In the western part of Uganda, a tour of Hoima city makes for an unforgettable trip. Just 202 kilometers from the capital Kampala, you can travel for 4-5 hours on a good day. The city is the home the King of Bunyoro, Omukama Solomon Iguru I. In fact the city is part of the kingdom of Bunyoro, formerly the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom. However, oil was discovered as the main mineral in this area. Hence, the city is currently known for oil and is often regarded as the Oil City.
Hoima City does not stop with the oil and the Bunyoro Kingdom, but it is the actual definition of civilization. This is mingled with a touch of culture, tradition, and tourism. A lot has happened in this place over the years. For example, the construction of the stadium to host the Africa Cup of Nations matches in 2027. Thus, the city expects to transform better than now. As visitors tour the city of Hoima, there is a lot to encounter including some of the following.
Bunyoro Kingdom
The Bunyoro kingdom is the biggest and strongest kingdom in the western region of Uganda. Hoima City hosts the headquarters of the kingdom and the palace of Omukama Solomon Iguru I. Visit this site for incredible chances to expose the traditions and cultures of the people of this region. Witness them engage in their traditions and cultures like songs, dances and playing their musical instruments. Also, learn the cultural norms, values, and beliefs of the people of Hoima. They communicate these through tales of their traditions and history from their cultural elders.
Katasiha Fort and Caves
A tour of Hoima city takes you to the Katasiha Fort and Caves as historical sites in the Bunyoro kingdom. Once the biggest fort in the region, Katasiha Fort and Caves were constructed by the Omukama Kabalega. It was in 1894 as his haven. This resulted from his abandonment of Mparo his palace, just to hide from the British after he resisted their rule. The river Bigajuuka flowed before the fort. Thus, it offered extra security to the king as the first line of defense before his army. Visitors can explore the caves and fort to learn how the king protected himself and his army.
Kabwoya Game Reserve
Kabwoya Game Reserve is one of the newly formed game reserves in the country after it was gazetted in 1980. It started as a controlled area for game hunting. But, due to poor management wildlife in the park was poached out. In 2002, it was established as a wildlife reserve and the Uganda Wildlife Authority re-introduced the wildlife to the reserve. Animals in the reserve include Uganda kob, bush duiker, oribi, warthog, bushbuck, hippos, buffaloes, bushpig, and colobus.
The reserve is also a natural habitat for more than 400 bird species. Such include blue-headed sunbird, strange weaver, dwarf honey guide, yellow-eyed black fletcher, and grauer’s warbler to mention but a few. The Kabwoya Game Reserve stretches for over 70 square kilometers along the Lake Albert shoreline area. Visitors can engage in a game drive in the park, especially in the morning hours. They can encounter the animals while in the comfort of their vehicle. Night game drives are also provided to encounter the nocturnals as they feed and hunt such as leopards.
Visit Lake Albert
Lake Albert is also among the attractions in Hoima City. The lake is located on the border line of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Visitors to the lake can engage in a boat cruise experience to encounter wildlife like hippos and crocodiles. The boat cruise experience blesses you with scenes of other wildlife species that visit the lake to quench their thirst. These include elephants, buffaloes, waterbuck, oribi, duiker, and warthog among others. While at the lake, visitors can also visit the many fishing villages to interact with the local fishermen. This is a perfect time to learn about the different species of fish that live in the lake.
Mparo Tombs
The Mparo tombs are also an important cultural and historical site, especially among the people of Hoima City. Mparo was the capital of the kingdom of Bunyoro because it was the palace of Omukama Kabalega in 1872. After his death, the capital and palace of Mparo later turned into Mparo tombs. His burial occurred in 1923. Exploration of the tombs offers opportunities to learn about the history of the kingdom. Additionally, you learn about the leadership of the former king, and the cultural rituals practiced at the tombs.
Murchison Falls National Park
The mighty Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in the country Uganda. The area spans over 3,840 square kilometers with some of the unique landscapes and species recorded in the country. The park is located approximately 2 hours from Hoima City and can be accessed by road on the Hoima-Masindi highway. Visitors to Murchison Falls National Park explore the destination through different activities. Either through game drives, boat cruises, or even chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo forest. This is Uganda’s largest natural mahogany forest and one of the largest in East Africa. Visitors can also explore the Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall. Water of the Victoria Nile is squeezed through a narrow gap and plunges into a small pour below.
How to get to Hoima City?
As mentioned earlier, Hoima City is located in the western region of Uganda, and accessing the city can be road. Hoima City is approximately 200 kilometers from Kampala and traveling by road can take about 3-4 hours. However, with the current developments of the Kabalega International Airport constructions, accessing Hoima City will be by air soon.
