In a country celebrated for its breathtaking wildlife and diverse cultures, the Ewaffe Cultural Village stands as a powerful testament to Uganda’s equally magnificent human heritage.
Located in Naggalama, Mukono District, just an hour’s drive along Kayunga Road from the capital city, Kampala, this innovative village offers more than a simple tour. It is an immersive portal to the traditions of the Buganda Kingdom, where every activity is an invitation to touch, taste, and live the culture.
The name “Ewaffe” itself, meaning “Our Home” in the local Luganda language, sets the tone for a visit defined by profound hospitality and a deep sense of belonging. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Aisha Nabwanika, the village has quickly gained acclaim, winning the Best Cultural Tourism Experience award during Uganda’s 2024 World Tourism Day celebrations held in Kasese district.
The Ewaffe Philosophy
Ewaffe is a departure from static museum exhibits. It is a dynamic, interactive landscape intentionally designed to foster cultural immersion and active participation. Spanning several acres of rural land, the village is a functioning ecosystem that mirrors a traditional Buganda homestead.
It features food gardens, a medicinal herb garden, a water well, a fish pond, and a surrounding community.
The village’s mission is rooted in cultural preservation, community empowerment, and sustainable tourism.
By employing over 10 local residents and engaging many more as knowledge-keepers and guides, Ewaffe ensures that cultural stewardship directly benefits the community. It’s a living, breathing project where tradition fuels the future.
A Day in the Life at Ewaffe
A visit to Ewaffe is a carefully curated journey through a day in traditional Buganda life. The experience typically unfolds on arrival. Guests are given a traditional welcome, greeted by the enthusiastic team in vibrant Baganda attire with a lively Kiganda dance performance featuring Bakisimba and Nankasa dances.
They are offered a welcome drink, a taste of fresh banana juice (Omubisi) served in a traditional gourd (calabash) and sipped through a bamboo straw, alongside fresh local Ugandan fruits such as mangoes, jackfruit, watermelons, among others. Local coffee beans wrapped in dry banana leaves are also offered for eating, a practice of the Baganda to welcome guests into the home.
The morning immersion starts with a medicinal herb garden tour, a guided walk through a garden teeming with plants like aloe vera (kigaji), lemon grass (kisubi), and spearmint, which reveals the deep botanical wisdom of the Baganda.
The herbs are used for remedies, body enhancement, and even ensuring ‘good fortune’. Visitors embark on a village walk and a journey to the well, trying out traditional activities like fetching water from Nnalongo well using a clay pot that is carried gracefully on the head. This well has been in existence for decades; it used to be a source of water for domestic use for the community.
Visitors at Ewaffe Cultural Village also learn the process of preparing iconic traditional dishes. This includes peeling matooke (green banana fingers) and wrapping them in banana leaves for steaming, and the delicate process of making Luwombo, one of Uganda’s celebratory dishes of chicken or beef steamed in a banana-leaf pouch.
The craft workshop session makes the end of this session. Visitors participate in hands-on basket weaving or bark cloth making. Bark cloth made from the inner bark of the mutuba tree was the traditional clothing material before the arrival of textiles and remains sacred in many rituals in the Buganda culture.
Also read: Ewaffe Cultural Village a Strong Pillar in Heritage Preservation – Buganda Tourism Minister
Midday and Afternoon Exploration
Lunch is a traditional meal centered on the Luwombo you helped prepare, served with groundnut sauce, matooke, and sweet potato.
Post-lunch activities include cultural demonstrations. This delves into fascinating aspects of traditional life. This includes witnessing a demonstration of how paternity (DNA) was tested traditionally using a basket, ghee, water, and an umbilical cord, an intriguing practice that relied on tradition and spiritual belief with no modern scientific explanation.
Fishing on ‘Lake Ewaffe” with a local guide is as much a game but also a learning session about the Buganda food tradition.
Special Sessions (Available on Request)
For adult visitors, one of the most unique offerings is the “Ssenga and Kojja” session. Led by aunts (Ssenga) and uncles (Kojja) who are experts with knowledge in traditional family and marital education, this x-rated session dives into Baganda traditions surrounding sex education and bedroom secrets, offering a rare, culturally grounded perspective on relationships.
The Impact of the Visit
Ewaffe Cultural Village successfully bridges the past and present. It gives you an experience of the soul of Uganda. The cultural village is a vibrant, educational platform that celebrates Uganda’s rich heritage while uplifting the people who are its custodians.
Visitors depart with the taste of Luwombo, the rhythm of the drums in their ears, the scent of medicinal herbs, and a genuine, human connection to the soul of the Buganda Kingdom.
For travelers seeking to understand Uganda beyond its famous wildlife, a day at Ewaffe offers an unforgettable, heart-centered journey to the very core of the nation’s cultural identity.
Planning Your Visit
· Location: Naggalama, Mukono District, along Kayunga Road.
· Getting There: A one-hour drive from Kampala via Ntinda-Najjera-Bulindo road. From Jinja, it takes about 1.5 hours. Taxi services are available to the Kayunga Road junction, followed by a short boda boda (motorcycle taxi) ride.
· Opening hours: daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
· Booking: It is recommended to book in advance by calling +256704080958 or emailing info@ewaffe.ug.
· Tips: Wear comfortable shoes for walking, bring cash for crafts or additional purchases, and come with an open mind ready to participate.