List of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Uganda

Uganda is located in the eastern  part of Africa and its often referred to  as the Pearl of Africa because of its breathtaking  natural landforms, wildlife and culture . Due to this,  the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)  has recognised a number of sites as world Heritage sites in Uganda and others are on the tentative  list waiting for recognition. For those that don’t know,  UNESCO was established in 1945 with a role of protecting and identifying world Heritage sites  with both culture and natural importance to humanity.

Uganda has three recognised sites  by UNSECO  that is Bwindi  Impenetrable National Park, Rwenzori  mountains national park and  the Kasubi Tombs while the rest are on the tentative list  as explained below.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda covering three districts that is Kabale, Kanungu and Kisoro at an elevation of 2607 metres (8553ft). Bwindi was recognized as a Natural Heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, the name Bwindi was got for a Runyakitara word Mubwindi, meaning“a place full of darkness”and its said to be 25000 years old.

Bwindi is well known for having the biggest number of mountain Gorillas  conserving them for future generations. Bwindi  is  the best place for  Gorilla trekking since it gives tourists the opportunity to see these magnificent Mountain Gorillas in their natural environment. Its also home to Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys and about 350bird species.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountain  also known as the Mountain of the Moon is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kasese district  on the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo at an elevation of  5109 metres(16762 ft).  Margherita peak is the highest point  in Uganda. Rwenzori was recognised as a Natural Heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO. The park has a lot of alpine meadow, glaciers,waterfalls and wildlife such as forest elephant,chimpanzee,Hyrax, Ruwenzori Duiker,L’Hoests, Black and white Colobus Monkey. And the rear three horned Chameleon.

Kasubi Tombs

Its located in Kampala the capital city of Uganda with the size of 26 hectares. The tombs serve as a royal burial ground where the four kings of Buganda where buried and other members of the  royal family . The Kasubi Tombs were recognised as a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.They were built in 1882 as a palace but later in1884 they  were turned into  royal burial grounds. Sadly in 2010,  the tombs were  burnt hence putting them on the list of the World Heritage Sites in Danger and they are under construction today. The site is a masterpiece of traditional Ganda architecture created from natural elements including reeds, wood, and grass.

The following are some of the sites that are on UNESCO tentative List.

Mountain Elgon

Mountain Elgon is an extinct volcano located on the border of Uganda and Kenya hence making it a transboundary park. In Uganda it covers over 430 square miles and 169 square miles in Kenya .Its also the oldest and biggest extinct volcanic mountain in East Africa and acts as a water catchment for River Nzoia,Turkwel,Suam and Lakes like victoria,Turkan. Because of its ecological value, the cross-border park was named a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve in 2003.

Mgahinga National Park

The park is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kisoro district on the border of Rwanda and DRC hence making it a transboundary park. Mgahinga covers an of 33.7km with the three Virunga volcanoes that is Mount Muhabura at 4,127m,Gahinga at 3,474 and Sabyinyo at 3,645m which are open for hiking. It has mountain gorillas,Golden monkeys and over 180 bird species. Mgahinga was put on the UNESCO tentative list in 2007.

Kibiro Salt producing village.

Kibiro is located in the western Rift Valley on the shores of Lake Albert   in Hoima district. The site is an example of the traditional African industry. The villagers depend on salt production and fishing on the shores of Lake Albert. Salt production  according to the locals is a women occupation. The village is considered an important cultural site with both ethnography and archaeology values. The site was put on the UNESCO tentative list in 1997.

Bigo bya Mugenyi

This site is found on the southern shores of River Katonga in Sembabule disrict, its said to have been established by the Bachwezi in around 1500AD covering an area of 10 km. The Bachwezi are believed to have introduced the long horned cattles and formed the first kingdom in Uganda around the Great Lakes region. They were great craftsmen. The site is a culture site  because of  Nakayiwa and Ndawula where people used to pray to their traditional gods, an Archaeological site because of the  caves,Forts ,streams,huts and ditches. The site was put on the UNSECO tentative list in1997.

Ntusi Man made mounds and basin

The site is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Sembabule district. It has two big man made mounds referred to as Ntusi male and Ntusi Female with a diameter of 40 meters and a man made valley basin called  Bwogero. The site was a former farming settlement and its also linked to the Bachwezi. It has pottery and bone remains found through the archaeological excavations that were done. It was put on the UNSECO tentative list in 1997.

Nyero and other hunter gatherer geometric rock art site.

The Nyero rock paintings are located in the eastern part of Uganda in Kumi district while as other sites are found in different places apart from Mukongoro also in Kumi district,Kapir In Ngora ,Komuge in Bukedia, Kakoro in Butebo and Dolwe Island in Namayingo on the shores of Lake Victora. The sites have paintings like double curved circles, lines divided into compartments , white concentric circles and red pigment said to have been created by the Batwa people. Nyero rock painting has three parts that is  Nyero 1 that features a central image and six sets of concentric circles, Nyero 2 features over 40 images, including concentric circles, canoes, and unknown markings, Nyero 3 features double-curved designs and white concentric circles, The site was put on the UNSECO tentative list in  1997.

Geometric rock art in Lake Victoria Region of Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda.

The geometric rocks art sites are found on the shores of lake victoria in  Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda hence making it a transbounbary site. The sites include Nyero rock painting in uganda and Mfangano island in Kenya. The rocks have big geometric finger like shapes, The locals use the rock art during traditional rituals like rainmaking hence making them culturally important. The Pygmy people are believed to have painted these rock art many years ago.The site was put on The UNSECO tentative list in 2024.