Children enjoy the clean water on top of Kagulu Hill

The Kingdom’s tourist attractions date back in 1862, when early European explorers, John Hannington Speke and James Grant arrived in Jinja in the search for the source of River Nile. Since then tourists from across the world stream to Jinja to look at the spot where the great Nile starts its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea through the Sahara desert.

This among others that includes the numerous rapids along the Nile, virgin nature across the region, the culture of the people and the great Lake Victoria no doubt gives Busoga Kingdom its distinct place in tourism.

Jinja Town

Jinja town, Busoga’s capital is located at the confluence of lake Victoria and river Nile. Jinja is the second largest town in Uganda having been the industrial heart of Uganda between 1960’s and 1980’s. The district has 392,000 people and an area of 767.7 km. It gained its fortune from cotton growing.

The numerous industries found in Jinja attract excursions, especially school tours. They include Nytil Picfare Textiles, Nile Breweries, Kakira Sugar Factory, Steel Rolling Mills, Jinja Grain Milling, Fish factories, tea processing, British American Tobacco factory (BAT) and the defunct Kilembe copper-smelting factory. Copper, cotton and coffee, and tobbaco and tea were the main agrocultural crops that held Jinja’s economic potential. In total there were 47 giant industries in Jinja that today lie in the industrial graveyards; only best utilised for excursions especially for schools.

A palm tree forms part of the beuaty of Busoga landscape

Today, the town is yet defining its identity having lost the industrial status. it is currently on the tourist hot spots in Uganda.

Industries:

The numerous industries found in Jinja attract excursions, especially school tours. They include Nytil Picfare Textiles, Nile Breweries, Kakira Sugar Factory, Steel Rolling Mills, Jinja Grain Milling, Fish factories, tea processing, British American Tobacco factory (BAT) and the defunct Kilembe copper-smelting factory. Copper, cotton and coffee, and tobbaco and tea were the main agrocultural crops that held Jinja’s economic potential. In total there were 47 giant industries in Jinja that today lie in the industrial graveyards; only best utilised for excursions especially for schools.

The hydro-electricity plants at Jinja Owen falls dam & kiira dam are also attractions, especially for the school tours and other domestic excursion groups.

Sports:

Rafting on the Nile at Jinja

Sports facilities especially the outstanding Jinja golf pitch, Bugembe Stadium, Bung jumping on the Nile and Kayaking offer opportunities for international and national tournaments, whose participants are mainly over night visitors. Jinja clubs also offers indoor games like table tennis, Omweso, badminton, swimming, basketball pitch, volleyball and darts.

Community market visits:
Jinja main market and several other markets operating on various day across Busoga are a potential attraction particularly to foreign visitors. They include Igwaya, and Kidera in Kamuli and Kawete in Iganga.