Culture & Heritage · Kumi District, Eastern Uganda
Nyero Rock Paintings
Uganda's oldest known rock art site — geometric paintings on granite shelters, attributed to the region's early Batwa inhabitants and featured on the 1,000 Ugandan shilling note.
How to get there
By road from Mbale or Soroti, near Kumi town.
What to find
Three rock shelters with concentric-circle and geometric motifs, set among granite outcrops on the eastern plains.
Overview
The Nyero rock paintings, near Kumi in eastern Uganda, are among the most important rock-art sites in East Africa. They're painted in red and white on granite shelters, in geometric designs such as concentric circles.
The paintings are thought to be hundreds to over a thousand years old, and are generally attributed to early hunter-gatherer communities. The site is a national monument, and is on Uganda's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Highlights
- Three painted rock shelters with concentric circles and geometric motifs
- Dramatic granite outcrops on the eastern plains
- A rarely visited piece of Uganda's deep history
Things to do
Guided site visit
Local guides take you through the three main shelters.
Combine with Mbale and Sipi
Add a day of history to an eastern Uganda trip.
Best time to visit
All year. The dry season makes the rock scrambles easier.
Getting there
About 1 to 1.5 hours by road from Mbale, or from Soroti.
Where to stay
Stay in Mbale or around Sipi Falls.
See accommodation options in Uganda →
Good to know
- Don't touch the paintings. Oils from skin damage them.
- Bring water and a hat, as there's little shade on the rocks.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.