About Gulu
When someone mentions about Gulu, one thing about terror, since for a long period of time, this region has been characterized by insurgencies and terror. On several occasions. There has been bloodshed in this region due to conflicts that do take in the country. The district of Gulu is located in the Northern part of Uganda. It is approximately 6 hours from the capital city of Uganda – Kampala.
What is good in Gulu?
The town of Gulu is both a commercial and administrative town. It is the commercial and administrative headquarters of Northern Uganda. This district has been in turmoil for over a decade ago, however, it is astonishing how the residents picked up and turned this town into a lively- bustling town.
The composition of the people of Gulu?
The people of Gulu are predominantly Acholi’s. The Acholi people are the biggest population of residents staying in the district of Gulu. You will find Acholi people speaking the Acholi language and this belongs to the Acholi tribe. There are a number of other languages being spoken in the area including Kiswahili, Luganda, and Luo to supplement the Acholi language. It is a rich district with a rich history, culture and vibrant enough to keep you busy throughout your visit
What can I see in Gulu?
When you are in Gulu, you will come across a number of attractions. These will include; Ajai Game Reserve, Fort Patiko, Craft Markets, Acholi Delicacies, St Joseph’s Cathedral
Ajai Game Reserve
This reserve is located on the banks of the Albert Nile. It is about an hour away from Gulu town center. This reserve was originally set to protect the white Rhinos and initially was under the management of Chief Ajai of course in Northern Uganda. Currently, Rhinos have been extinct in the region though you will find animals including; leopards, Zebras, Uganda Kobs, and warthogs.
To view these animals, however, you have to visit the reserve at the right time. You can also get a chance of spotting a python and a crocodile when you are in this place. A number of bird species will be seen in this place including weaver birds, the breasted barbet, and Karamoja apalis – all will be found in this place.
St Joseph’s Cathedral
This cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Gulu. For a long time, it has been well maintained in this region ever since it was built in 1941 by the Camboni brothers. These were the Roman Catholic Church in Gulu and finished this church in 1947. The most interesting thing about this cathedral is that the architecture as for the moat Roman Catholic churches and how towering it from a distance. During the visit to this district, you can fly or drive back to Kampala since there are flights that operate twice a week. St Joseph,s Cathedral is one of the things the many Catholics who visit Uganda end up traveling to Gulu to see this great church
The Fort Patiko
This fort was established in 1872 by a popular man called Sir Samuel Baker. It was then commissioned by the queen as a military base during the colonial administrative days and before it was used as a slave resting and sorting area by the Arabs and the Indians due to the strategic location. This location was due to the fact that they wanted to connect the route to Egypt via Nimule to current South Sudan. Currently, it is also known as Bakers Fort.
The crafts markets
When you are going through the marketplaces in Gulu, you will find many acute antiquities from the wood carvings and paintings to the clothes which are made from colorful and very beautiful fabrics that will make you fall in love with the Uganda prints. While at the place, most of the artisans are under the charity organizations that have been helping people to get through the trauma of the post-war.
Apart from the above, many people who travel to the Gulu district end up visiting Murchison falls national park. This park is just a few kilometers away from Gulu town. The park is blessed with a good number of wild animals which include lions, elephants, buffaloes, and many others, it is a good destination for birding with over 300 bird species.