Since 1908

A nation proud of its
cultural heritage

For more than a century, the Uganda National Museum and our regional sites have preserved, studied and shared the nation's story — from the fossils of the Rift Valley to the ceremonial drums of ancient kingdoms.

We collect, safeguard and make accessible the artefacts and specimens that Uganda holds in trust for society.

As the national museum of Uganda, we are custodians of over 200,000 artefacts, specimens and archival records spanning paleontology, archaeology, ethnography, natural history and the art and science of Uganda's people. Our work is research, conservation and public education — preserving what came before, documenting what is, and making it available to the generations that follow.

Our History

From a single-room collection in Captain Lugard's fort to East Africa's leading research museum — the Uganda Museum has survived colonial shifts, political upheaval and the lootings of war to become what it is today.

  1. The first collections

    Sir Harry Johnston, Special Commissioner of the British Protectorate of Uganda, issues a circular to all district heads ordering the collection of ethnographic objects from across the country. The objects are sent to Entebbe, then the capital.

  2. Museum established

    The Protectorate Headquarters move to Kampala, and the first Uganda Museum opens in the Greek Temple building within Captain Fredrick Lugard's Fort at Old Kampala — a single room displaying the growing collection.

  3. Uganda Society founded

    Academics from Makerere University College, colonial officials and literate Ugandans form the Uganda Society to advance research in anthropology, archaeology and paleontology. From this year forward, the Museum and Society work in partnership.

  4. Margaret Trowell & K.P. Wachsmann

    Margaret Trowell, Head of Fine Art at Makerere, and ethnomusicologist K.P. Wachsmann expand the collections dramatically. By 1942 the single room at Old Kampala can no longer hold them, and the Museum transfers to Makerere's School of Fine Art.

  5. Semi-autonomous status

    An Ordinance of Council transforms the Uganda Museum into a Semi-Autonomous Body with a Board of Trustees. Trowell, Wachsmann and the Uganda Society begin raising funds for a permanent home.

  6. Kira Road building completed

    The permanent museum building at Kira Road — today's National Museum — is completed and opens in 1954. Locals call it Enyumba y'Amayembe (the House of Fetishes) because of the ritualistic objects in the collection. This name helps protect it during the lootings of 1971, 1979 and 1986.

  7. Expansion at independence

    Education, Science and Industry wings are added to the building — funded by the Uganda Society and a grant from the Ford Foundation — in time for Uganda's independence. The Museum consists of galleries for Ethnography, History, Archaeology, Natural History, Musical Instruments, Stone Age and Temporary Exhibitions.

  8. Decree No. 12 restructure

    Government abolishes the Board of Trustees and merges the Uganda Museum with the Inspectorate of Monuments to form the Department of Antiquities and Museums, headed by a Chief Conservator. Regional museums at Kabale and Soroti are brought under the same structure.

  9. Modern era

    The Department of Museums and Monuments operates under successive iterations of government ministries: Culture and Community Development; Culture, Youth and Sports; Tourism, Trade and Industry; and currently the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. Four museums now operate across Uganda — the National Museum in Kampala plus regional sites at Kabale, Soroti and Moroto.

Our Departments

The Museums and Monuments operations of the Ministry are managed by two separate departments, as established by the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and the National Museums and Monuments Policy, 2015.

Museums Services

Responsible for the administration, development, management and regulation of museums across Uganda — from the Uganda National Museum in Kampala to regional, community, and private museums nationwide. The department collects, conserves, and exhibits artefacts and specimens of cultural and natural heritage, and conducts research and education programmes for the public.

Key Activities

  • Manage and develop the Uganda National Museum and regional museums at Kabale, Soroti and Moroto
  • Classify, licence and regulate national, regional, city, community and private museums
  • Collect, conserve and document artefacts, specimens and archival records
  • Conduct research in paleontology, archaeology, ethnography and natural history
  • Curate exhibitions and deliver public education and outreach programmes
  • Maintain the national register of museums and heritage collections
  • Promote public access to museum collections and galleries

Sites & Monuments

Responsible for the protection, preservation, declaration and maintenance of gazetted heritage sites, monuments and antiquities across Uganda. The department safeguards royal tombs, rock art sites, archaeological sites, public monuments and memorials, and works to prevent illicit trafficking of cultural property.

Key Activities

  • Protect and maintain government-owned sites and monuments, including Independence Monument and royal tombs
  • Gazette and declare protected heritage sites, monuments and antiquities
  • Inspect, monitor and audit monuments and heritage sites for compliance
  • Acquire, compulsorily where necessary, monuments of national importance at risk of destruction
  • Prevent illicit import, export and trafficking of cultural properties in line with UNESCO conventions
  • Conduct cultural heritage impact assessments for development projects
  • Coordinate with local governments and cultural institutions for site protection

Our Museums

Four museum sites across Uganda, each with a distinct focus reflecting the heritage of its region.

Uganda National Museum

Kampala · Kira Road

The flagship institution. Galleries cover Ethnography, Archaeology, Natural History, Paleontology, Musical Instruments and Temporary Exhibitions. Houses the largest research collection in the country and the national archive.

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Kabale Regional Museum

Kabale · Southwestern Uganda

Focuses on the Bakiga and other highland peoples. Collections include agricultural tools, basketry, royal regalia and documentation of terraced farming traditions unique to the region.

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Soroti Regional Museum

Soroti · Eastern Uganda

Documents the Iteso and neighboring communities. Collections feature traditional homestead reconstructions, granaries, pottery, and material culture of the Teso sub-region.

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Moroto Regional Museum

Moroto · Karamoja

Dedicated to the pastoralist cultures of Karamoja. Collections include ceremonial attire, weapons, beadwork, and paleontological specimens from nearby fossil sites.

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Plan your visit

Experience
the collections.

The Uganda National Museum is open daily. Admission is UGX 10,000 for adults, UGX 5,000 for students, and free for children under 12. Regional museums have separate hours — see individual pages for details.

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