Uganda arts scene: galleries exhibitions and contemporary art

Updated 19 October 2026

Kampala has a lively contemporary art scene worth a few hours on an arrival or departure day. Highlights include the long-running Nommo Gallery, private galleries such as Afriart, the 32° East Ugandan Arts Trust, and the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University, where many of East Africa’s leading artists trained. Exhibitions, open studios and festivals run through the year.

Where Ugandan art comes from

Modern art teaching in Uganda began at Makerere in the late 1930s with Margaret Trowell, and the school became a centre for artists from across East Africa. Ugandan artists draw on bark cloth, basketry, beadwork and traditional design as well as global movements. Many work with recycled materials, photography and installation, and themes often include identity, history, the environment and city life.

Galleries and art spaces

Nommo Gallery, in Nakasero, was founded in the 1960s and shows work by established and emerging artists. Afriart Gallery in Kampala represents contemporary Ugandan artists and exhibits regularly. The 32° East Ugandan Arts Trust supports artists with residencies, studios and a library. Makerere’s art school holds degree shows that are open to the public. Opening hours change, so check ahead.

Crafts and markets

For handmade crafts rather than fine art, try craft villages and markets in Kampala, and community cooperatives near the parks, which sell baskets, bark cloth and carvings. See our guides to buying crafts ethically and bark cloth.

Fitting art into a safari

Most visitors pass through Kampala or Entebbe at the start or end of a trip, which is the best time to visit a gallery or the Uganda Museum. An evening show at the Ndere Cultural Centre adds music and dance. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November.

Frequently asked questions