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UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES OF UGANDA

Uganda is a very beautiful country that is greatly endowed with natural, historical and cultural heritages that attract people from all parts of the world. Because of this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized three World Heritage Sites in the country. Their special legacies were not only of national and regional value but were of international significance. They include Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kasubi Tombs.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park:

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in the western part of the country at the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It covers parts of Kasese, Kabarole and Bundibugyo districts. The Park comprises of an extremely steep and rugged mountain range of six glacial peaks including Africa’s third highest peak, Margherita at 5,109 m above sea level. In the east, the Park is adjacent to the Virunga National Park in DRC.
Rwenzori Mountain National Park, also commonly known as ‘Mountains of the Moon’ provides spectacular views of glacier and snow-capped mountains. Their massive amounts of fast flowing rivers, V-shaped valleys, magnificent waterfalls and stratified vegetation make up an exceptionally scenic and beautiful fundamental water catchment area.
The Mountains are well-known for their unique alpine flora with some species common to the Albertine Rift in the higher altitude zones including giant heathers, groundsels and lobelias. It also supplies local communities with various wildlife resources and this led to its recognition by UNESCO in 1994 as a natural and cultural heritage.

In terms of fauna, the Rwenzori Mountains have been recorded with 217 bird species that include endemic species like Rwenzori turaco, bamboo warbler, golden-winged sunbird, and scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird.
The Mountains are also a home to many rare, threatened animal species such as the African forest elephant, eastern chimpanzee and l’hoest’s monkey. The rare Rwenzori black-fronted or red duiker, believed to be a localized subspecies appears to be restricted to this Park.

This site can be accessed by road from Kampala via Mbarara to Kasese or from Kampala through Fort Portal and then 75km south on the Fort Portal- Kasese road. By air, chartered planes are available from Entebbe to Kasese and then by road, for the remaining journey.
The Mountains are homelands to the Bakonjo and Baamba people. The Bakonjo are a Bantu-speaking people who have lived on the mountain for many generations, and whose culture is adapted to the steep slopes and climate of Rwenzori.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park:

Bwindi Impenetrable National park is located in the south western part of Uganda and is characterized by steep hills and narrow valleys. Renowned for harboring more than half of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorilla, this park is gifted with rare vegetation which provides one of the richest habitats for birds, butterflies, trees and mammals in East Africa.
The rare and exceptionally rich eco-system that makes this area an important scientific conservation center led to UNESCO recognizing it as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the richest fauna communities with 120 species of mammals including 10 species of primates, 214 species of birds and 202 butterfly species. On the whole, Bwindi is a haven to globally threatened species including mammals like chimpanzees, endangered species of African elephants, colobus monkeys, bushbucks, buffalos, golden cats, leopards and bush pigs.
Birds in the park include African green broadbill, grauer’s swamp warbler, turner’s eremomela, chapin’s flycatcher and Shelley’s crimson-wing plus butterflies such as African giant swallowtail and cream-banded swallowtail.

The Park is also the most varied forest in East Africa in terms of plant species with more than 200 tree species and more than 104 ferns. The valley bottoms contain a dense ground cover inhibiting the valley floor of herbs, vines, and shrubs with only a few trees hence its name, the impenetrable forest.

As a key site for biodiversity on the continent, Bwindi can be accessed by road from Kampala to Buhoma in a 12 hour drive. A route that connects from Buhoma to Kabale is taken and then to Butogota. A four wheel drive is recommended especially during the wet season.

Kasubi Tombs:

This is a burial ground for the previous four Kabakas (Kings) of Buganda Kingdom. Important rituals related to the Buganda culture are carried out here and it is a very important religious centre for the royal family of Buganda Kingdom. This site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 because it represents an important symbol of history and culture.
The built and natural elements of the site are charged with historical, traditional, and spiritual values. It is a major spiritual centre for the Baganda and is the most active religious place in the kingdom.
The tombs are divided into three main areas i.e. the main tomb located at the western end of the site, an area located behind the main tombs containing a number of buildings and grave yards and areas on the eastern side of the site used primarily for agricultural purposes.

The tombs are located 5km away from Kampala city centre on Kasubi hill on Kampala-Hoima road. The entrance to the tombs is marked by a thatched hut built to act as a gate and it is called Bujjabukula. Unfortunately, this hut was burnt down on March 16, 2010 and now, the reconstruction process is underway.