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.
Namirembe Cathedral
Uganda's oldest Anglican cathedral and mother church of the Church of Uganda, a brick building completed in 1919 on Namirembe Hill with views across the city.
At a glance
- Type
- Anglican cathedral
- Area
- Namirembe, Kampala, Uganda
- Official site
- namirembecathedral.org
Good to know
- Hilltop views
- Services in English and Luganda
- Hannington Chapel
Why we recommend it
St Paul's Cathedral on Namirembe Hill is the mother church of the Anglican Church of Uganda and its oldest cathedral, founded in 1890. The building you see today is the fifth church on or near the site. The first, at Kitesa, was abandoned because of swampy ground; a storm blew the roof off the second in 1894; the third, built of traditional materials, was given up because of termites; and the fourth, opened in 1904, lost its roof to a lightning fire in 1910. The present cathedral went up between 1915 and 1919, built of earthen bricks with an earthen tiled roof.
The cathedral's own account describes the style as Gothic shaped by Ugandan craftsmanship. Inside, look for the pulpit made at Buddo, a lectern that serves as a First World War memorial, stained glass honouring martyrs and kings, and the Hannington Chapel, which remembers Bishop James Hannington and other early missionaries. A new organ was installed in 1931 and restored in 2006 and 2007. The cathedral is a National Cultural Site of Uganda and has hosted the enthronement of archbishops; Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II married Lady Sylvia Nagginda here in 1999.
The hilltop setting is part of the appeal. Namirembe is one of Kampala's traditional hills, about 2 km west of the business district, and from the cathedral grounds you look across to Rubaga's Catholic cathedral, the Old Kampala mosque and the city centre. Late afternoon light is the best time for views and photographs of the red-brick front.
Namirembe is also a place for big occasions in the Anglican calendar. The cathedral is a working church with a full Sunday programme: two English services in the morning, a Luganda service from 10:30 and an afternoon service. Visitors who want to join a service are welcome; otherwise visit outside service times and keep noise down if there is a wedding or prayer meeting under way. The cathedral asks that visitors dress decently, and entry can be refused for inappropriate clothing.
Allow about an hour. Namirembe pairs well with the Bulange and Mengo Palace below the hill and with Rubaga Cathedral on the next hill, and a boda boda or taxi links them quickly.
Namirembe Cathedral FAQs
When was Namirembe Cathedral built?
The current cathedral was built between 1915 and 1919. The first church on the hill dates from 1890.
Which church does it belong to?
It is the mother church of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
When are Sunday services?
Sunday services run from 07:00 in English, with a Luganda service from 10:30 and an afternoon service from 15:00.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. Indecent attire is not allowed and entry may be refused.
What is inside?
A Buddo-made pulpit, a First World War memorial lectern, stained glass and the Hannington Chapel.
Where is it?
On Namirembe Hill, about 2 km west of central Kampala.
What is nearby?
The Bulange, Mengo Palace and Rubaga Cathedral are all close by.