Travel Guide Jinja

Jinja is one of the major provincial towns and is located 80 km east of Kampala. The city and its surroundings are one of the most economically dynamic regions in the country. Under Idi Amin Dada and his policy of "indigenization", the expulsion of members of the Indo-Pakistani "community" (accused of disloyalty, commercial fraud or of being privileged...) and the voluntary departure of many Ugandans from the sub-continent in 1972, had a severe impact on the local economy. Indeed, the "Indians" (mainly from Gujarat) owned businesses and large enterprises. The expropriation and nationalization of these establishments led to a major economic crisis (new inexperienced or incompetent managers, mismanagement, lack of qualified technicians, etc.). For the last twenty years, the economic revival, notably under the impulse of Indian returnees, is palpable: tourism, sugar and brewing industries, metallurgy and palm oil refining are all sources of employment and economic growth. However, the city is best known for being watered by the famous source of the Nile since the assertion - disputed and challenged - of the British explorer Speke nearly 160 years ago. This highly symbolic place has become a tourist attraction, even though the Ripon Falls, where the river begins its long journey to the Mediterranean, disappeared when the Owen Falls Dam was built in the early 1950s. It is still a relaxing place with fabulous sunsets and a flock of bats scurrying around at dusk. Jinja also has some beautiful architectural remains from the colonial era and is a pleasant place to stroll around, especially since the accommodation and restaurant offer is among the most attractive in the country. Finally, the city has taken advantage of the Nile's rapids by developing rafting, one of the most popular attractions for adventurers from around the world. In addition to rafting, several activities are now organized for thrill seekers, such as white water kayaking. With its new cable-stayed bridge, Jinja, "the city of adrenaline", is a must for any stay in the "Pearl of Africa".