Kampala
- This article refers to the city of Kampala. For the district of the same name, please see Kampala (district)
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. With a population of 1,208,544 (2002), it is the largest urban settlement in Uganda. It is located in the district of Kampala at 0:19:00N 32:35:00E (0.31667, 32.58333) with an elevation of 3,900ft (1,189 m) above sea level.
History
Kampala grew up around a fort constructed by Frederick Lugard in 1890 for the British East Africa Company. In 1962, Kampala replaced Entebbe as the national capital. Much of the city was destroyed after the 1979 overthrow of Idi Amin's dictatorship and the subsequent civil war. Manufactures include furniture and machine parts. Agricultural exports include coffee, cotton, tea, and sugar.
The city grew as the capital of the Buganda kingdom, from which several buildings survive, including the Kasubi Tombs (built in 1881), the Buganda Parliament, the Buganda Court of Justice and the Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site. Severely damaged in the Ugandan-Tanzanian War, the city has since been rebuilt.
Features
The main campus of Makerere University, one of East and Central Africa's premier institutes of higher learning, can be found in the Makerere Hill area of the city. Kampala is also home to the headquarters of the East African Development Bank.
Like many cities, Kampala is said to be built on seven hills, the centre being Makasero, home to the administrative centre and the wealthiest residential area. Suburbs include Kololo, home to the Uganda Museum, Namirembe, home to Namirembe Cathedral, Kibuli, home to Kibuli Mosque, and Rubaga, home to Rubaga Cathedral.
Other features of the city include the Ssezibwa Falls, Ugandan National Theatre, St. Balikuddembe Market (formerly Owino Market) and Nakasero Market. Kampala is also known for its nightlife, which includes a casino. Entebbe International Airport is located at Entebbe, 22 miles/35 km away, while Port Bell on the shore of Lake Victoria is 7 miles/10 km away.
Also to note is that Kampala hosts one of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world. It is known as the Mother Temple of Africa and is situated on Kikaya Hill on the outskirts of the city. Its foundation stone was laid in January 1958, and was dedicated on January 13, 1961.
According to a 2004-2005 survey by the Ministry of Health, Kampala has the highest prevalence of HIV infection in Uganda. 9.2 percent of adults and 47 percent of sex workers in the city are infected.[1][2]