Arts and Crafts in Kampala: Kampala’s art and craft scene is a testament to Uganda’s cultural diversity, with both traditional and contemporary art forms thriving side by side. Visitors can explore local markets, galleries, and cultural centers to experience this rich artistic heritage firsthand.
The items to be purchased of arts and crafts, souvenirs, and gifts impact the lives of ordinary Ugandans, and most of these are handmade including; beads or earrings, bangles, handmade drums of various sizes, weapons such as spears, carved items, items made out of bark cloth, banana leaves shaped into Christmas crèches to Greetings Cards, items made of gourds, African musical instruments, paintings, batik and many others.
Below are some of the art and craft destinations in Kampala that you should not skip to visit while on a Kampala safari in Uganda.
Buganda Road Craft Market
One of the most popular places for local crafts. This market is known for handmade goods, including beaded jewelry, woven baskets, wood carvings, traditional fabrics, and other souvenirs.
Uganda Arts & Crafts Village
The Uganda Arts and Crafts Village is situated behind the National Theatre in Kampala. Items various handicrafts from wood carvings to leather items, Ugandan shirts and dresses, and even Ugandan chairs and small tables that are nicely carved with a village or wildlife scene. This is one of the oldest and most established places in Kampala where you can buy various handicrafts.
Afriart Gallery
One of Kampala’s leading contemporary art spaces, it showcases works from both emerging and established Ugandan and African artists. The gallery features paintings, sculptures, and installations that explore modern themes like identity, politics, and culture.
Exposure Africa
This one is situated along Buganda Road and is the biggest and leading arts and crafts market in Kampala though a few are locally made in Uganda. Most of the items here are imported from countries like Kenya. Here, you will find a variety of products in one place, something that should be satisfying to most tourists.
Friday Craft Market
Every Friday in Nsambya along Ggaba Road is a crafts and art market day. Pass by while on a Uganda safari and you have the assurance of dealing face-to-face with the real artisan and this gives you an opportunity to get a proper explanation of how well these arts and crafts are made. If you are visiting Kampala, do not miss the Friday Craft Market.
Music and Performance Art
Kampala also has a lively performance art scene, with music, dance, and theater playing key roles in the city’s cultural life. Traditional dances from various ethnic groups, such as the Bakisimba dance from the Baganda people, are performed at cultural festivals and events.
These Uganda Crafts-2000 LTD
are located along Bombo Road, Kampala. This is a non-profit fair-trade store that sells hundreds of handmade items that are made from leather, wood, cane, and banana leaves some of the items made include; baskets, ornaments, purses, tableware, wooden crafts, jewelry, greeting cards and so much more. The variety of local crafts are from Uganda, Kenya, and Congo but 80% is Ugandan made. Uganda Crafts 2000 Limited provides training and employment to disadvantaged people with disabilities, widows, orphans, and those living with HIV.
Banana Boat
Banana Boat has several locations like as Garden city shopping mall, Lugogo Mall, Kisementi, and many other scattered sales points. They offer items for sale made from better and original arts and crafts materials from Uganda and other African Countries which include greeting cards, batiks, jewelry, clothing, carvings, metal art, and much more.
Makerere University Art Gallery
The gallery, located within Uganda’s premier university, is home to one of the largest collections of Ugandan art. It serves as a resource for both students and the public, showcasing a range of artworks from classical to contemporary.
Nommo Gallery
Here is also Uganda’s National Art Gallery where one can find artwork from not only talented local artists but also the ones from the East African countries’ artists. At this gallery, there is a fine selection for the ardent lover of African arts and crafts. The gallery is located at Nakasero next to the Sheraton Hotel on Plot 4 Victoria Avenue. Though it is mainly a gallery for display, there is also a shop where the unique products of wonderful artworks and crafts are sold. It’s worth a visit while in Uganda for a Uganda safari though at times it is not open 24/7.
