Kampala 🇺🇬 | One-Day Itinerary for Uganda's Capital

🏃🏻‍♀️ City Walk Honestly, Kampala feels like a rather dull capital—lacking iconic landmarks and with high prices. It's best suited for a short stopover (1-2 days max) to stock up on supplies. 📍 Baha'i House of Worship The African headquarters of the Baha'i faith. Free entry, but a bit far—skipped it. 📍 Acacia Mall Get a SIM card here. Has a small Carrefour, KFC, and basic shops for essentials. The mall itself isn’t very big. 📍 Uganda Museum Closed for renovations when I visited. 📍 Bagala Craft Market Vibrant African paintings line the streets—visually stunning! Also sells handicrafts, but prices are 50% higher than Kenya’s. 📍 Old Taxi Park A chaotic sea of minibuses—quite a spectacle. Packed with people and full of local flavor, but watch your belongings. 📍 New Taxi Park Smaller and dirtier than Old Taxi Park. Nearby buildings offer a great vantage point for photos (head to the 2nd floor). 📍 Gaddafi National Mosque East Africa’s largest mosque 🕌. Entry fee: 25K UGX (~¥50), includes: Guided tour Access to the minaret (best city views!) Loaner headscarf/skirt (required for entry). The mosque itself is underwhelming, but the skyline view is worth it. 😅 📍 Kabaka’s Palace Paid entry but only allows exterior visits—skipped. 📍 St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga On one of Kampala’s historic seven hills. Architecture wasn’t impressive enough to detour. 🏡 Accommodation Bushpig Backpackers Hostel Located in a wealthier neighborhood, 1.4km walk to malls. Dorm bed: $20 (~¥140) incl. breakfast (mixed 4-bed dorms cost $18). Pros: Hot water, 24/7 front desk (lifesaver when I arrived at 2AM!). 🏍️ Transportation ✅ Within the city: Boda-boda (motorbike taxis) are cheapest. Use Bolt (slow and pricier) or haggle on the street (~1K UGX/km or ¥2/km). ✅ Intercity travel: Matatu minibuses: To western Uganda: Depart from New Taxi Park. To eastern Uganda: Depart from Old Taxi Park. 🥘 Food & Drinks 🍲 Cafe Javas Reliable chain. Ordered: Grilled chicken set (42K UGX/~¥84) African tea (11K UGX/~¥22, serves 3 cups). ☕️ Endiro Coffee Brew options: AeroPress, French press, or cold drip (Ugandan beans). Tried a pour-over (10K UGX/~¥20)—bright and acidic. 🍟 KFC 3-piece chicken + fries combo: 24.5K UGX (~¥49)—more expensive than China, and mediocre. 🥲 🍦 Cafesserie (Acacia Mall) Single-scoop cone: 9K UGX (~¥18). 💡 Tips Skip the museums if short on time—views from Gaddafi Mosque > everything else. Carry small bills for bodas/markets. Waragi (local banana gin) is a fun souvenir—find it at supermarkets! #KampalaDiaries #AfricaTravel #BudgetBackpacking #CityWalks #TravelHacks