The Equator Line in Uganda:
The Equator line in Uganda is found along the Masaka β Mbarara highway at what has become a small town called Kayabwe. This is the widely known landmark and the go-to for all looking to witness the equator experiment and take photos β itβs a popular activity. The equator at Kayabwe is a regular and recommended stopover for all tourists going to the western part of the country and those on their way back to Kampala or Entebbe.
In addition to taking photos while standing on the Equator Landmark, you can visit one for the many restaurants that have opened up for lunch or a snack and there are also crafts shops for souvenir shopping. Many of these curio shops work with foundations that greatly improve the livelihoods of the surrounding local communities with projects like Aid a Child and scholarships to children that lost their parents to AIDS
What is the Equator?
It is believed to be a line the separate the earth into two sections; the Northern and Southern hemisphere. While at Kayabwe on the equator landmark, you can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere β giving you the opportunity to be in both sides of the world at the same time!
While standing at the equator, your body weight is reduced by about 3% so you weigh lighter and this is due to the fact that there is no gravitational pull.
An experiment will also be conducted to prove the difference between the two hemispheres using water and a funnel. Water drains from the funnel in a clockwise motion on the northern hemisphere whereas it drains down in an anti-clockwise motion on the southern hemisphere. Here, the sun rises and sets rapidly and the temperatures and weather is largely constant all year through!
Shopping, Dinning & Resting at the Equator:
Several shops are open and mainly sell handmade crafts and other products including fabrics for your souvenir shopping. It is also a good place to stopover and with clean and well kept washrooms and nice restaurants for a meal before you embark on a long upcountry journey.
There are other locations in Uganda where you can cross the line and one is in Queen Elizabeth National park near Kasese.
