HOME OF KIGEZI MUSEUM IN SOUTH WESTERN UGANDA

Exploring the cultural beauty of Kigezi region 

A trip that doesn’t consider the culture and the people leaves some of the unique aspects of the travel pending, as you might concentrate on the spectaculars landscape and the beautiful wildlife. In Uganda especially in the south western part well known by its nickname “The Switzerland of Africa” is the Kigezi region which is a paradise for encountering real authentic cultural adventure.

The Batwa culture is one of the exciting and authentic cultures that portray the real life of living in the forest in the past years because they are renowned as the people who lived in the forest of the Virunga until when they were relocated by Uganda wildlife Authority to the outcasts of Mgahinga national park.

Beside the adventure of culture and people there comes the home of Kigezi museum located a 5 kilometers from Kisoro town. The museum is an evidence of the past lifestyle of the Kigezi people, as it showcases conservation and culture in its natural state for exhibitions.

What makes me to rate this museum outstanding among the Ugandan museums is the serine environment with beautiful flowers, fruits and tress that brings out the real ecosystem hence adding beauty to the museum in its cultural way. What about taking a chill rest under the gardens in the museum? This brings to the mind a moment of meditation under the lush gardens as the fresh air from the Kigezi hills waves at you.

A moment of a rest under the gardens is accompanied by an awesome traditional meal and a traditional drink locally referred to as “Busera” which is prepared in a real traditional with complete local ingredients. The meal portrays the traditional foods that the ancestors used to eat which is also cooked in a traditional way with only water and fire taking action on the delicious local foods till it’s ready for consumption.

The museum exhibits what it means by an authentic ancient home of the people of Kigezi right from it’s the exterior to the interior of a traditional house. Inside the museum building is a collection of a complete traditional hut that displays a traditional shape of a hut in the region and how the interior is traditionally arranged.

Exciting and amazing stories describing the beautiful landscape of the area and the ancient traditional economic activities about the Kigezi region are all narrated at the museum for the visitors to get the feel of the region. Traditional hunting and farming methods are part of the new experience that one can get a hit on as you explore the museum in to its depth.

Home of Kigezi museum brings the experience of historical and cultural traditions of the Kigezi with traditional practices such as music; healing, iron forging and hunting skills as you visit the museum try any of these experiences.

For the gardening experience that you might be looking for in the fertile soils of the Kigezi region then join the museum for a real organic gardening experience that will leave you a farmer at the end of the adventure. Join the museum to help the community in fighting malnutrition, child stunting, hunger, sickness among others. Through doing these visitors gain specific skills in soil preparation, planting, weeding, management and harvesting fresh food to prepare your own traditional meal at the museum.

What of the bird lovers? Here you will love nothing but only to watch and talk to the birds under the natural and organic gardens. This is an opportunity to physically share a tree with different bird species and learn more about the different medicinal plants, the apiary as you see people, plants and the insects co-exist in a unique ecosystem.

Home of Kigezi museum is a base for the hike to the Kigezi Mountain. Hiking on the Kigezi Mountain takes travelers to the monument on the hill where the name Kigezi was originated. This is a famous historical site that brings the memories of the colonial times just next to Lake Umugezi.

It is with undoubted that a compete trip in south western Uganda must include a visit to the home of Kigezi museum as every traveler will need the best out of every trip. Make the museum either the alpha or the omega of your Kigezi trip, don’t miss it out.