Curated by PlusBoda from public sources
Seat of the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom, a city since 2020, about 200 km north-west of Kampala, and an AFCON 2027 host city. Royal tombs, Lake Albert, salt gardens and forests are all within a day.
With the next app update, Discover in PlusBoda shows places to stay, tours and events in Hoima, and books a boda to any of them.
Photo: Vaibhave nagori, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Signature sights
Royal tombs · about 4 km · By road, north-east of the centre on the Hoima–Masindi road
The burial ground of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega, the Bunyoro king who resisted British rule and was exiled to the Seychelles in 1899. His son Sir Tito Winyi IV is buried here too. Kabalega’s spears, bowls and other belongings are kept at the site.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mparo Royal Tombs · Wikipedia: Mparo, Hoima · Lonely Planet: Mparo Tombs
Royal palace · In Hoima city
The royal palace of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, in Hoima. The kingdom was abolished in 1967 and restored in 1993; Omukama Solomon Iguru I took the throne in 1994. Visits are usually arranged in advance.
Sources: Wikipedia: Omukama of Bunyoro · Wikipedia: Solomon Iguru I
Lake shore · about 45 km · By road to Tonya; Kaiso is about 61 km
Fishing settlements on the eastern shore of Lake Albert, in the Albertine Graben. The road down the escarpment gives wide views over the lake. Tonya is about 45 km and Kaiso about 61 km from Hoima by road.
Sources: Wikipedia: Tonya, Uganda · Wikipedia: Kaiso, Uganda · Wikipedia: Hoima–Kaiso–Tonya Road
Hot springs · heritage · about 35 km · North of Hoima, then on foot down the escarpment
A Lake Albert fishing village where women have made salt for centuries from soil kept moist by hot springs; excavations found deposits about 700–800 years old. It is on Uganda’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The last stretch is a steep footpath down the escarpment.
Sources: Wikipedia: Kibiro · UNESCO Tentative List: Kibiro Salt Producing Village
National cultural site · about 3 km · On the Hoima–Butiaba road
A national cultural site: a fort at the mouth of a cave used for defence over generations. Kabalega is said to have used the caves during the war with the British, who later held the site. It lies inside a private resort, so access is limited.
Sources: Wikipedia: National Cultural Sites, Western Region · The EastAfrican: Katasiha caves
Old lake port · about 58 km · By road, on the Hoima–Butiaba–Wanseko road
A fishing town on Lake Albert that was a major port in the first half of the 20th century. The harbour went quiet in the 1970s. Butiaba Fort and the landing site are national cultural sites.
Sources: Wikipedia: Butiaba · Wikipedia: Hoima–Butiaba–Wanseko Road
National park · Via Buliisa to the Bugungu gate
Uganda’s largest national park (3,840 km²), where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge at Murchison Falls. From Hoima, the road through Buliisa reaches the park’s Bugungu side.
Sources: Uganda Wildlife Authority: Murchison Falls National Park · Wikipedia: Biso, Uganda
Forest · chimpanzees · Reached via Masindi
Uganda’s largest natural forest (about 825 km²), with around 800 chimpanzees and over 360 bird species, managed by the National Forestry Authority. Its tourism sites are Kaniyo Pabidi, Busingiro and Sonso; the Royal Mile at Busingiro is known for birding.
Sources: National Forestry Authority: Budongo
Forest reserve · about 40 km · South-west of Hoima
A rainforest of about 400 km² in Kikuube District, on the escarpment east of Lake Albert. Chimpanzee habituation began in 2016, and 225 bird species are recorded.
Sources: Wikipedia: Bugoma Central Forest Reserve · Kew TIPAs factsheet: Bugoma
The local cheatsheet
About 200 km from Kampala on the tarmac Kampala–Hoima Road, roughly 4–5 hours. Avoid driving between towns after dark.
Wikipedia: Kampala–Hoima Road · GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Uganda, safety and security
Not open for regular flights yet. The first passenger aircraft landed on 27 September 2026; the first commercial flight is planned for January 2027.
ATTA: first passenger aircraft at Kabalega · Daily Monitor: commissioning pushed to 2027
Bodas and matatus are the usual way around. Wear a helmet, keep valuables out of sight, and use a rider you can identify. On the lake, never board a boat that looks overloaded.
December–February and June–August are drier: better for forests, parks and roads. March–May and September–November are wetter and greener.
Responsible Travel: best time to visit Uganda · kimkim: best time to visit Uganda
Millet is the traditional Banyoro staple, classically served to a guest with meat. Matooke, cassava, beans and sweet potatoes are everyday food.
Nile perch and tilapia are native to Lake Albert. Most of the catch is small fish such as muziri and ragoogi.
NARO research: Lake Albert fisheries · Springer: Lake Albert fisheries
Hoima Central Market is the city’s main market, with street vendors around Duhaga Roundabout.
Uganda Radio Network: Hoima Central Market · Uganda Radio Network: Hoima street vendors
Banyoro share twelve pet names, the empaako. Greeting someone by theirs is a sign of respect. UNESCO listed the tradition in 2013.
Runyoro (Orunyoro), close to Rutooro, is the local language. English is widely used.
Don’t carry large amounts of cash or walk alone after dark, and keep car doors locked in traffic. Follow local authorities’ advice.
Spotlight
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-host the Africa Cup of Nations from 19 June to 17 July 2027. Hoima City Stadium is one of Uganda’s two main venues, with Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
In the app · next update
Arriving with the next app update, Discover in PlusBoda shows the hotels, guesthouses, tours, kitchens and ticketed events that have listed themselves in Hoima, with ratings only from real customers. Ask Plus answers questions from what is listed and from this guide, and links every answer to its source. Tap any place to book a boda there.
For businesses in Hoima
Hotels, guesthouses, tour guides, attractions and event organisers: a PlusBoda business account is free. Your page appears in Hoima's Discover, you can sell tickets and scan them at the door, and visitors can book a boda to your gate. In the app: Professional, then pick Hotel, Guesthouse, Tour, Attraction or Events.
Curated by PlusBoda from public sources, last checked 2026-10-18. Distances are approximate. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown. PlusBoda does not list hotels, events, prices or reviews that businesses and customers have not put there themselves.
