🛍️ Uganda: souvenirs
Uganda's craft markets are East Africa's friendliest - barkcloth, basketry and coffee from the mountains that grow some of the continent's best. Here is what travellers bring home from Uganda, where the good versions live, and the export questions worth a look - alongside our 64 written places.
🛒 The classic buys
Barkcloth
The UNESCO-listed mutuba-tree cloth of Buganda - panels, hats and modern design pieces; craft markets in Kampala and cultural sites sell it.
Baskets and mats
Coiled raffia and banana-fibre weaving in bright spirals - the craft villages along Entebbe road and Kampala's markets.
Coffee
Bugisu arabica from Mount Elgon and natural robustas that specialty roasters prize - buy roasted from Kampala roasteries.
Drums and musical instruments
The drum-makers' row at Mpambire on the Masaka road carves and skins to order.
Kitenge and gomesi fabric
Printed cottons and the sashed gomesi dress - tailors work fast.
Shea and honey products
Northern shea butter and forest honey from cooperatives.
⚠️ Check before you buy
- Wildlife items need permits - buy nothing from protected species; the craft markets' horn and skin items are mostly cow, but ask.
- Check what your home country lets in for food and plant products.
✗ Better left behind
- Ivory and wild-animal products - banned.
- Old ritual items - cultural property; buy new craft.
Markets shift, workshops close and open, and the best souvenir is still the one with a story you were there for. Buy from makers where you can, keep receipts for anything substantial, and when a deal feels too good, it usually is.