The gardens were established as far as 1901. They extend from the shores of Lake Victoria to cover a lush zone of forest with big trees. The Botanical Gardens is one of the renowned birding spots in Uganda and often birded as single entity. It is also a popular spot for leisurely nature walks to enjoy the lush greenery and observe monkeys and birds. Expect to record a good mix of water, open country and woodland species.

Birds include: Pink-backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black-headed Heron, Hamerkop, African Open-billed Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Black Kite, Palm-nut Vulture, Lizard Buzzard, African Harrier-hawk, Grey Kestrel, African Hobby, Black Crake, Spur-winged Lapwing, Red-eyed Dove, Brown Parrot, Grey Parrot, Great Blue Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Speckled Mousebird, Pied Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater, Crowned Hornbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Grey Woodpecker, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Dark-capped Bulbul, Snowy-headed Robin-chat, African Thrush, Winding Cisticola, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Northern Black Flycatcher, Pied Crow, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher, Red-chested Sunbird, Grey-backed Fiscal, Northern Puffback, Rupell’s Long-tailed Starling, Black-headed Weaver, Baglafetcht Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, and Orange Weaver.