Uganda is relatively a tribal country. Each town is mainly identified by the most dominant tribe in that area than it is identified by the activities of businesses that take place in that area. Most of the rifts in the country are still built around either religion or tribalism. But there is another side to the same story, there are people from different parts of the country that usually reside in towns or cities that are not aligned with their tribes.
Among the places where you will find a cocktail of tribes is obviously Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Kampala
A road trip through Kampala is a tricky given the unpredictable traffic in the city. Unless you are the kind that is so fond of night life; a Kampala Road trip is not recommended. You are better off trying to explore Entebbe than driving around Kampala. But regardless, your Uganda road tripwill obviously start from either Entebbe or Kampala.
Jinja
The city is mainly identified with the Busoga Kingdom. The adrenaline capital of Uganda is not so scenic when you consider the road trip experience unless you pass through Mabira Forest but that means you will have to endure the traffic Jam of Mukono.
Mbale
On the slopes of Mount Elgon, the Bamasaba or the Gisus have for themselves a city. Unlike Buganda and Busoga which still have some kingdom status, the Bamasaba have some tribal leaders but without a Kingdom. This is one of the most interesting tribes in Uganda because it has the highest number of dialects.
A road trip through Mbale with give you some views of Mount Elgon. You can also watch the public circumcision activity that happens every even year. It is also the place that is known forbull fights.
Lira
From Mbale, you can drive to Lira town. This is a place mainly occupied by the Langi tribe. But like many other places in Uganda, you will find them traders from different areas of the country but the main population there are Langi people. In this road trip, you can also learn about the tribal difference by comparing with other towns in Uganda.
Kitgum
From Lira, you can continue to Kitgum the town mainly known for Acholi people. The landscapes and the terrain will give you totally a different feel from that of Kampala. The temperature is relatively higher as you move northwards. Once you reach Kitgum, you will have almost half of Uganda during your Uganda road trip.
Gulu
Gulu is like the northern capital of Uganda. It is the biggest city in northern Uganda but like Kitgum, it is occupied by the Acholi people and a few other Luo people. Exploring Gulu will give you greater insight into the Luo people of Uganda. You can visit a restaurant and have a chat with the local people. Football is often a good icebreaker more so in regard to the English premier league. You can then find out more about marriage and education.
Moyo
This is the land of the Madi people of Uganda. The Madi people have ties with central South Sudan tribes. They are mainly farmers. Visiting this land will give you a feel of what you experienced in other parts of Eastern Uganda where farming is the main activity.
Koboko
The land of the late Apollo Milton Obote is among the places that surely grace your Uganda road trip itinerary. This is the land of the Kakwa people who are also predominately farmers. These are some of the places that rarely feature on the Uganda road trip itinerary but worth visiting in order to get a clear view of the whole country.
Arua
The land of the Lugbara is among the places that those who have not visited northern Uganda before often assume that it is similar or even very close to Gulu. Similar to what you do in other place, just talk about the English premier league, you will have the conversation rolling. You will then learn about the tribal customs in regard to marriage and dowry as well as worship.
Pakwach
This is the land of the of the Alur people of Uganda. Most people from Southern Uganda assume that all these tribes are the same. They cannot differentiate between the Lugbara, and the Alur. When you reach Pakwach, you will be closer to Murchison falls national park. It is inevitable to drive through Murchison falls given the fact that it is the shortest route.
Masindi
This is the land of the Kabalega. It is the land of the Banyoro. Once you reach Masindi, it means you have transitioned from the luo tribes into the Bantu tribes. This place has a very rich history about Uganda; you will do well exploring the colonial history through some remains in this land. In most of the tribes of Uganda, polygamy is very common. It is one of the things that are only being kicked back by Christianity.
Other major towns to include in your self-driven Uganda trip include; Hoima, just after Masindi, then Kagadi, Fort Portal, Kasese, Kisoro, Kabale, Ibanda, Mbarara, Masaka and back to Kampala or Entebbe.
This kind of Uganda roadtrip will take you atleast 4 weeks if combined with a few touristic areas. From Kabale Town, you can access the Impenetrable Bwindi Forest famous for gorilla trekking and from Fort Portal town, you can access the Kibale Forest that is also known for chimpanzee tracking, two must visit destinations in Uganda.
