Jinja Old Town
Jinja
A colonial-era old town built by Indian merchants, with colorful Art Deco shophouses lining the main street.
Jinja rose in the early 20th century thanks to the railway and the port, and was once Uganda's second-largest commercial city. Many merchants of Indian origin built two-story shophouses with arcades and Art Deco facades along Main Street. These often bear the year of construction and family names, forming a rare old street scene in East Africa. Around Main Street are cafés, craft shops and backpacker restaurants, and along the way you can visit Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras. A walking tour takes about 1–2 hours; mind the traffic and boda bodas.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Jinja Central Market
- Lake Victoria (Jinja shore)
- Source of the Nile
- Source of the Nile Bridge & Owen Falls Dam
- White Nile Rafting
- Bujagali
- Mabira Forest
- Itanda Falls