The heritage assets of land and culture are the very foundations of our civilization and they are increasingly becoming the basis for economic prosperity as they attract tourists and act as substitute for many communities’ survival in generating income after the decline of global traditional industries. Culture is perceived as being about the true nature of our lives past and present and has been recognized as an important area of tourism especially in those countries.

that are neither geographically or climatically favored for other forms of tourism. Culture is a main ‘pull factor’ which influences visitors’ initial decision to travel to destinations in different parts of the world. In fact during 1990s cultural tourism was identified as one of the future growth areas in the world. The WTO (1993) estimated that 37% of all international trips would have a cultural element and the figure would be increased annually by 15%. Culture and creative industries are increasingly being used to promote destinations and enhance their competitiveness and attractiveness. In Africa and Uganda in particular, there is a rich and diverse indigenous cultures with ethnic material and non-material culture that have the capacity to thrill the cultural tourists.

Culture is seen as an alternative product that can augment the traditional focus on nature tourism. Uganda with over 65 tribes each with different cultural setting can be regarded as a haven of cultural resources that can always be encountered while on safaris in Uganda.

Being part of the greater East African region which is historically known to be cradle land of mankind, Uganda cannot skip to house great cultural and heritage sites that have existed for millions and millions of years ago. The influence of the Bachwezi that inhabited the greater part of the great lakes region have left great heritage sites that today stand to justify the supernatural prowess of these godlike people. The cultural sites in Uganda range from amazing landscapes, works of art, and natural features with great traditional attachment, among others. The cultural sites in Uganda include among the following; the Kasubi tombs which are burial grounds for the Kings of Buganda, Karambi royal tombs the burial grounds for the Kings of Tooro, Nkokonjeru tombs the burial grounds for the Kings of Ankole, Bigo Bya Mugyenyi an ancient Chwezi earth work in Ntutsi which acted as a protective enclosure of their palace, the Nakayima tree in Mubende which is a site of an ancestral lady called Nakayima who possessed the Chwezi prowess, the Nyero rock paintings in Kumi, Kakoro rock paintings in Bukedei and the paintings on Lolui islands on Lake Victoria which are correlated with the ancient Bushmen influence in the greater East Africa, Naggalabi – Budo coronation site which is the coronation center for the Kings of Buganda, Nsongezi rock shelter which dates back to 1,000AD with great

stone age attachment, the Amabere g’ Nnyinamwiru caves in Fort Portal which are thought to be the breasts of Nnyinamwiru – the daughter of Bukuku a leader de facto of the Chwezi, the Mugore rock in Kiruhura district that features a bride and groom with entourage who were cursed into stones by Mugasha – a Muchwezi man and Tanda pits in Mpigi which are thought to be the holes where Warumbe disappeared from. Most of these cultural sites in Uganda are less explored thus they still contain the authentic and original setting that is relevant to their cultural and historical significance. Thus, encountering any of these sites while on Uganda safari is one of those rewarding encounters that you will opt to undertake during your travel times.