Bahai House of Worship

The Bahai House of Worship on Kikaaya Hill north of Kampala was completed in 1961 as the mother temple of the Bahai faith for the African continent, and it remains the only one on the continent. It follows the pattern required of all Bahai temples: nine sides, nine entrances and a dome, here rising about thirty-eight metres with green mosaic tiling and coloured glass. It stands in gardens of around twenty hectares, open to anyone.

What you actually see

• The nine-sided plan - the form required of every Bahai house of worship.
• The dome - a tiled dome rising about thirty-eight metres over the hill.
• The gardens - around twenty hectares of grounds open to the public.
• The hill position - the temple visible across the northern side of Kampala.

When to go

Year round; the temple and gardens are open daily. Devotions are held on Sunday mornings and are open to all. Weekdays are quietest.

Honest expectations

There is little to see inside beyond the empty prayer space; Bahai temples hold no images or altars. Photography inside is not permitted. The gardens are the larger part of the visit.

Nearby

Kampala is south, and the Uganda Museum is southeast.