Kampala, the largest city in Uganda, is also its capital, covering a total surface area of 189 km2 (73 square miles). Out of this, 176 km2 (68 square miles) is land, and 13 km2 (5.0 square miles) is water. Kampala is situated approximately 35 km from the airport.
Originally built on seven hills, Kampala expanded to encompass major divisions such as Kampala, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Division. Kampala’s metropolitan area, which comprises districts such as Kampala, Wakiso District, Mukono District, Mpigi District, and Luweero District, is administratively managed.
The original seven hills of Kampala, namely Old Kampala Hill, Mengo Hill, Kibuli Hill, Namirembe Hill, Lubaga Hill, Nsambya Hill, and Nakasero Hill, remain tourist attractions. Old Kampala Hill was the first seat of British colonial authorities in colonial Uganda and currently hosts Old Kampala Mosque.
Mengo Hill, previously the capital of the Buganda kingdom during the start of British colonial rule, presently hosts Mengo hospital and Bulange Mengo – the palace of the Kabaka of Buganda. Kibuli Hill hosts Kibuli Mosque and Kibuli hospital. Namirembe Hill was home to the Anglican faction during the Buganda religious wars of 1888 to 1892 and presently hosts Namirembe Anglican Cathedral.
Lubaga Hill was home to the White Fathers Catholic faction and presently hosts the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral and Lubaga hospital. Nsambya Hill was the site of the former Cathedral of St Peter’s Nsambya and was allocated to the British Catholic Mill Hill Mission during the signing of the Uganda Agreement (1900).
Nakasero Hill, on whose summit was Fort Nakasero, a British military installation built after relocating from Fort Lugard in Old Kampala, was also the site of the European Hospital (the current government analytical laboratory). Nakasero currently hosts State House – the home of the sitting president, Nakasero hospital, and other major hotels.
Kampala’s population is around 1,680,000, making it the economic engine of Uganda’s economy. The population comprises people from all the tribes in Uganda engaged in different activities such as manufacturing, trade, agriculture, civil service, and education, among others.
Kampala also houses major educational institutions at all levels, government departments, ministries and agencies, major factories, hotels, financial institutions, parliament, all political parties’ headquarters, and several other private corporations, attracting rural-rural migration and settlement of other nationalities within the city.
Kampala city is geographically composed of hilly places with valleys filled with sluggish rivers and swamps. The highest point is the summit of Kololo hill, standing at 1,311 metres (4,301 ft), located in the center of the city, and the lowest point at the shores of Lake Victoria south of the city center, standing at an altitude of 1,135 metres (3,724 ft).
Kampala’s weather has two annual wet seasons with rains in the months of February to May and September to December. However, with climate change, this trend seems to be changing.
Regarding transport within Kampala, the city is a 45-minute drive from Entebbe International Airport and also has Kajjansi Airstrip where local flights are usually arranged from. There is also Kololo Airstrip in the city center, often used to run and coordinate government activities.
