Treasures of Masindi

Masindi is a Ugandan Town located in Western Uganda. It’s situated around 210 KM Northwest of the beautiful capital Kampala. It is made up of about 110,000 people according to a mid-year estimation by the Uganda Bureau Of Statistics (UBOS) in 2020. Masindi is home to one of Uganda’s most adventurous tourist attractions, the Murchison Falls National Park.

Masindi was once the capital of the Bunyoro Kingdom. Sir Samuel Baker, a British explorer and vibrant activist against slavery visited Masindi several times between April 1872 and June 1873. Baker’s expedition was strongly opposed by then King of Bunyoro Kingdom Omukama Kabalega.

It’s the first preference for tourists coming to Masindi home to a variety of animals such as hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and many adventurous activities.

The fall of water is snow white, which has a superb effect as it is contrasted with the dark cliffs that wall the river, while the graceful palms of the tropic and wild plantains perfect the beauty of the view.

It’s the greatest waterfall of the Nile and was named by Sir Samuel Baker in distinguished honour of the president of the Royal Geographical Society.

The Forest is located on the escarpment northeast of Lake Albert. It’s known for the former abundant occupation of Mahogany trees and is also home to chimpanzees. It’s composed of mainly moist, medium altitude and with patches of savanna and woodland. covers a gently rolling landscape sloping down to the Rift Valley. It harbors various bird species, butterflies, moths, and mammals with the major tourist activity being chimpanzee tracking especially for eco-tourists.

Chimpanzee trekking is a major tourist attraction.

Established in 1923, it’s the oldest Hotel in Uganda. It’s a home of comfortable affordable accommodation, and with the famous Kabalega restaurant that is equipped with various dishes from around the globe and all the favorite Bunyoro dishes. A quaint old colonial Hotel with some famous guests in the past like American writer and journalist Ernest Hemingway who is said to have stayed in this hotel his room is still in place and a bar is named after him.

For those who are curious about religious tourism, Nyabyeya Polish Catholic Church is the best spot. The site of a former camp built in 1942 for Polish World War II refugees who fled Germany due to persecution.

The camp consisted of six small villages and is believed to have hosted over 3,635 Polish. As many of the Masindi Polish refugees were child war orphans, there were several orphanages within the settlement. Omukama Sir Tito Gafabusa Winyi IV of Bunyoro paid occasional World War II refugees who fled Germany due to persecution.

The camp consisted of six small villages and is believed to have hosted over 3,635 Polish. As many of the Masindi Polish refugees were child war orphans, there were several orphanages within the settlement. Omukama Sir Tito Gafabusa Winyi IV of Bunyoro paid occasional visits to the camp. The church was built between 1943 and 1945.

There is also a cemetery with 60 graves of Polish nationals who died between 1945 and 1948. After World War II ended, most of the Polish refugees were resettled in England, Canada, and Australia. The graveyard and church are maintained by the Catholic community in Nyabyeya.

It has the original wooden pews, stained glass windows, towering wooden sculpture of Jesus (most likely made of local mahogany), paintings of the ‘Stations of the Cross,’ altar ornaments, and interesting Catholic artifacts. The church has inscriptions in Polish, English, Latin, and Runyoro, the local language. Traditional Ugandan musical instruments also feature (drums and the adungu).

 It’s approximately one hour’s drive from Masindi Town and just five minutes from the Royal Mile, Budongo Forest.

Masindi Airfield is in the Kyema suburb of the town of Masindi District, Bunyoro sub-region, in the Western Region. It is approximately 199 kilometers (124 mi), by air, northwest of Entebbe International Airport, the country’s largest civilian and military airport. This is approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi), by road, directly north of the central business district of the town. Though not functional, it attracts tourists to go for exploration.

A great stop-over en-route Murchison Falls National Park for African handcrafted souvenirs, tribal clothing, crafts, and curios, carved by local traditional artists.

It’s the second largest Sugar Manufacturer in Uganda owned by Indian company Rai Group Of Companies located 15 KM west of Masindi Town. Established in 1969, the Company is a major producer of refined sugar and a major contributor to Uganda’s taxes.

Masindi generally has many beautiful adventures. Hospitality is well catered for with the spacious Hotels such as the Kabalega Resort Hotel, Country Inn Hotel, Kolping Gardens, Victory Bijja Hotel, Icon Club to mention but a few.