The Uganda Museum

The Uganda National Museum is the biggest and Oldest Museum found in Uganda. It is located off old kira road in Kamwokya- kitante near Mulago Hospital about 4 kilometers from Kampala the capital city not far from the British High Commission. It sits on a nice expanse of green with a view of parts of Nakasero Hill. The Uganda Museum is an ideal place to start with in order to get solid ground about the country, its people, cultures and traditions. There are always groups of school children at the museum which gives it a welcome. It was first opened in 1908 at a place called Ford Lugard in Old Kampala, then transferred in 1942 to Makerere University however, today it is found on Kitante hill. The museum displays Uganda’s indigenous culture, Archaeology, history, science and natural history.

It has got different sections with different types of items for example; Hunting equipment, Musical instruments, Archaeology, Weaponry although the political history of the country is not talked about.

Passing via the reception, there are directions leading to sections of the museum; once you walk straight through the lobby, you will be able to enter the independence pavilion of science and Technology. Turning on your left hand, you will be able to access the musical instrument section as well as the stone Age Gallery. On the right, is the history and Iron Age displays, there is also a strong reed doorway leading to the traditional life gallery, the natural history centre and the Paleontology centre.

Under the natural history section, you will be able to see insects, fish, reptiles and bird species of Uganda. You will learn about Uganda’s rivers and lakes, types of bird species, insects like bees, Wasps and butterflies. The fish displayed include; Tillapilalilaea, Barbusbynny. Reptiles include; water cobra, Gecko, cabon viper, boom, slag.

More so, in the Stone Age section you will be able to see physical tools said to have been used by the early Stone Age people. It also covers the cultures of different kinds of people, their behaviors, dress code, language, customs and totems. The tools that were used are bones and wood for different purposes. In this section, there are grass thatched houses and in these houses you are able to see the display materials used in home such as pots, mats, milk containers, knives, bowls among others. There are also displays of local industry like fishing, salt working and clothing settlement.

The early history section is the most interesting area in the Museum. It shows evolution of man up to present. The section contains Iron made from Iron ore. Cloth was made from fig tree for clothing especially among the Bantu. There is hunting materials in this section such as spears, horns, arrows. The historical sites like Bigobyamugenyi tombs, kibuuka omumbaale and the kasubi shrines are also an item on display.

Under the music galley, there are indigenous musical instruments that produce good and organized sound that one is able to enjoy the African Traditional music coming out from the instruments like drums, lyres, xylophone, harps, tube fiddles and many more from different tribes of Uganda. The museum employs traditional dancers and singers who play these instruments to entertain the visitors. In the paleontology section, one is able to learn more about environmental and climatic changes, paintings of early settlements, archaeological excavations and traditional architecture.

In the science industry sector, it gives more details about the soils found in Uganda for example; stones, minerals and rocks. Minerals may include lime stone, Phosphate, tin, iron and wolfram. Agriculture being the back born of Uganda, the section displays different crops grown in different parts of Uganda that is Banana plantations in the central, sorghurm in the kigezi and eastern part while millet is found in the north. It also presents transportation means especially the Dhows and Canoes that were used by the Arabs as they were coming in Uganda. The  Uganda Museum has got gardens and halls that are normally available for hosting parties, workshops and  also  for  hosting  craft  shops  and  other  functions  that  may  be  allowed by  the  rules  of  the  Museum.

The museum opens from Monday to Saturday from 8am -7pm. You can buy a souvenir to remember your visit. The grounds of the museum offer sanctuary for some quiet reading or a short nap before you move on to your next destination. On the museum grounds is a cultural village which is very popular with school children, because it transforms book text into reality. All the peoples of Uganda have displays that help convey a substantial part of their heritage. The first Ford Model T to hit Uganda’s roads still gives the impression it can go for another round except there’s no engine under the hood.