Kabaka’s Palace

Kabaka’s Palace (Twekobe) is a major attraction located on Mengo hill in Kampala. This is the King’s official residence and has existed since the reign of King Daudi Chwa. This palace stands for the diverse traditions in the kingdom. At the entrance, through the main gate “wankaaki”, you’ll be welcomed by two lion sculptures. These represent the supreme and powerful nature of the King of Buganda. There is also a shield and spear to symbolize that the king is the protector of his people. 

Currently, the King of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II uses this palace for official ceremonies but does not reside there. This is because its history involved a lot of bloodshed, dated back to the army’s invasion of the palace in the 1966 Kabaka crisis. Also the 1953 Buganda crisis alongside the existence of the torture chambers. 

The torture chambers, on the other hand carry the political history of Uganda’s post-independence era. They were constructed by Israeli experts in the 1970s for President  Idi Amin Dada as an armory but he later turned them into torture chambers. During his reign, he used this place to torture and kill his opponents most especially lawyers, clerics, economists and all those who criticized his government. Obote II also used these chambers for the same purposes during his regime.

Currently, the torture chambers still carry horror with handprints of blood still evident on walls. Words of agony written by some of the prisoners are also still evident on the chamber’s walls.

In addition, bark cloth making is another activity to enjoy. You’ll be able to see the entire process of making bark cloth and also be able to buy beautiful souvenirs to take home.