The Uganda budget makes cultural safaris more costly

Many people especially tour operators expected the minister of Finance this time to read a budget that favors the tourism sector but on their surprise,more taxes were introduced in the sector.This according to the operators will affect the tourism industry as visitors will be discouraged by the increase in the cost of a Uganda safari including cultural safaris.

Lat week a budget for the next financial year was read to the public and 18% VAT on accommodation facilities where visitors stay was a newly introduced tax.Another tax which will affect the sector is the tax on the various sites including the cultural sites.These two taxes will affect the industry negatively because visitors intending to visit this East African country will be discouraged due to the increased costs.In fact a cultural visit to some of the major sites in Uganda is going to become more expensive to the visitors.The old itineraries you are used to are now going to be modified to include some element of tax.

Uganda is one of the leading tourism destinations in Africa and culture is one of the special attributes that have been attracting people from different parts of the word.However,there is fear that the number of visitors who visit this "pearl of Africa" annually will reduce as a result of the increased taxes.This is the reason why different tour operators have come out to ask the government to reduce these taxes.The government argues that its finding ways of raising more revenue forgetting that discouraging tourists from visiting the country will in a long run lead to a reduction in the revenue. Tourism industry in Uganda is the leading revenue-generating sector and by increasing taxes on the various sites and accommodation,income received from the visitors will reduce.

Apart from culture,visitors come to this country to participate in other adventurous activities like gorilla trekking,nature walks,game drives,hiking,bird watching,kayaking,chimpanzee tracking
,boat rides and many more

Ways you can have a successful cultural safari experience

Many tourists visit Uganda repeatedly but experiencing the same way they did on their last tour.They lack the basics of how to make their cultural safari tours a success without even the help of a tour company.Some tourists just pay their money with a company and wait fro fun to come their way without even doing something to provide the fun for them selves.Below are some of the things one can do to make a safari tour more colourful and enjoyable;-

Plan your safari well: Before you jump on the plane to Uganda,first draft a plan of how you want you tour to be.Off course you will need do this by the help of a tour company that you plan to use.Choose the various places you want to visit and attach a price to each.If you are planning a cultural tour,point out the various villages,sites,people and cultural centers you will visit while in Uganda.

Carry enough money: You all realize that all things work better if you have the money especially if in a foreign country.This is the reason why you are advised to carry enough money so as to meet the various bills which you may be required to clear while on a safari.Never carry inadequate money while on a safari because you may fail to enjoy safari to the maximum.The money will enable you buy some art crafts,visit extra places,buy African clothes and many more.

Research about the cultural norms in the host country: Before you visit Uganda,there is need that you get to know some things allowed and those that are not allowed culturally.Some of the things you are used to may be unwanted according to African context and this is the reason why you need to research to avoid disappointments.Get to know the cord of dressing,how to great,how to respond to different circumstances and others.

Carry enough clothes: Though some tourist prefer buying clothes from their respective destinations,its is wise to carry enough clothes for the days you will spend on a safari.Choosing the right kind of clothes to carry depends on the culture of you destination.

Make a good choice of places to visit: Do not just pick a place because a tour company has told you that is is the best place to visit but choose a place that you think will be satisfactory to you.Choose wisely depending on your desires.

Choose a credible tour company: The success of any safari largely depends on the tour company used and this is the reason why you need to choose a company that is credible and experienced like Maranatha Tours Uganda (www.adventureugandasafaris.com).

Hidden facts about a true Ugandan - Cultural Safari tours

Many people (tourists) visit Uganda and they get amazed with what they find in this beautiful country.Some of them get shocked with the calm people of Uganda who welcome them with a lot of love and peace.To many,they just take this for granted not knowing that there is a strong cultural training that these people went through.

Unlike other societies in the world,a typical Ugandan home is headed by the parents (father and mother) and these people are responsible for grooming their children into responsible citizens.In fact if a child does something shameful,according to the Ugandan context,its the parents who are first to blame because of their negligence to train their child.In every home,children take their parents as their role models who are expected to act in a way that they want their children to act when they grow up.

On a cultural safari tour to Uganda,you will; be welcomed by a Ugandan at the airport and you will be over whelmed by the way he/she will treat you.According to the cultural beliefs of Uganda,maximum respect must be given to the visitor and then others follow.

In a cultured home,once a visitor visits, he/she is warmly welcomed, offered the best seat in the home,greeted with maximum respect,kept active by telling stories,served with a magnificent meal and must be served first before others and must be escorted back.This according to elders encourages the visitor to visit next time and it keeps a good image between the two parties.

However,there is a specific code of conduct a visitor is expected to portray on a visit to any cultured home.He/she is not expected to command respect at any one point and must follow the host's programme.But when it comes to meals,unless if revealed, the host is supposed to ask the visitor what he/she wants to eat or drink.This helps to avoid incidences of serving unwanted food to the visitor.

When it comes to tourists,they are given maximum respect while on their Safari to this great nation.It is this reason that many tourists prefer visiting this country to others.The way Ugandans treat visitors is different from the way other nationals do and this is because of the strong cultural training which every Ugandan must go through.

With the maximum respect guaranteed,a tourists feels more secure in Uganda than other African countries and they keep on making repeated safaris to this East African country.

Get to learn some of the Cultural Languages of Uganda - Cultural Safaris

As the number of cultural Safaris increase in Uganda,many of the tourists start their trip from Kampala,the capital city of Uganda.This city is found in the central part of the country and it is in Buganda kingdom.
Buganda is the leading cultural setting in Uganda with a diverse collection of unique features that can spice up your Uganda Safari.The kingdom comprises of calm people who are inviting to all visitors regardless of the origin.The way of living in this historically rich tribe is interesting and this explains why tourists on a Uganda Safari end up spending more time in the kingdom than the actual planned time.

With all the many cultural attractions that are found in Buganda,there is no doubt that it is one of the leading tourists destination in Africa. Baganda speak a language known as Luganda and it is the commonest language used in this East African country.Therefore,a visitor is advised to learn the local language that these "Bantu-speaking " people use so as to ease their communication.Ugandans feel more comfortable when greeted in their mother tongue than when a foreign language is used.In case you cant speak the language to the require level,at least learn a few words that you can use while in the "pearl of Africa".
Some of the Luganda words that you can use while on you tour to Uganda (especially when in Buganda) include:-

Greeting:
Wasuze otya nno - Good morning
Osiibye otya nno - Good evening/Good afternoon
Ki kati - Hi
Oli otya - How are you?
Gyendi- is the answer meaning "I am ok"
Siiba bulungi - Have a nice day
Sula bulungi - Goodnight
Weeraba - Goodbye
Tukusanyukidde - Welcome(to one person)
Tuanalabagana - See you later

Addressing someone:
Ssebo - Sir
Nyabo - Madam

Expressing your feelings:
Ndi munyiivu- I am angry
Mpulira empewo- am feeling cold
Ndi musanyufu- am happy
Ndi mukkufu- am satisified
Mpulira ebbugumu-am hot
Ntide-am scared
Ndi mulwade- am sick
Ennyonta ennuma-am thirsty
Ndi munakuwavu-am sad
Nkooye-am tired
Enjala ennuma - am hungry
Ndi mweraliikirivu - am worried

Other words:
Weebale - Thank you
Mwattu - Please
Mwattu yingira - Please come in
Owange - Excuse me
Wangi - Pardon me
Kale - ok
Nedda - No thanks
Simanye - I don't know
Sawa mmeka - What is the time?
Nze - I am
Nkwagala - I love you
Mmmeka Ssente? - How much is it?

The Uganda museum - Cultural Safaris

Really if seeing is believing then please don’t miss to make a cultural Travel to Uganda museum. Founded in 1908 is Uganda’s oldest and fascinating museum that exhibits traditional culture, science, archeology, natural history. Located in Kampala the country’s capital along kiira road to kamwokya off bombo road which is 4 kilometre drive from the city Centre, the place contains all about Uganda’s past and is a must visit when you happen to reach in the pearl of Africa.

At the very entrance, enticing and nice looking pictures await you of photos and posters with images of various Uganda geographical features, animals, birds and insects that are displayed behind the reception desk to reflect the true cultural history. The entry fee are pocket friendly where by each Ugandan adult pays1000 Uganda shillings, while Ugandan children pay 500 shillings each. Non-Ugandan adults part with 3000 shillings to access the museum while non-Uganda children pay 1,500 shillings. For those tourists carrying  still cameras, they pay an additional 5,000 shillings carrying a video camera will see you pay an extra 20,000 Uganda shillings, unless if you are lucky and you happen to be a journalist then you may be allowed to enter free of charge.

After the reception, you will find different directions directing you towards the different sections of the beautiful museum, walking straight through the lobby, you will enter the pavilion of independence of science and technology, when you turn left then you will see the different musical instruments that you are allowed to play if you wish as well as the stone age gallery. While you are still in the lobby, what will catch your eyes are the photographs of human interest of Uganda and other countries, they include fossilized old foot prints that are said to have been found in Lactoli that are about 3.7 million year, the history and evolution of the Rift valley, the Lake Baringo basin in Kenya and many more others with their historical significance.

Another amazing section is the stone age section where you will be able to see the physical tools that were used by the stone age people, they include wood that was used for scrapping, stones and how they even evolved into the modern tools that Ugandans use today, you will also be able to see and appreciate how we evolved from our ancestors the apes and how they also evolved into humans. The whole story is told and classified by the pictures, real bones, skulls that are displayed.

Uganda's multicultural and colorful past just becomes alive as you tour the History and Iron Age displays that depict the traditional ways of life in different kingdoms, tribes and communities of Uganda. Here you find striking displays of traditional clothing especially the bark cloth and animal skin, headdress, hair dressing, as well as hunting, Uganda’s transport history, fishing, agriculture, war, religion, and how our ancestors spent their free time (traditional recreation). The displays explain that all Ugandan communities enjoyed music and dancing, as well as drinking beer and playing various games like the “omweso”. Gathered all over Uganda from the Madi in northern Uganda, to the Bahima in the southern part of Uganda. These have made the museum a fantastic and a must visit place.

Another interesting feature here is the display that shows how justice was held in Uganda in many years ago where there was no penal code, police force and criminal investigations, how did people in the past see that someone had committed a crime and deserved a punishment for example you will be able to see how the madi and lugbara tribes used divine posts to assess the innocence of the accused while other tribes used leathers to identify who had committed a crime. Since most tribes and communities couldn’t avoid war in the past, you will be able to see a lot of different war tools, hunting tools that were also used for self-defense, Uganda’s history of livestock and the migration routes of many communities like the Nilo-Hamites, Luo, highland Nilotics, Sudanic bantu and the bushmanoid.

So whenever you are in Uganda, and you want to embrace the historical taste of Uganda, the only place is the Uganda museum, the custodian of Uganda’s heritage.

Get enriched with Ugandan Culture on your Safari

Forget about the other adventures that come with a Ugandan Safari like Mount Gorilla Tracking,Chimpanzee trekking,game drive,bird watching,hiking,the diverse collection of cultural settings in the country are magnificent and worth a visit.With the government's conservation of culture,there is more hope that a higher number of visitors will be recorded this year mainly on cultural safaris.

Uganda is estimated to have more than 61 tribes each with a unique language and cultural norms.Among these tribes,its only 42 tribes that have tried to preserve their historical objects with rich heritage for visitors to view.A tourists can easily access any of the tribes and get a chance of experiencing the true lifestyle of an African man/woman without necessarily going through hardships.Ugandans are kind to visitors and are always willing to host any stranger just like their ancestors.

In case you want to touch the true heart of Uganda,just get in touch with its people and have a thrilling experience of unbelievable history.The treasure missed while in your country of origin is best discovered in Africa on your Cultural Safari to Uganda.Blessed with unique norms,the local people in this "pearl of Africa" respect and preserve their heritages collectively so as to easily trace their origin.

Meet and greet the local people and even have a village stay in one of Uganda's tribes to dig deeper into the African lifestyle. Get to know how Ugandans survive without the sky scrappers that are identical wit the western world.Though some African practices are criticized to be backward,they bring out the unspoilt real men and women of Africa and what they are used to.

Our company can help you to enjoy a trip of your life time that you will live to tell on the black continent.It is as simple as making a booking with us and we formulate an itinerary depending on your wish.We are experienced in organizing cultural safaris in Uganda and other East African countries.We can pick you from the airport and take you to the hotel in Kampala where you will relax and enjoy a night city view of Kampala.Wake up the next morning and get briefed before embarking on a cultural trip through the whole country.The whole Safari can take one week at fair costs.

Climbing Kagulu Hill,believed to be haunted by over 46 spirits by Busoga People

The well of life on Kagulu hill has offered the people in Busoga hope as many climb the hill so as to get blessings from this supernatural small well.Kagulu hill is found in Buyende district where the founding fathers of Busoga’s royal clan rested as they moved from Bunyoro to Busoga via Lake Kyoga.Today Kagulu Hill has become a must visit tourist site and many visitors go their mainly to see this supernatural water that is said to cure people of their diseases. As a result,cultural safaris in this area have increased.This hill is estimated to have more than 1000 year and its huge rocks on the side are credited for an endless support to this holy site of Busoga.

Kagulu hill is subject of many mysterious tales many of them concerning its supernatural cultural background. Every king to-be of Busoga (Kyabazinga) has to climb this hill on his coronation day. In Busoga this is known as a ‘holy journey for the King’ and the main reason is that the king has to go up the hill and consult the gods of Busoga so as he is provided with Knowledge and wisdom to lead the Kingdom.

Climbing the hill

The journey to the top of the hill is interesting as you get a chance to see beautiful small shiny grey and black rocks which tradition says they were wives of the first king of Busoga.Around the hill there are also dark caves that are said to have been the hiding place for the king in times of war.

Up the hill is more attractive than the lower parts of this 10000 feet above sea level hill. This is simply because of the small attractive well that contains water that is said to be holy. This wall attracts people from all over Busoga who believe it gives good fortune. The residents claim that this well does not dry up even in drought times.Ngobi Fahad one of the residents of Kagulu said the water is a source of blessing but he added that it depends on what and how much you want from the gods. He also noted that dropping a coin into the water earns you a reward from the ancestors.

It is said that there is an oracle on this hill that is haunted by the 46 spirits that own and patrol the hill, and she is known as Mandwa Kagulu Nabiryo.She has a shrine at the top of the hill and always people enter it for blessings. Also on top of the hill there are multicolored snakes with two heads, two wells, and a dugout canoe that belongs to Nabiryo.

The spirits on the hill are harmless to the visitors and today many tourists climb the hill to have a glimpse on the wonders of African magic. Also a number of men and women climb the hill to ask the gods to strengthen their marriages and also bless them. Although the water of the well seems to be dirty, people still take it so as to show their seriousness in what they are seeking.

HOW TO GET THERE

From Kampala taxi park, its 86km to Kamuli town in the Eastern part of Uganda. From Kamuli town, you board to Buyende town 30km west of the town. While in Buyende town, you are already at the place since its just 2km from the town to Kagulu village. The whole journey takes 4-6 hours. 

Other than reading about this adventurous place,a wonderful cultural safari  is the best idea.

Cultural Safari tips that will enhance your time in Uganda

Below  is a code of conduct for cultural safari visitors that respect the norms and communities of Uganda,the environment and the wildlife;

What do before a cultural safari to Uganda?

• Plan your trip effectively by choosing eco-friendly lodges that suite your desires.Those lodges that use charcoal are not ideal for visitors and therefor a visitor should choose a lodge that uses gas for cooking.Lodges that are close to the local communities are more suitable because of the easiness to meet the local people.
• Take caution while packing for the cultural safari.Compared to the western standards,Uganda is mainly composed of needy people and where necessary, a visitor is compelled to give a few gifts to the children.Depending on your desires,a tour company might take you for a visit to any of the local schools and here,children will ask for some simple gifts.

How to deal with the local people and different communities?

• Avoid treating the local people in Uganda as if they are another species of wildlife.On a cultural safari,one is expected to meet people of different cultures and norms and learning their cultures is one of the great pleasures.
• Greeting in Uganda is highly recommended.In Uganda,a mere Hi or Hello is not enough to greet.According to the cultural norms of Ugandans,greeting is a way of showing mutual respect to another person and it is mainly done by shaking of hands.It is a cultural mistake in Uganda to say a quick greeting as is common in other countries.Time spent while greeting someone is more important than a tight schedule.A visitor can get to learn a few greeting in the various languages in Uganda.
• Taking photos.Before you take any photo of the local people,always ask for permission to avoid inconveniences.If no permission is asked,people might think that you are taking photos for financial gains.
• Dress appropriately.Though Europeans are most often forgiven for dressing in a manner that is not so common in Uganda,it is good to respect the local style and get dressed in a modest fashion.
• Bargaining in Uganda.Always respect Ugandans and pay a fair price because this indirectly improve their way of living.Some traders in Uganda are fond of overcharging visitors and one is advised to know the various prices charged for different commodities.In case a visitor cannot know the prices in time,he/she is advised to get a guide who will bargain on his behalf for fair prices.At our company,we provide skilled guides that are trust worthy for our clients.

Voluntourism (Volunteerism) 

• A visitor can combine his/her safari with volunteering.This activity can easily be arranged for your safari stay in Uganda.Get a chance to move around the various schools,medical facilities,orphanages,community work and experiencing an authentic African lifestyle.
• You can also make donations to these local schools ,orphanage,project and our company will ensure that the money donated reach the intended recipients.

Respect and conserve the environment

• Avoid littering anytime in African Wild.Use the placed garbage bags in the vehicles and avoid throwing litter through the windows.
• Conserve Resources: You may stay in a lodge that uses solar energy which uses a battery system at night.I t is therefore recommended to switch off the lights when not in use .At some lodges,fresh water might be on a short supply so keep showers short and this applies for hot water users too. 

Experience the real Africa with a village stay - Cultural Safaris to Uganda

Though the number of tourists who make cultural safaris to Uganda is rapidly increasing,some of them live the country without enjoying the true lifestyle of   the local people.Some visitors opt to stay in 4 star or 5 star safari lodges where the only Ugandans they interact with are the waiters and waitresses.This denies them an opportunity to experience the original feeling of Africa that is experienced while in the villages.

Local people singing and dancing for peace

Spending a night or 2 in a real African village is one of those experiences that a visitor can never forget in his/her life time.In the villages,a visitor can start a cultural safari by going with the women to the garden where you can gather numerous vegetables,get a chance to cut down the matoke bananas,pick the beans,fresh potatoes,dig out the cassava,maize (corn-not yellow like in USA) tomatoes,some papaya,onions,and get some mangoes.
If a visitor is comfortable,he/she can learn how to butcher the chicken.In Uganda,butchering chicken is normal and children as young as 6 know how to go about it.

Life in a real African village is simple and a visitor can easily cope up with the unique experience,especially for those who think everything comes prepackaged from the store.Today,some visitors instead of staying in up-market lodging facilities,they opt to stay at villages and enjoy their time while in Uganda.Unlike game viewing,cultural safaris in Uganda that extend to villages create memories of the early men of Africa.

A village stay in Uganda enables a visitor to meet the authentic Uganda up close and personal,meet the blacksmith,village story tellers,traditional healers,families,children and many more.Get to learn how to drum,how to drum,how to speak the local languages,how to fish with your hands,prepare traditional foods,cook over open fires and generally experience a typical Ugandan village.

The majority of Ugandans live in Villages and this is the reason why a visitor must make a village stay in order to experience the real Uganda.Lasting memories are instilled into visitor on a cultural Safari to Uganda due to authentic Africa experience provided.

Depending on the village visited and culture,in Uganda,different cultures have different way of life.Each tribe has its own unique practices and norms.Therefore,a visitor is expected to select a village that he/she is comfortable with its practices and norms.However,most Ugandan villages consist a diverse cultural experience that interests any visitor.The people are kind to visitors and give a remarkable company to visitors.

Igongo Cultural Centre - Cultural Safaris in Uganda

 What is Igongo Cultural Center?
Igongo Cultural Centre is a cultural site (place) in southwestern Uganda where the future meets the past.This cultural centre has a  well equipped museum which contains the history about the first people in Uganda.This presentation of history is well elaborated in pictures,documents,cultural music,drama,music,sculptures,art and many others.The cultural center is an ideal stop over while on a Safari to Uganda (traveling from the west of Uganda).
This cultural centre hosts one of the leading museum in Uganda with an avid representation of the Ankole culture.The gorgeous scenery of the gardens and the historical buildings that hose a museum are so interesting to look at. 
Igongo Cultural Centre was officially opened by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,the president of Uganda on 23rd December.From then,the number of visitors to the site have greatly increased as many come to find out how the early people used to survive.

Where is Igongo Cultural Centre located?
Igongo Cultural Centre is found in  the south western Uganda in Biharwe (about 12kms from Mbarara town). It's along Masaka - Mbarara high way.

When is the best time to visit?
A visitor can visit Igongo Cultural Centre at any time of the year.

What are the features at Igongo Cultural Centre?
There are numerous features at this cultural center and these include;the beautiful gardens,museum,historical buildings,a restaurant with traditional dishes,craft shops,historical sculptures of both people and animals and many more.Mainly,this place portrays the Kigezi and Banyankole culture.

What are the activities visitors should expect while at Igongo Cultural Centre?
Among the activities are;

• Craft viewing
• Donkey rides
• Medicinal plants tour
• Museum tour
• Traditional music and dance performances
• Performing traditional Uganda chores
• Cultural walks to the near by villages
• Climbing the near by hills

What are fees charged at the site?
Adults - Ush 5,000
Children - Ush 3,000
Foreigners - Ush 20,000

There are well trained guides to take the visitors through the museum and also explain the various happenings related to the history.

What to wear while on a cultural Safari to Uganda

Composed of people with different backgrounds,Uganda has a diverse collection of cultural destinations that can spice up a visitor's cultural safari.By looking at a Ugandan,one can tell which tribe he/she comes from.This is because different tribes in Uganda dress differently.

Gomesi and Kanzu

Ugandans generally like to dress smart and this is common with those in Kampala (Uganda's capital city).People in the city try to copy the western style of dressing and ignore their cultural dressing making it hard for  visitor to differentiate their origin.Most of these clothes won by people in towns are second-hand clothes (already used clothes).In Kampala,these clothes are mainly bought from Owino market where you might even find tags with US prices from places such as value village,salvation Army and others.Though Ugandans like to dress smartly,they are always conservative when it comes to dressing.

When it comes to women in Uganda,they are always careful while dressing in that they try to avoid diplaying their thighs in public.Even if a woman wears a short skirt,she will put on leggings ,jeans or other slacks(unless going to a bar or night club).
In Uganda,it is uncultured to wear to wear clothes that are not neatly pressed,clean and in need of mending.In Kampala,its a common practice to be smart,even though one wears a leisure clothes.Culturally,women are not expected to wear mini-skirts,tight shorts,in actuality men and women are more respected not wearing shorts.

While on a cultural Safari,it is ideal to avoid wearing shorts for better protection from from insects.Modesty,this applies to both equally to men and women.While in Kampala,you will see many Ugandan men in suits.However,you certainly do not have to wear a suit but just keep clean,neat and wear pressing clothes.

Many Ugandan women both in towns and villages are fond of wearing traditional dress called Busuuti also known as "Gomesi" while men wear "Kanzu".Both Kanzu and Busuti  are won at special events including introductions and weddings.

Tourists in Uganda should take caution of the dressing discipline that is required of them.In Uganda,once a visitor dresses improperly,he/she is looked at as an irresponsible person and less attention is given.But there are some occassions where one an wear casually like during weekend,in the club,on a game drive,in a bar,in the evening and other occasions.

The untold story of the Karamojong people - Cultural Safaris Uganda

Located in the northeast of Uganda, Karamojong ethnic group is blessed with a rich culture that attracts tourists from various places of the world.They are the most singular ethnic group and are mainly normadic pastoralists.Their love for cattle is so strong that some even reach an extent of staying with them.They greatly depend on these animals for survival.


The Karamojongs are divided into 6 groups each with a unique dialect of the Nile Karamojong language.Among the 6 groups,there are Nyangia and Napore,who have largely forsaken their traditional ways of cattle keeping to agriculture.The other group (Tueso) are hunter-gatherers who moved from the dry plains to the mountains.

Though Karamojongs are referred to as backward people by some Ugandans,the preserved culture is so original for a tourist who is interested in the original African Lifestyle.The way of life and dressing of the Karamojong people reflects the true African lifestyle.The people have tried to keep the original dress code.However,this culture is not easily noticed when in Karimojong towns like Moroto as people tend to copy the western culture.


One of the major problem that is faced by these people is cattle rustling.They are always attacked by their neignbours including the Kenyan Massai for their cattle.This has led to instability in the region and many Ugandans dont want to visit the place.The region also experienced a war that led to depopulation and a retardation of the cultural norms.These problems affected both trade and culture as many Karimojongs migrated in search for freedom.

Today,peace has been restored in the Karamojong area by the government and people have returned to their original homes.Karimojongs mainly stay in huts and it is hard to find a modern house in the area.Families are fond of constructing huts next to each other and one family can have various huts of relatives.The people are used to the ancient lifestyle which their ancestors cherished.

Returning of peace in the Karamoja region has greatly increased cultural safaris in the area.Many people visit the region to see the original African culture that is hard to find elsewhere in Africa.

Meals taken in a cultural Ugandan home

Provided with different types of foods,each ethnic group in Uganda has its stable food which its fond of. Forget about the western style of eating, in Uganda ,there are specific attributes regarding to eating and preparing for a meal. Many visitors while on their cultural Safari to Uganda find themselves failing to choose the most appropriate eating behaviour while in Uganda.Therefore,one is required to make a research about the various behaviours of different Ugandans when it comes to meals.

In Uganda,it is customary to wash your hands before and after eating anything.The main reason for this practice is because Ugandans culturally use their hands while eating.Before a meal is served in a local home,the mother always reminds her children to wash their hands to avoid eating germs.It is a sign of indiscipline and unhygienic to eat a meal with dirty hands in Uganda.

Often before serving the meal,a prayer is said as a way of thanking God/Allah for the meal provided.However,some people ignore the prayer in case they are in a rush or if they have forgotten.In many nursery and primary schools in the country,children are taught how to pray before having a meal.

In many local homes in Uganda,always people sit on the floor while eating the food.It should be noted that once you sit on the floor to eat,avoid stretching out your legs.For a first-time visitor,he/she might be surprised to see people sitting on the floor around a dish of food,but this is how a true-cultural home behaves when eating.
However,with the increasing modernity in the country,homes have resorted to siting on chairs in a modest fashion with a knife and fork while eating food.This is mainly done in towns where people sit on chairs and sofas while eating food.In Uganda however,there are few home with dining rooms and its only people of means that can have one.

Self service is not a common practice in Ugandan homes when serving food.Customary,the mother serves the food or any elder but not everyone to serve.

While eating, talking is prohibited unless if there is a special address by another person.According to the cultural beliefs,talking while eating can lead to spitting into another person's food.

It is customary to thank the host for the meal immediately after eating.This is a sign of appreciating the person who prepared the meal.Children in Uganda are always urged to thank the cook after eating.This is as simple as saying "Thank you for cooking".