Kabaka’s Trail
KABAKA’S TRAIL
The Kabaka’s trail offers a unique journey through Buganda’s rich Heritage, shaped by the region’s king and their descendants.
Much more just sight seeing, the trail gives you a chance to learn about the hidden and forgotten history of Buganda as well as to experience an authentic, traditional culture- with Dance, music, craft- making, spiritual healing and story telling.
The trail links a series of cultural sites, all of which are within easy reach of Kampala. Each can be visited on its own, or as of the whole trail you decide!
The Kabaka’s trail is an exhaling and unforgettable experience with a rich and authentic culture. You ought to learn about the unforgettable times and come face to face with ancient traditional and ceremonies.
KABAKAS OF BUGANDA
The Kabaka are the king of Buganda. The current Kabaka Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi 11’ is 37th in line and was crowned on 31st July 1993. Traditionally each Kabaka had many wives and many potential heirs and ruled with absolute power. Now the Kabaka is helped in his work by the Buganda kingdom administration.
Song and Dance
Song and dance is central to traditional culture and has been used to pass down stories through the generations in past, performance were also used to send messages to the Kabaka and his official. Musicians were entertainer, teachers and messengers. Traditional song and dance is still very much a live at the Kabaka’s trail sites today.
Spiritual healing
Traditional religion believes in a supreme creator and in superhuman spirits like Musoke, the God of the Rainbow. The culture is closely tied to the natural world and local herbs are widely used in traditional healing.
Magic and ritual objects
Magic and ritual objects (sometime called ‘fetishes’), a very important in traditional culture. Many are sacred, and can only be seen or used by traditional culture. Many are scared, and can only be seen or used by traditional healers and elder. Drums too have important ritual roles at the tombs and other scared sites and the Kabakas’ tombs are traditionally decorated with backcloth, spears and shields.
Ceremonial cloth
Bark cloth, made from a species of fig trees, has long been used for decoration, clothing and ceremonial wear. Once bark is stripped from a tree the bare trunk I wrapped in banana leaves and covered with cow dung or Mud. New back grows underneath, and in this way many crops can be taken from a single tree.
