Igongo cultural centre
It is located 12km from Mbarara on the road to Kampala, this new cultural village is worth a look and visit. It was opened in 2010 and has become a tourist magnet offering history, art, culture, food and accommodation. In fact it is a stopover and a resting place for travelers and tourists along the masaka – Mbarara highway. The Centre is a ground for a former palace of the Ankole king. This museum explores the peoples of southwestern Uganda, particularly the Ankole, through art facts, a cultural village replica and a heap of interesting information. There is a restaurant serving traditional Ankole dishes, such as smoked Ankole cow milk and boiled meats. It is a collection of Art crafts, Photos, Information Panels, Norms, Customs, Traditions and the history of the people of South Western Uganda. It also exhibits the culture of South Western Uganda and her neighboring kingdoms. Cooperation with the Switzerland ethnographic museum and the Ugandan museum about research, collection and exhibition has become ways through which these objectives of the museums can be fulfilled since the core roles given the fact that these roles require expertise and financial resources.
Attractions at the Center.
- Museum; It is a collection of Art crafts, photos, Information panels,norms,customs,traditions and the history of the people of South Western Uganda. It also exhibits the culture of South Western Uganda and her neighboring kingdoms.
- Nkwanzi craft and bookshop;
Collection of various books on culture, growth and development
Various handmade arts & crafts produced by residents
Traditional Costumes such as Mugamba, traditional brides wear, bracelets and skins
- Cultural village / itaramiro
The cultural village houses the traditional huts for cattle “Bariisa” and Crop Farmers “Abahiingi”
The village also boasts of a spacious Amphitheater and a venue for bonfires and story telling
- Mpororo court/ kitami palace; there is more fascinating and exiting history to learn about of mpororo kingdom.
- Experiential tourism; There are experiential tourism activities that can be done at igongo cultural Centre which include; visiting ankole firms, hill climbing, boat riding, adventure fishing, pottery, milk smoking, milking cows, traditional alcohol brewing, game hunting, game park and site excursions, and museum tours.
