A country without a museum is not worth visiting since there is nothing that is going to show you the history of that particular country. That is why museums are built in Uganda to show the history and heritage of the country.

The museums that are found in Uganda present what the present generation did not see and we all get to see the different cultures that are found in the country from the way of life, the traditional homesteads, the regalia used by the previous kings from the various kingdoms in the country and the political journey of the country. Our country has one National museum but has others that are worth seeing and I have listed some of the best museums in Uganda below:

Ankole culture and Dram actors’ museum

The Museum is located along Isingiro road in Mbarara and it shows you the traditional ways of the Banyankole who are the major residents of Western Uganda and their history. The Museum is majorly catered for by the local women who live around it and they also earn a living by caring for the art crafts, educating the tourists about everything found in the Museum and also through the numerous traditional performances that they do for the visitors.

The Uganda National Museum

The Uganda National Museum is located along Kira road in Kampala and it was established in 1908 making it the oldest Museum in the whole of East Africa. The Museum has all the old art crafts that belonged to the local chiefs of the different tribes in Uganda and it depicts the history of how far Uganda has come in terms of technology.

The Koogere community Museum

This is found in Fort portal 200 M along Mugurusi road. A visit to the Museum will make you understand the unique history of the Toro kingdom and their unique cultures from the dressing styles of Busuuti, the clan names of Empaako and how they came to be and the literature of the area and the people . The Museum was named after a heroine who became a leader in the kingdom after defying the cultural norms.

The Edirisa Museum

Edirisa Museum was built by Omugurusi Karwemera Festo in Kabale along Kisoro road. The Museum was built in form of the Bakiga traditional house and it has been a major attraction especially for those heading to Kisoro. The Museum has a shrine, a showcasing of the traditional tools and utensils used by the Bakiga, the local art cratfs and it depict how the people in the area live every day.

You will be able to enjoy the history of the locals and the good local food which is prepared in the restaurant nearby and you will be sure to stay connected to the restaurant of the world due to the presence of Wi-Fi in the area.

Butambala Heritage centre of civilization

This Museum is found in Butambala, Mpigi district and when you visit the place, you will see the different tools that are made by the ironsmiths of the area. It is also known as the home for the ironsmiths of Buganda kingdom who belong to the clan of Akasimba.

You will be able to see farming tools, Spears that are used especially when the heir is being installed, the traditional utensils used in the homestead and the traditional wears off the local people.

Kabalega Development Foundation

Kabalega Development Foundation is found in Western Uganda in Hoima district and it shows the different cultural norms of the Bunyoro. You will also be able to see and tour the place of the current kingdom of Bunyoro kitara known as Omukama Gabafusi. The museum shows you the different farming tools used in farming in Bunyoro, the nine legged stool which is used by the Omukama and through the local guides in the Museum you will be able to know the history of the kingdom, how it came about and the different Kings who have been reigning.

Uganda Martyrs University Museum

If you are a fun of anthropology, this is the best to visit in Uganda. The UMU Museum as it’s mostly known by the locals is found along Kampala to Masaka highway in Kayabwe just next to the equator. It has different sculptures and artifacts to see and also acts as a research centre for anthropology students. A visit to the Museum will leave you with anthropology knowledge from Uganda and Africa as a continent.

The Kaere African Museum

This is a privately owned Museum which is owned by kawere Godfrey and he showcases a collection of photographs, art paintings, and old news paper cuttings which all show the political history of Uganda and the rest of Africa.

The political history is from the colonial times, through the struggle to get independence, the different governments that the country has passed through up to date.

The centre of Africa Christian studies museum

This is located before Bunga along Ggaba road and it shows the different artifacts of how religion was before Christianity’s was brought into the country by the Missionaries. Before Christianity came into existence, Africans had their own beliefs of God and all these are shown in this museum.

The artifacts have been used by the current caretakers to promote Christianity without eroding the previous values of the Africans.

URDT cultural Assets and wildlife centre

The museum has both the training centre and the education sector. It is located in Kibale district in Kagadi town and when you visit the centre, you will be able to learn about how to conserve wildlife and the different measures that have been taken to stop poaching. You will also be able to learn about the Bunyoro culture and their heritage.

The Gulu peace Museum

This was constructed by the Human Rights Focus in Gulu. The Gulu peace museum was constructed to give hope to the Acholi people after the Lord Resistance Army which was led by the rebel kony Joseph carried out attacks, molested people and killed others in Northern Uganda.

The centre has given them hope and it teaches them the cultures that are practiced by the Acholi and you can also get to see the different cultural practices like the Matoput which is used during Acholi reconciliation. The centre has given hope to all those that were scarred during the war and have been living in camps.

The Karamoja women’s cultural group

This is found in Moroto in a village known as Natumkasikou and in this museum the karamojong ladies showcase the different art crafts that are made by these ladies and these include beads, colorful pots, and headgears, the sandals that are made of tyres, the tartan wrap and many other things that are full of karamojong culture. You will also learn about the different cultures and the way if life for the karamojongs.

Kikonzo language and culture centre

This is located in Kisoro district and it shows the way of life of the Bakonzo people, their tools, languages, hereditary rules and their cultural history. The Bankozo are known to be a small ethnic group in Uganda and you will find their whole history publicized at the centre and the local guides will also give you a glimpse into the culture by telling you the different stories.

Igongo culture centre

Igongo Centre is found in the North part of Mbarara and it was opened in 2011 by the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and it has a collection of different cultures from the western part of Uganda. The Centre moves at a motto “wisdom is rooted in the past” and you will be able to lean about the different ancient tribes in Western Uganda.

The Centre takes you through the way the Nyankore and Kigezi households evolved and the tour can take 30 minutes as you vies the different cultural settings in the area. It also shows most of the traditional things that are found in the Western part of Uganda like gourds used for milks, hides from the numerous cows in the area, the homesteads inform of huts where people live, grinding stones, the traditional farming tools, calabashes and local food which includes millet flour, the Nkwanzi and ghee locally known as Eshabwe and the Igongo centre also offers visitors a chance to buy crafts from the craft shop, a cultural village and beautiful relaxing gardens where the dance and singing performances are carried out.

The Itesot Cultural union museum

This is located at the centre of Soroti town in the Eastern part of Uganda. The museum is known as the major promoter of the Itesot culture. It shows many tools that were used by the Itesots like household utensils, the hunting tools used by the ancient people, skins and hides form animals and the royal regalia that have been used by the Itesot chiefs from time immemorial. The stories told by the locals will add to the excitement of the grand tour of the museum.