Looking
for exceptional cultural safaris in Africa? Uganda is undoubtedly Africa’s cultural
safari paradise! Besides the famous adrenaline adventures in Jinja, the Busoga
Kingdom Ministry of Tourism and Heritage also offers tourists with yet
exceptional cultural experience along the Kyabazinga Royal Trail. If you are an
anthropologist and you wish to enrich yourself with the diverse cultural
practices, norms, customs and more about the Basoga or simply you have a great desire to support
the development of local tourism attractions in Uganda, look not further
than hitting on the Kyabazinga Royal Trail. Jinja is described as a “capital”
of breathtaking adventures but it is also a cultural paradise for visitors on
Uganda safaris and tours! Wildlife safaris in Uganda are only complete with
cultural safaris.
Busoga
Kingdom (Obwakyabazinga bwa Busoga) features as one of Uganda’s most respected
and organized kingdoms in Africa. The Basoga were organized into chiefdoms and
paid allegiance to the Bunyoro Kingdom and later Buganda. After the coming of
the British colonialists, the Busoga chiefdoms were combined to make up the
Busoga Lukiko that was first headed by Semei Kakungulu a Muganda British
Collaborator. After the end of the Kakungulu’s tenure, the Busoga kept the
arrangement and the title of Isebantu Kyabazinga was born and eventually the
Busoga settled for a centralized monarchy that they enjoy up to date under the
Kingship of His Highness William Wilberforce.
A
cultural safari to the Kyabazinga Royal Trail exposes you to the royal,
historical and cultural sites of the Busoga Kingdom for a deep understanding of
the Busoga Kingdom which holds the strong history and cultural significance to
Uganda. The Busoga area is rich in cultural and historical sites that are
worth exploring while on the Kyabazinga Royal Trail including; the Iganga palace,
Bishop Hannington site-which represents the mysterious murder of the legendary
Bishop James Hannington in the 1885 by the orders of the Kabaka Mwanga the
second while he was carrying out his missionary work in Uganda. Today this area
has become a historical sacred site in Busoga area;
Kagulu rock which
stands at 3048 meters with a gigantic rocks that provide breathtaking
adventures as well as cultural exploration for cultural lovers. This hill is
believed to be the first migration and settlement place in Busoga. The area
offers opportunity for tourists to trace the history of this rock on a hill.
Due to the grey and black gigantic rock with dots of green plus its surrounding
areas have a historical attachment to the formation of Busoga. They are undoubtedly
endowed with cultural heritage for the Basoga. Prior any journey to the
historical site, visitors have to greet the caretakers of the rocks who are
believed to be some of the remnants of the Bachwezi.
Explore the source Nile while
on Kyabazinga Royal Trail. At this point you will find a plague marking the
spot from which the Nile starts its journey via Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. The
Source of the River Nile was at the site of the Rippon falls, on the west bank,
you will find the John Speke memorial-a monument where Speke stood when he
first sighted the source of the Nile on 28 July 1862 and hence the name Rippon
falls. You will also explore the Mahatma Ghandi memorial statue which is just
at the surrounding of Nile. or visit the Mpumudde hill where the late Omukama
of Bunyoro, Kabalega-a Ugandan who resisted colonialism and believed to have
met his death while on his way back to Bunyoro after serving his exile term in
Kenya. In Ganda word Mpumudde denotes “I have rested!” There is also Bugembe
palace for you to explore while on cultural safaris along the Kyabazinga trail.
The Bugembe palace was established during the reign of Sir William Wilberforce
Nadiope in 1965 which was ransacked by Idi Amin’s soldiers in the mid 1970s. Other
areas for cultural enthusiasts to explore while on Kyabazinga trail are Jinja
Cultural Center, Wanyange Afro tourism, Nyenga hill and Iyinga landing site.
In
conclusion, besides the popular breathtaking adventure safaris at Jinja-the
Source of the Nile, Busoga region is also a cultural paradise. If you are a
cultural enthusiast, you have a reason to be part of the first people to hit on
Kyabazinga Royal Trail for a reward of lifetime cultural experiences.
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