Attraction
Kasubi Tombs
Burial ground of four kabakas of Buganda on Kasubi Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose great thatched tomb house was rebuilt after a 2010 fire.
Bulange and Mengo Palace (Royal Mile)
Buganda's parliament building and the Lubiri palace at either end of the mile-long Kabaka Anjagala Road, with guided visits to the underground prison built under Idi Amin.
At a glance
- Type
- Royal parliament, palace and historic site
- Area
- Mengo, Kampala, Uganda
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Historic buildings
- Idi Amin-era prison
Why we recommend it
The Royal Mile is the straight, ceremonial road that links two of the Buganda kingdom's most important buildings. Kabaka Anjagala Road, whose name means the king loves me, runs for about 1.6 km from the gate of the Lubiri, or Mengo Palace, to the entrance of the Bulange, the seat of the kingdom's parliament, the Lukiiko. The road is said to have been modelled on Prince of Wales Avenue in Belfast, the approach to Stormont. Walking or driving it gives you a clear sense of how central the kingdom remains to life in Kampala.
The Bulange was built between 1955 and 1958, paid for by the government of Buganda. Kabaka Muteesa II is said to have shown his architect a picture of Stormont, the Northern Ireland parliament building, as a model. Today it houses the Lukiiko, the offices of the Kabaka and the Katikkiro, the kingdom's prime minister, and the kingdom's administration. Its long, symmetrical facade looking down the Royal Mile is one of the city's best-known views.
At the other end, the Lubiri palace dates from 1922. The palace was later turned into army barracks. In the 1970s, under Idi Amin, an underground prison was built beside the palace and used as a place of torture and execution. Guides lead visitors through its dark concrete tunnel, past damp cells and a water channel that was electrified to stop prisoners escaping. It is a sobering visit, and may not suit young children. At the palace gate a traditional fire is kept burning, which, according to custom, will burn until the death of the king; guides explain its meaning and the roles of the Baganda clans.
Visits to both sites are guided, and guides are usually available at the Bulange and the palace gate. Allow about two hours to see both and walk the road between them. Dress modestly, and follow your guide's advice on photography, particularly at the palace and the prison.
Mengo lies about 2 to 3 km south-west of the city centre. The Royal Mile combines well with Namirembe and Rubaga cathedrals on neighbouring hills and with Kasubi Tombs to the north-west, making a full day of Buganda history.
Bulange and Mengo Palace (Royal Mile) FAQs
What is the Royal Mile?
Kabaka Anjagala Road, a straight road of about 1.6 km linking the Mengo Palace gate with the Bulange.
What is the Bulange?
The parliament building of the Kingdom of Buganda, built from 1955 to 1958, home of the Lukiiko.
Can you visit Idi Amin's prison at Mengo?
Yes. Guides take visitors through the underground prison built beside the Lubiri palace in the 1970s.
Is the prison visit suitable for children?
It is a sobering site about torture and execution, so it may not suit young children.
What is the fire at the palace gate?
A traditional fire that, according to custom, keeps burning until the death of the king.
How long should I allow?
About two hours to see both buildings and the road between them.
How far is Mengo from the centre?
About 2 to 3 km south-west of central Kampala.