Uganda Railway Museum
About This Museum
It's a little-known fact that the railway this museum celebrates was once called the 'Lunatic Line' by its British critics, who thought building it through East Africa's harsh terrain was pure madness. Today, that 'lunatic' spirit is preserved in a charmingly weathered colonial-era station building, its rusty corrugated iron roof and wide verandas whispering tales of a bygone era. Inside, you don't just see history—you feel it in the worn leather seats of a vintage locomotive and smell it in the old grease and metal. It’s a place that captures the sheer ambition and transformative impact this iron path had on Uganda.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is a massive, beautifully restored steam locomotive from the 1950s that you can actually climb aboard. Elsewhere, you'll find everything from original telegraph equipment and faded stationmaster uniforms to fragile porcelain from the dining cars.
Visitor Information
It's located right in Jinja, making for a perfect half-day trip. Just be sure to ask about guided tours—the stories from the staff are often the best part.
Architecture & Building
A classic early 20th-century railway station with a simple, functional design featuring wooden beams, a corrugated iron roof, and a long veranda designed for the tropical climate.
