Attractions in Jinja : Jinja is among the popular tourist destinations to visit and is located in the eastern part of Uganda. Some of the attractions to visit in Jinja include the following;
- Source of the Nile
The source of the Nile is one of the many places to visit in Jinja and it was discovered by John Speke in 1858.
Source of the Nile marks the point where the River Nile begins from and it is a location where activities including boat rides are done when visiting Jinja. Many other activities are carried out around the River Nile and they include bungee jumping, horse riding, white water rafting, quad biking, cycling, kayaking, and tubing among other activities.
- Itanda falls
The Itanda falls in Jinja is located about 17 kilometers in the north western part of the town and is formed on the River Nile.
Itanda falls are considered one of the best places for kayaking in Jinja and water rafting is also done at this destination. There are 3 levels of rapids found at the Itanda falls where tourists can engage in rafting up to level 6 during tours in Jinja.
- Busoga kings palace
Another attraction to visit during a tour in Jinja is the Busoga kings palace which is located on Igenge hill and is among the landmarks in the town.
The palace is located in Bugembe town council and is the official residence of the current king of the Basoga whose name is Highness Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV who recently got married to the new Busoga queen called Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi.
A visit to the palace of Busoga involves getting to learn more about the Basoga and their culture and traditions.
- Speke monument
When visiting Jinja, another attraction to visit is the Speke monument which is located in Bukaya village on the shores of the River Nile.
The Speke monument offers views of River Nile and is located at a spot before crossing the Jinja bridge. There are also gardens around the monument by the western banks of the Nile river in Jinja.
- Mahatma Gandhi monument
The Mahatma Gandhi monument is another attraction that can be seen when visiting Jinja and it is found close to the source of the Nile.
The teachings of Gandhi were focused on peace, non violence and his monument in Jinja is a symbol of his impact on the world towards promoting peace.
Mahatma Gandhi was a leader in India and he asked that his ash be poured into the River Nile. Tourists can enjoy photography and get to know about his teachings and who he was during their visit to the monument.
- Hindu temples
As part of its community, Jinja is known for being home to many Indians who came to Uganda as traders around the 18th century.
There are different Indian temples around Jinja town which tourists can visit during their tours. These temples have unique architecture such as the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple which is one of the main Hindu temples in Jinja.
- Uganda railway museum
The Uganda railway museum is another place to visit in Jinja town and it is located on the Jinja-Iganga highway.
The museum was established in 1994 aimed at preserving the cultural and historical artifacts of the Uganda railway which are exhibited at the museum in Jinja including photos, maps and documents showcasing the construction of the railway lines and system in Uganda during the time when colonialism was taking place in Uganda.
The exhibitions shown at the railway museum in Jinja highlight the role of the Uganda Railway in the development of the transport and infrastructure as well as how it contributed to improving trade in Uganda.
During a tour around the Uganda railway museum, tourists can engage in such as entering the railway coach, and the cinema and also enjoying film recollections.
- Jinja central market
The Jinja central market is among the large markets found in Jinja where different items are sold including food stuffs, clothing and also different art and crafts.
This market is designed in a way that the vendors can display different products in specific stalls in a section of the market such as sections for food, sections for clothing, crafts, household items among others are separate. Jinja central market also has an area designated for restaurants where tourists can try out local food and refreshments.
- Art and craft shops
Around Jinja, tourists can also visit the different art and craft shops found around the town which showcases different items such as paintings, clothing, sculptures, locally made jewelry among other things made by the locals.
- Mabira forest
On the way to Jinja, tourists can also make a stop at the Mabira forest which is among the tropical rainforests of Uganda.
There are different bird species found in the forest and also primates that can be seen in the Mabira forest and some of the activities to carry out around the forest include guided forest walks, bird watching, zip lining.
Mabira forest covers about 300 square kilometers and is located in Buikwe district.
- Ssezibwa falls
The Ssezibwa falls is among the famous falls which is also located along the way to Jinja town in Buikwe district.
Ssezibwa falls are also a cultural site for the Baganda and they believe that there are super natural powers at the falls and different rituals are carried out around the site. People visit Ssezibwa falls to get blessings and also healing from different sicknesses, to get wealth, employment among others. Sacrifices to the gods of Ssezibwa are also made around the falls.
The falls are located about 43 kilometers from Kampala and some of the activities to do at the destination include swimming, hiking, photography, bird watching, guided nature walks and also community tours.
- Kagulu hills
Tourists can also visit the Kagulu hills for hiking experiences during their tours around Jinja and they are among the landmarks in eastern Uganda and are located in Buyende district.
