In 2015, this metropolitan area generated an estimated nominal GDP of $13.80221 billion (constant US dollars of 2011),[9] which was more than half of Uganda's GDP for that year, indicating the importance of Kampala to Uganda's economy.
Kampala is reported to be among the fastest-growing cities in Africa, with an annual population growth rate of 4.03 percent,[10] by City Mayors.Mercer (aNew York–based consulting firm) has regularly ranked Kampala as East Africa's best city to live in,[11][12] ahead ofNairobi andKigali.
Kampala originally referred to only the present-dayOld Kampala hill, on whose summit Fort Lugard was located, and the initial headquarters of the British colonial authorities in the soon to beUganda Protectorate.[13]
Before the British construction of Fort Lugard, the hill was a hunting reserve of theKabaka (King) ofBuganda and had several species of antelope, especially theimpala. As a result, when the British colonial officials were allocated this hill by the then Kabaka of Buganda, they referred to it as "The Hill of the Impala".[citation needed]
The natives, in whose territory this British settlement was located, then translated "Hill of the Impala" as Akasozi k’empala. This was then shortened to K'empala and finally, the name ‘Kampala’ was brought to life.Kasozi means "hill",ke "of", andempala the plural of "impala". Hence the name "Kampala" came to refer to this initial British colonial settlement that would later on spread out from the occupiedOld Kampala hill near the pre-existingKibuga (capital) of the Buganda Kingdom.[14]
This area of numerous hills and swamps that later become known as Kampala was part of the core of the highly centralisedBuganda Kingdom. It was also the site of the shiftingKibuga (capital) of the differentBassekabaka (kings) of the Buganda Kingdom, with eachKabaka (king) upon coronation, or subsequently during their reign, setting up theirKibuga (capital) on a new or different hill as they wished or desired.[citation needed]
The first written description of thisKibuga (capital) was by the explorerSir Richard Burton in his book,The Lake Region of East Africa, published in 1860. In the book, Burton, relying on the information collected by Snay Bin Amir, an Arab trader, described theKibuga as:
…the settlement is not less than aday's journey in length, the buildings are of cane and rattan. The sultan's (Kabaka) palace is at least a mile long and the circular huts neatly arranged in a line are surrounded by a strong fence which has only four gates.
In 1862, when explorerJohn Speke arrived in Buganda, theKibuga (capital) was at Bandabarogo, present-dayBanda Hill, and the reigningKabaka (King) wasMutesa I.[15]
In 1875, explorerHenry Morton Stanley reported the capital as being at present-dayLubaga Hill, where he met the sameKabaka,Mutesa I.During this visit, Stanley wrote a letter that was published inThe Daily Telegraph, inviting missionaries to come to Buganda. He also described theKibuga in his 1870s dispatches toThe New York Herald, thus:
As we approached the capital, the highway from Usavara [Busabala] increased in width from 20 ft [6 meters] to 150 ft [45 meters]...Arrived at the capital I found the vast collection of huts crowning the eminence were the Royal Quarters, around which ran several palisades and circular courts, between which and the city was a circular road, ranging from 100 ft [30 meters] to 200 ft [60 meters] in width with gardens and huts...
— Bennet, N.R. (ed.)Stanley's Dispatches to the New York Herald, 1871–1872, 1874–1877, Boston, 1970.
In 1877, the first missionaries from theChurch Mission Society, who were of the Protestant faith, arrived from theUnited Kingdom and were allocatedNamirembe Hill. Two years later, in 1879, the CatholicWhite Fathers also arrived, first settling at the present-day village of Kitebi near Lubaga; subsequently, they would be allocatedLubaga Hill. The arrival of these two missionary groups laid the ground for the religious wars of 1888 to 1892 between their new converts and forced the missionaries fromGreat Britain to then lobby for the British government to take over Buganda/Uganda as a protectorate.[citation needed]
In 1890,Frederick Lugard, an agent of theImperial British East Africa Company, arrived in Buganda during the reign ofKabaka Mwanga II, with whom he signed a treaty of protection by the British government over Buganda, and theKibuga (capital) was located atMengo Hill.Captain Lugard would, later on, be allocated the Kampala hill that would soon be known asOld Kampala, and on which he built a fort.[16]
In 1897, Mwanga launched a rebellion but was defeated and was subsequently captured andexiled, in 1899, tothe Seychelles alongside OmukamaKabalega, and his 3-year-old son was madeKabaka by the combined forces of the European officers leading Nubian and Bagandacolonial soldiers.[17] This state of affairs later culminated in the signing of theBuganda Agreement (1900) that formalised British colonial rule in Buganda.[citation needed]
Also in 1897, Kampala's first Western-style health facility,Mengo Hospital, was opened onNamirembe hill by British doctor and missionarySir Albert Ruskin Cook. In addition, Sir Albert Ruskin Cook foundedMulago Hospital, the current National Referral Hospital, atMulago hill in 1913.[18]
In 1900, the regents of the infantKabakaDaudi Cwa II (who wereApolo Kagwa, theKatikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda, Stanislaus Mugwanya, theMulamuzi (Chief Judge) of Buganda, and Zakaria Kisingiri, theMuwanika (Chief Treasurer) of Buganda, withBishopAlfred Tucker), signed theBuganda Agreement on behalf of Buganda withSir Harry Johnston, who signed on behalf of theBritish government.[19][20] This agreement with Sir Harry Johnston created new land tenures such as freehold,Crown land, andmailo, and divided up and allocated the land in such a way that would come to define the development of Kampala.[citation needed]
To legalise the above changes, the following laws and ordinances were subsequently passed: The Crown lands Ordinance of 1903, The Land Law of 1908, The Registration of Land Titles ordinance of 1922, and the Busulu and Envujo law of 1928.[21][22]
In 1906, the Crown lands consisting of Old Kampala, Nakasero hills etc. and covering 567 hectares (5.67 km2; 1,400 acres) was consolidated and gazetted as Kampala Township.[citation needed]
In 1912, Kampala Township received its first land-use plan and had a European and Asian population of 2,850.[23]
In 1922, Kampala's oldest university,Makerere, was founded as the Uganda Technical College at the present Makerere Hill and initially offered carpentry, building construction, mechanics, arts, education, agriculture, and medicine.
In 1930, the first sewerage plan was prepared to target a population of 20,000 people in theNakasero andOld Kampala areas of the Kampala township. This plan guided sewerage development from 1936 to 1940 in planned urban areas of the Kampala Township and excluded theKibuga area occupied by theBaganda and other natives.[24]
Kampala. The Imperial Hotel in 1936.
In 1931, theUganda Railway line reached Kampala, connecting Kampala toMombasa Port, thirty-five years after the commencement of its construction.[25]
In 1938, The East African Power & Lighting Company was granted a licence for thermal electric power generation and distribution for the towns of Kampala andEntebbe, and in the same yearSir Philip Mitchel, theGovernor of Uganda, switched on Kampala and Uganda's first electricstreet lights.[26][27]
In 1945,Ernst May, a German architect, was commissioned by theUganda Protectorate Government to design a new physical plan for Kampala. Ernst May's plan of 1947 was intended to extend Kampala eastwards coveringKololo Hill andNaguru Hill, and with the commercial centre on the southern slopes ofNakasero Hill, an industrial zone in the southeast of Kampala, and, for the first time, a planned residential zone for the Ugandan natives.[28] The plan was never fully implemented, and in 1951 the third physical plan byHenry Kendall was instead adopted, though it incorporated some elements of Ernst May's 1947 plan.[29]
Kampala in 1950s
Henry Kendall's 1951 plan expanded Kampala from the 5.67 km2 (2.19 square miles) area of the 1930 plan to an area of 28 km2 (11 square miles) incorporating areas likeKololo Hill, and the Industrial Area. However, like the first two planning schemes, the 1951 plan failed to achieve many of its stated objectives.[29]
On 9 October 1962,Uganda gained independence; subsequently the capital city was transferred fromEntebbe to Kampala and in the same year, Kampala was grantedcity status.[citation needed]
In 1968, six years after Uganda attained independence, the boundaries of Kampala were expanded incorporating theKibuga (then known as Mengo Municipality), Kawempe and Nakawa Townships, and areas including Muyenga and Ggaba.[30] This increased the administrative area of Kampala from 28 km2 (11 square miles) to the current 189 km2 (73 square miles).[citation needed]
In 1972, the fourth physical plan for Kampala was made covering the newly incorporated areas of Kampala's boundary extensions of 1968, but the subsequent political and economic turmoil of the 1970s and 1980s meant the plan was never implemented.[30][31]
In 2010, theKampala Capital City Authority Act was enacted, giving the Ugandan Government more control of the administration of Kampala. The act also created the Kampala Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority with the stated aims of improving the infrastructure of the City of Kampala and the surrounding districts ofWakiso,Mukono,Buikwe,Mpigi andLuwero.[33]
The City of Kampala covers a total area of 189 km2 (73 square miles), comprising 176 km2 (68 square miles) of land and 13 km2 (5.0 square miles) of water.
Kampala is a hilly place with its valleys filled with sluggish rivers/ swamps. The highest point in the city proper is the summit ofKololo hill at 1,311 metres (4,301 ft), located in the center of the city and the lowest point at the shores ofLake Victoria south of the city center at altitude of 1,135 metres (3,724 ft).
The fourth isNamirembe Hill, that was home to the Anglican (Wangeleza) faction of the Buganda religious wars of 1888 to 1892 and site of NamirembeAnglicanCathedral.
The fifth isLubaga Hill, that was home to the White Fathers Catholic (Wafaransa) faction of the above-mentioned Buganda religious wars and also site of the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral.
The sixth isNsambya Hill, site of the former Cathedral of St Peter's Nsambya and allocated to theBritish Catholic Mill Hill Mission during the signing of the Uganda Agreement (1900).
The seventh isNakasero Hill on whose summit was Fort Nakasero, a British military installation built after relocating from Fort Lugard in Old Kampala. The hill was also the site of the European Hospital (the current government analytical laboratory opposite Ministry of Public Service headquarters).
Due to Kampala's hilly nature and tropical climate, the valleys have slow rivers and swamps that tend to flow southwards towardsLake Victoria or northwards. These swamps cover 15% of Kampala's land area. They include:
Kinawataka swamp river covering an area of 1.5 km2 (0.58 square miles) flowing southwards intoLake Victoria and is located inNakawa Division.[38]
Nakivubo swamp river covering an area of 5.29 km2 (2.04 square miles) flowing southwards to Lake Victoria from the foothills ofMakerere and of length 9 kilometres (5.6 mi).[38][39]
Lubigi swamp covering an area of 2.85 km2 (1.10 square miles) flowing westwards from the foothills ofKisaasi into theMayanja River.[38]
Kampala, due to the diversity of habitats that includewetlands and hills, was previously covered with short grasses on the tops of the hills, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.),Cyperus papyrus, African water lily etc. in the swamps and evergreen forests with trees such asAfrican olive (mpafu) andNatal fig (mutuba).[41]
A facet of Kampala's weather is that it features two annualwetter seasons. While the city does not have a truedry season month, it experiences heavier precipitation from August to December and from February to June. However, it is between February and June that Kampala sees substantially heavier rainfall per month, with April typically seeing the heaviest amount of precipitation at an average of around 169 millimetres (6.7 in) of rain.
Makerere UniversityMakerere University Main building in the pre independence years
Pre-primary education
Pre-primary education is offered only by private entities which are located in the various neighbourhoods of Kampala and is lightly regulated by theMinistry of Education and Sports and starts from age of 6 weeks. Education in Kampala city is provided by a vast number of public and private institutions offering a wide range of educational training that includes pre-primary, primary, secondary, vocational, technical undergraduate and post-graduate education.[citation needed]
Primary and secondary education in Kampala
Kampala has a number of both primary and secondary schools in every parish that are mostly privately owned and a handful that are state-owned and are also lightly regulated by the City Education directorate and Ministry of Education and Sports.[45]
The population of Kampala city proper has been rapidly increasing from 62,264 in 1948 to 1,189,142 in 2002, then 1,507,080 in 2014. In 2019, the population was estimated to be 1,650,800.[50][51]
According to the 2024 Uganda Population and Housing Census, Kampala had a population of 1,797,722 residents, consisting of 1,004,884 males and 792,838 females. The average household size in the city was 2.9 persons.[52]
Cross-cultural intimate relations in Kampala and even Uganda as a whole is still unusual. Although many of Kampala's residents live and work in close contact, they still define themselves by their ethnic origins. This is more evident in the native languages (alongsideLuganda and English) that are used at home, workplaces, and public spaces. In addition to theBaganda and Banyankole, other large ethnic groups include theBasoga,Bafumbira,Batoro,Bakiga,Alur,Bagisu (better known as Bamasaba),Banyoro,Iteso,Langi, andAcholi.[57]
Ndere Centre in Kampala is a centre where all traditional Ugandan dances are represented. This dance is from the south of Uganda, on the border with Rwanda.
Kampala is also known for its vibrant shopping scene, offering everything from traditional crafts to modern fashion. Owino market (also known as St Balikuddembe market) is one of the largest and busiest markets in Uganda, where one can find an array of goods including clothes, shoes, and fresh produce.
The city is also filled with a number of shopping malls, such as Acacia Mall, Arena Mall, and Village Mall.[5]
Kampala's nightlife is another aspect of the city's leisure that cannot be overlooked. The city is alive with music and dance, with numerous bars, clubs, and lounges offering entertainment late into the night.Kabalagala andKololo are popular areas for nightlife.
For those who prefer dining in a more formal setting, Kampala has numerous restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines.[citation needed]
Cafe javas is a popular chain that offers a blend of local and international dishes for both a casual meal and a business meeting.[citation needed]
One dish is called TV Chicken, named because the chicken is roasted in a rotisserie oven with a glass window that customers can watch the chicken through.[63]
Nsenene vendors (nsenene are grasshoppers) set up shop in May and November, during grasshopper season.[64]
Gaba Fish Market, located on Lake Victoria, is the biggest fish market in the city.[65]
A prominent cultural centre in the Kampala area of Kisasi that aims to promote Ugandan and African cultural expressions through music, dance, and drama. The name Ndere is derived from the noun 'endere', which means flute. As an instrument found in all cultures, it is chosen as a peaceful symbol of the universality of cultural expressions. The Ndere centre is famous for its Ndere troupe, a music and dance troupe that perform several nights every week at the centre showcasing music and dance from all over Uganda as well as Rwanda and Burundi.[66]
TheMandela National Stadium, commonly known as Namboole Stadium, is the largest and most iconic sports facility in Uganda. Located just outside Kampala in Bweyogerere, this multi-purpose stadium has a seating capacity of over 45,000 and is the primary venue for major sporting events, including football matches, athletics, and concerts. The stadium is home to the Uganda national football team, the Cranes, and hosts various local and international competitions.
Lugogo Sports Complex is a sports hub in Kampala, offering facilities for a range of sports including tennis, cricket, and boxing. The MTN Arena within the complex is a modern indoor arena with a capacity of around 3,000, used for basketball, netball, volleyball, and other indoor sports. TheLugogo Cricket Oval is another highlight, hosting national and international cricket matches, making it the center of cricket in Uganda.
The Kampala Golf Club, located in the heart of the city, is Uganda's oldest golf course and a premier destination for golfers. The 18-hole course offers a challenging yet scenic layout, with well-maintained greens and fairways. The club also has a driving range and a clubhouse, making it a popular spot for both serious golfers and those looking to relax in a green environment.[citation needed]
Hamz stadium in Nakivubo
The renewedHamz Nakivubo Stadium, formerly known as Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, is in the central business district of Kampala.
Traditional fishermen on Lake Victoria outside KampalaThe Church House, downtown Kampala
Efforts are underway to relocate heavy industry to theKampala Business and Industrial Park, located inNamanve,Mukono District, approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the city's central business district,[68] thereby cutting down on city traffic congestion. Some of the businesses that maintain their headquarters in the city center include all of the 25commercial banks licensed in Uganda; theNew Vision Group, the leading news media conglomerate and majority owned by the government; and theDaily Monitor publication, a member of the Kenya-basedNation Media Group.Air Uganda maintained its headquarters in an office complex onKololo Hill in Kampala.[69] Crown Beverages Limited, the solePepsi-Cola franchise bottler in the country, is situated inNakawa, a division of Kampala, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) east of the city centre.[70]
The informal sector is a large contributor to Kampala's GDP. Citizens who work in the formal sector also participate in informal activities to earn more income for their families. A public servant in Kampala, for example, may engage in agriculture in addition to working in the formal sector. Other informal fields include owning taxis and urban agriculture. The use of Kampala's wetlands for urban farming has increased over the past few decades. It connects the informal rural settlements with the more industrialized parts of the city. The produce grown in the wetlands is sold in markets in the urban areas.[71]
In December 2015, Google launched its firstWi-Fi network in Kampala.[72]
While more than 30 percent of Kampala's inhabitants practiceurban agriculture, the city of Kampala donated 13 hectares (32 acres) to promote urban agriculture in the northeastern parish of Kyanja, inNakawa Division.[73]
Boda-bodas (local motorbike transport) are a popular mode of transport that gives access to many areas within and outside the city. Standard fees for these range from USh:1,000 to 2,000 or more. Boda-bodas are useful for passing through rush-hour traffic, although many are poorly maintained and dangerous.[74]
In early 2007, it was announced that Kampala would remove commuter taxis from its streets and replace them with a comprehensive city bus service. (In Kampala, the term "taxi" refers to a 15-seater minibus used as public transport.) The bus service was expected to cover the greater Kampala metropolitan area includingMukono,Mpigi,Bombo,Entebbe,Wakiso andGayaza. As of December 2011[update] the service had not yet started.[75] Having successfully completed the Northern Bypass, the government, in collaboration with its stakeholders, now plans to introduce thebus rapid transit (BRT) system in Kampala by 2014. On 12 March 2012, Pioneer Easy Bus Company, a private transport company, started public bus service in Kampala with an estimated 100 buses each with a 60-passenger capacity (30 seated and 30 standing), acquired fromChina. Another 422 buses were expected in the country in 2012. The buses operate 24 hours daily.[citation needed] The company has a concession to provide public transport in the city for the next five years.[76][77] The buses were impounded for back taxes in December 2013. The company expected to resume operation in February 2015.[78]
On 11 April 2011, the pressure group Activists for Change (A4C) held its firstWalk to Work protest near Kampala, in response to a comment by PresidentMuseveni on the increased cost of fuel, which had risen by 50 percent between January and April 2011. He said: "What I call on the public to do is to use fuel sparingly. Don't drive to bars."[80][81] The protest, which called on workers to walk to work to highlight the increased cost of transport in Uganda,[80] was disrupted by police, who firedtear gas and arrested three-time presidential candidateKizza Besigye andDemocratic Party leaderNorbert Mao.[82] In the course of the protest, Besigye was shot in the right arm by a rubber bullet. The government blamed the violence on protesters.[81]
In 2016, theRift Valley Railways Consortium (RVR) andKampala Capital City Authority established passenger rail service betweenNamanve and Kampala and between Kampala andKyengera. Those services were temporarily discontinued after RVR lost its concession in Uganda in October 2017.[83] However, whenUganda Railways Corporation took over the operations of themetre gauge railway system in Uganda in 2018, the service was restored in February that year.[84] A new Kampala toPort Bell route is being planned to be added in the 2018/2019 financial year.[83]
Kampala hosts aBahá'í House of Worship known as the Mother Temple of Africa which is situated on Kikaya Hill in the outskirts of the city. The temple was inaugurated in January 1961.[86]
Kampala is the country's main hub for health care services. It offers a mix of public hospitals, private clinics, and specialized medical centers that serve both locals and international visitors. The quality of care varies depending on the type of facility, but in general, Kampala provides the best medical options in the country.[87]
Public health care in Kampala is overseen by the Ministry of Health. The city hosts key government hospitals such as Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda's largest and most advanced public hospital. Mulago serves as a teaching hospital for Makerere University's College of Health Sciences and provides a wide range of services, including surgery, maternal health, pediatrics, and specialized care. While public hospitals are often affordable or free, they face challenges like overcrowding, long waiting times, limited medical supplies, and under-staffing.[88]
Kampala also has a growing number of private hospitals and clinics offering higher standards of care, often preferred by the middle class, expats, and medical tourists. Some notable private institutions include: Nakasero Hospital – a modern private hospital known for advanced diagnostics and surgery. International Hospital Kampala (IHK) – a leading facility offering general and specialized care. Kampala Hospital – known for quality services and patient-focused care. Case Hospital – provides both inpatient and outpatient services among many others. Private facilities tend to be better equipped and offer faster service but come at a higher cost. Many accept international health insurance, though it's important to confirm in advance.
^Gutkind, P.C.W; Southall, A.W (1957).Townsmen In The Making, Kampala and its suburbs. Kampala: East African Institute Of Social Research. p. 4.ISBN978-0013388883.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
^Mukwaya, A.B (1953). "The Land Tenure System in Buganda: Present day Tendencies". The Eagle Press. pp.1–22.
^Thomas, A. S. (July 1946). "The Vegetation of Some Hillsides in Uganda: Illustrations of Human Influence in Tropical Ecology. II".The Journal of Ecology.33 (2):153–172.Bibcode:1946JEcol..33..153T.doi:10.2307/2256463.JSTOR2256463.
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