hills and lush wetlands. It was an ideal breeding ground for various antelopes - particularly the Impala. When the British arrived they called the area the Hills of the Impala. The word Impala is used to describe a particular species of antelope (Aepyceros melampus) common across Africa - the word's origin is likely to have been from the Zulu language in South Africa. It was then adopted into the English language by the British.

The language of the Buganda, Luganda, adopted many 'English' words from Buganda's interaction with the British. In this case, the word 'impala' was adopted and the Baganda translated the "...hill of the Impala" as Kasozi ka Empala - Kasozi means 'hill' in Luganda, ka means 'of' and empala means 'impala'. When spoken in Luganda the 'ka' and 'empala' are pronounced together, as one word - Kaampala, and soon whenever

CITY TOURS

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. It was originally built on the seven hills but it has grown to cover quite a number of more beautiful hills. Our city tours run to Entebbe, Jinja where the mighty Nile begins its long Journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Activities and attraction are the creative local arts and crafts markets, the Uganda museum, bahai, Kabaka’s Lake, Kasubi tombs a burial place for the past kings of Buganda, the mabira forest, the Bjagali fals and the source of the nile.
 
We also take you around the different craft shops in Kampala  for shopping of souvenirs.

In our tours, we have a chance to look at the Uganda artifacts the Bahai temple, Makerere University the oldest institution of higher learning in Uganda, proceed to the Kabaka’s lake for a close look at the largest man made excavated lake in Africa then drive to Mabira Forest. Lunch is provided and then in the evening, you are taken back to your hotels.

MORE INFO ON SIGHTS IN THIS CITY TOURS INCLUDED IN SIGHT-SEEING IN KAMPALA ON THIs PAGE (Uganda travel guide)

the Kabaka went hunting the Baganda would say Kabaka agenze e "ka Empala" - "The Kabaka has gone to Ka'mpala". The name Kampala soon stuck.

The city grew as the capital of the Buganda kingdom, from which several buildings survive, including the Kasubi Tombs (built in 1881), the Buganda Parliament, the Buganda Court of Justice and the Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site. Severely damaged in the Uganda-Tanzania War, the city has since then been rebuilt, with constructions of new buildings including hotels, banks, shopping malls, educational institions, hospitals and improvement of war torn buildings and infrastructure.