Igongo is a true treasure along the highway that connects Uganda’s capital to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There is so much to see in this museum that is dedicated to preserving the ancient ways of life of the Banyankole, a tribe of tall Bantu cattle keepers in Western Uganda. It sits on a gently rising hill that used to host the royal palace of Ankole Kingdom before it was abolished in 1980’s for political reasons.
In terms of both indoor and outdoor exhibits, Igongo has it all. Its diversity of displays is incredible and each section is so overwhelming in its own way… amazing sculptures, hand crafted utensils, cultural fashion, incredible nature, royal regalia, traditional tools used in warfare, etc. You can spend and enjoyable one hour strolling through the exhibits to examine a stunning collection of beautifully crafted statues. Thanks to the attention to detail with which they were crafted, they are incredibly thought provoking.
At the shelter behind the museum, you will find stone groups of figures that are representative of one of Ankole’s queen mothers and her subjects, all of whom have expressive faces. There are some leaflets that are helpful in enabling one understand the artist ideas.
