Igongo Cultural Center – Lake Mburo National Park

Igongo Cultural Center  Contact us to visit this magnificent place for a cultural experience! The Igongo Cultural Center is an excellent venue for showcasing western Ugandan culture. The cultural center’s collection can tell the story of the Ankole historical doings of the Bahima and Banyakole. Experiencing culture will provide you with a unique connection to the local community. For client visits to Igongo Cultural Center, they provide experiential activities.

Western Uganda’s culture, norms, and customs are deeply ingrained. They were originally livestock farmers known for their long-horned cattle, which grazed in the large farm yard. However, they eventually combined it with subsistence farming. The Igongo Cultural Center is located on the grounds of the former Ankole King’s palace. It was opened in 2011 by the President of Uganda to present the culture of the Ankole people along the Masaka-Mbarara road. The cultural center is a must-see for culture enthusiasts. Through art crafts and traditional African homesteads, these cultural sites explore the tribes of western Uganda. It has a motto “Wisdom is centered in the past”.

Activities

Visitors will find a museum within the cultural center. There are old artifacts from the Ankole people’s history on display, as well as a local restaurant serving local dishes made from local ingredients. Visitors can sample local foods such as millet bread (Kalo) and a cow’s milk sauce (Eshabwe). It is a traditional meal that the people of Ankole and Matooke are familiar with (Bananas). Served with a local drink made from millet and sorghum or just plain millet. In addition to the Museum and the restaurant, the cultural center has an eclipse monument. Representing the Ankole King’s victory over 500 years ago.

Some of the things to find in the museum include milk gourds, calabashes, fireplaces, hides and skins, millet grinding stones. Musical instruments like drums, visitors can enjoy a traditional dance called the “Ekitaguriro”. They get to see the historical art present at the center. There are several activities that one can engage in while on a visit to the Igongo culture. They include hiking the eclipse, cycling, museum tour, traditional dance, and songs. Millet and milk processing, visiting Ankole’s Royal tombs, Traditional beer brewing.

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Besides the Igongo cultural center, there are other places to experience the culture of the people of western Uganda. Including the Nshenyi village, and Mpororo palace which was under the rule of Queen Kitami. She was a beautiful fat lady who was never or rarely seen by her subordinates. Legends say that the woman once fell in love with a man who was at the palace. They together had a son who is said to have later succeeded her.

Farm activities are a getaway point on safari to western Uganda. Trips are best with combined visits to Lake Mburo national park for fun activities like Game drives, birding. Horseback riding, and boat cruises along Lake Mburo. Enjoy the scenario of western Uganda passing through the excellent views of rolling hills and adventures.

Contact us to book a visit to Igongo Cultural Center.