1 day gulu city tour
GULU CITY TOUR
GULU MAIN MARKET
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE/TYPICAL ACHOLI HOMESTEADS
PECE WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM
TAKS ART CENTER
INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT (AT MEGA FM)
FORMER GULU DISTRICT COUNCIL HALL
THE RECREATION PROJECT
GULU RECREATION CENTER
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAL
HOLY ROSARY (LATE POPE JOHN PAUL II MONUMENT)
FORT PATIKO/BAKER’S FORT
ARUU FALLS
ITINERARY FOR ONE DAY GULU CITY TOUR
(Attractions within Gulu city in Particular)
Activities
Departure from Virgin World Suite Hotel
Taks Community Art Centre
Monument at Former Gulu District Administrative Block
Gulu Main Market tour
Pece War Memorial Stadium
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
The Recreation Project
TAKS COMMUNITY ART CENTRE
It’s a center for art and crafts purposely though it has series of things that makes it worth a visit while in Gulu city if you love art, culture and local foods of the Acholi. They prepare local foods that are served on local servng dishes made of clay (the famous “Malakwang” dish, pasted meat, “Dek Boo”/green veges, “Dek Ngoo” pounded peaas etc), lots of art paintings of which some have cultural meanings example paintings for some prominent Acholi people, African leaders like Nelson Mandela, some about African culture, the Acholi livelihood, homestays, African fashion and local traditional dances. By the way at certain rare occasions, traditional dances are performed at the facility something that spice up your holiday while in Uganda (Gulu city in particular).
Transfer to Monument at Former Gulu District Administrative block
The Monument represent two people reading an open book with guns laid down near their foot. Why those two things? The Book and the Guns? For over 20 years the Acholi suffered because of a war between the Uganda government army by then the Uganda national Liberation Army (UNLA) and the Lord’s Resistance Army led by a self-proclaimed Gen Joseph Kony the rebel leader. The war led to lots of massacre of thousands of innocent lives, destruction of property, looting, inhuman acts, suffering, pain, misery, disruption of some school going children from studies, abduction, torture, fear, displacement of thousands of people from their original homes into IDP Camps (Internally displaced people camps), spread of HIV/AIDS amongst other dangerous diseases etc. So the monument is a representation of concentration on Education for a better life and desertion of guns that caused lots of destruction. Therefore, that monument has lots of stories more than what a tourist or visitors can see that is why we feel its quite important to take you there. (Dark historical artifact)
Transfer to the Main Market
GULU MAIN MARKET
History about the Market
Initially, the market was called Owino Market, situated in a slum setting with poor structures, then later plans came for its development into a new better look and more space for business. Business people were later on shifted to Karribean/Kaunda grounds (literally it has two different names but meaning the same free grounds) Business took place for about 4-5 years (2011-2015) at Kaunda grounds before re-shifting back, that period was for the construction of the present day Gulu Main Market new look.
The two Elephants Monument
At the main entrance to the main market lies two huge elephant monuments (real estimate size of typical African Elephants).
Why put the two Elephants’ monument in front of the market?
The elephant is the tribal representation of the Acholi. Why an Elephant? Naturally an elephant is a calm land mammal though aggressive when having young ones (calf or calves) in their group, when cars are hooted loudly or when provoked in any form. Now that is how the Acholi people are, they are generally calm but heat up when disturbed. So the planners for the market were to include that on its construction, in deed it’s a very marvelous plan that that gives pride to the Acholi people. They always show pride in calling themselves “Kodi Pa’ Lyegi” (Genes of the Elephant), even at the famous inter-tribal game the FUFA DRUM 2019, the Slogan “Yoo-Leng-Pililili” that came from a local music never missed being called along with the “KODI-PA’LYEGI” word.
During the Gulu Main Market tour, visitors are to expect the following activities and Encounters.
Acholi Art and Crafts
Art and Crafts inform of souvenirs/ gifts, these include Acholi Cultural elements like clay made bowls and cups, grinding stones used for grinding seeds into flours, drums used in producing sound during cultural dances, mingling sticks, motor and pistol for pounding various foods, local amazing beautiful baskets made from the communities, shells from various aquatic animals, pots for storing water cool, cooking pots, local stools e.t.c
Acholi food experience- Acholi Culinary Experience
Among the foods to expect on the experience are: the famous “Malakwang Dish”, “Dek Boo” (Green Veges), “Dek Ngoo” Pounded peas a delicious that tastes perfect with “Moo – Yaa” (Shier Butter), “Odii” (Simsim & Groundnut paste) and “Gwana” (Cassava), Millet ( “Kal/Bel”) and Sorghum (“Kabii”) posho.
NOTE: All the words in quotation are in Acholi Dialect to best describe the amazing foods and delicacies of which some has no clear translation/words in English or Foreign languages.
African Wears
Inside the main market there’s also numerous African prints being made by different singers in varying fashions, in deed for an African wear lover you’ll be excited to see them or buy one.
Transfer to the Independence Monument at Mega Fm
INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT AT MEGA FM TOUR
Did you know that when Uganda got its Independence from the British colonialists, Sir Apolo Milton Obote emerged as Prime Minister for Uganda under leadership of Kabaka Muteesa I (acting/first president of Uganda), the Union Jack was first lowered and Ugandan flag raised in Gulu town(before becoming a city) in the night of October 9th 1962 (at 12:00am) to mark Uganda’s Independence. That place is at present day Mega Fm only a stone throw from Gulu Main Market. A place worth a visit while in Gulu City even a must for historical tourists.
Transfer to Pece War Memorial Stadium
PECE WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM
Pece War Memorial Stadium Gulu, act as or is a World War II Veterants Monument.
This is the oldest and Major sports Stadium in Gulu City constructed in the 1950s by the British Colonialists in memory of World War II veterans (of the KAR-Kings African Rifle) from Acholi land. Today the Stadium hosts some of the major events of various kinds but more of sports, festivals, musical competitions, district government events, dance competitions, inter- schools’ sports etc. When in Gulu city, visiting this place is really fun.
Transfer to St. Joseph’s Cathedral
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL
The cathedral was consecrated on 13 June 1947, the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. On 24 December 1938, while the work was still in progress, the first two priests from the Northern Region were ordained: Rev. Frs John Oῃom and Donasyano Bala. The architectural structure of the church is Magnificent and you deserve to see especially for religious tour lovers. The church lies just next to the Bishop’s Residence (His Grace John Baptist Odama) the current Bishop of Gulu Archdiocese, only a minute drive from the Gulu-Juba Highway at ForGod Centre.
Transfer to the recreation project
THE RECREATION PROJECT
Activities at the recreation project include;
Zip-lining, Team building activities, wall climbing, tree house experience, Jump on low ropes and relaxation.
The Recreation Project is found in a Eucalyptus Forest and provides adventure-based learning for youth development and organizational team building activities. Jump into the low ropes activities with your team and overcome the seemingly impossible tasks. Or, fly on our 300 foot zipline and climbing our 30 foot tall climbing wall to boost your confidence. The Recreation Project has four years of experience in teambuilding with organizations such as: USAID, Invisible Children, IJM, Samaritans Purse, Care International and many others. In addition prepares young people to thrive through outdoor adventure and transformative play. Their 5-acre forest is home to a 30 meter climbing wall, low and high ropes course, and more! In the forest, there is no child too small, no dream too big, and no challenge too impossible.
End of the Day tour. Return back to the hotel.