Namirembe Cathedral on Mengo Hill in Kampala City

Namirembe Cathedral is Anglican Church of Uganda built on top of Namirembe hill, approximately 1.5 km west of the city center off Natete Road is one of the most inspiring colonial buildings in Kampala and it also offers the outstanding views over the city center and environs. The title Namirembe is a Luganda word meaning the “of peace” thus the hill was customarily considered as the hill of peace. The innovative cathedral was finalized in 1903 and sanctified a year later. The cathedral was constructed exclusively by Baganda artisans however under supervision of a British missionary and could grip an audience of 3,000 people. It was designated contemporaneously by W E Hoyle as a extraordinary structure with walls of sun dried bricks and brick piers backing up the thatch roof comprising of 120 tons of thatch and a ceiling roofed with eroded stalks of elephant grass. This structure was demolished by lightening in 1910 and the present cathedral, is a conventional building of red bricks built to massive magnitudes and adorned by some attractive colored glass windows was completed in 1919.

The Namirembe Cathedral, one of Kampala City tourist attractions is also known as St Paul’s Church which is the main Anglican Church in Uganda with superb architecture and great inside decoration. Visiting the place will reward with a remarkable religious historical background and striking views of Kampala city.

Other Tourist Attractions in Kampala City

While on a 1 day Kampala City tour, expect to visit many places including Namirembe Cathedral as well as other religious centre including Gaddafi Mosque, Lubaga Church, Bahai Temple and Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine in Namugongo. Other city attractions inlcude the Uganda Museum, the Kabaka’s Palace, Kasumbi Tombs, Kabaka’s Lake, Kampala City Centre markets and buildings, Makerere University. Naggalabi Coronation site and Bulange Mengo are also among picnic places one can tour.