Martyrs and Kings: Historical Kampala
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, and it has a rich history. Located in the kingdom of Buganda, Kampala was once ruled over by a succession of Kings, dating back to the fourteenth century.   Their tombs are now located throughout the city. The only Catholic saints in Africa are buried near where they sacrificed their lives for their faith on the outskirts of the city. The official royal palace of the current King was once used as a military barracks
Our Martyrs and Kings tours take you through the history of the city over the past 150 years. Our first stop is the Protestant Shrine at Namugongo. It is here that 12 Catholics and 13 Protestants converts were burnt to death for refusing to renounce their faith.
We then head to the Catholic Shrine, 1.5km down the road. Here, one Catholic martyr was executed separately. The shrine is built over the spot where he died, and is a minor Basilica. The Pope visited both shrines in 2015.
Next, our tour takes you to Wamala Tombs, the palace, and now final resting place of the 29th Kabaka (King) of Buganda, Ssuuna II. It is here that the first Arab traders came to the kingdom in 1844.
We then visit Fort Lugard in Old Kampala, which was the seat of the first colonial governor, Captain Frederick Lugard, once Buganda became part of the British Protectorate.
The royal palace at Mengo is out next stop. It was built in 1885 by Kabaka Mwanga, and has had a long colourful history, including being a military barracks for three decades.
Our final stop is a hotel that used to serve as a headquarters, entertainment centre and occasional torture chamber for post independence rulers Idi Amin and Milton Obote.
On our Martyrs and Kings tour, our guide will tell you the story behind each site, and give an account of the larger historical context within which these events took place.