What Is The Capital Of Uganda?
Kampala is Uganda's capital city. It is subdivided into five boroughs which manage the local planning, and they are Rubaga Division, Kawempe Division, Nakawa Division, Kampala Central Division, and Makindye Division. The consulting agency Mercer has identified Kampala as the top city to reside in East Africa, ahead of both Nairobi and Kigali.
History Of The Capital Of Uganda
Kampala gained significance as the capital of the Buganda Kingdom in the pre-colonial period. Some buildings from this period still stand in Kampala including the Buganda Court of Justice, the Kasubi Tombs, and the Buganda Parliament. The construction of a forum along Kampala's Mengo Hill by Frederick Lugard in 1890 enabled the British to occupy most of the territory administered by the Buganda including Kampala. The British officially created a protectorate in this area in 1894 which was expanded to accommodate the Bunyoro, Ankole, and Toro Kingdoms in 1896. Entebbe became the capital in 1905 when the British proclaimed the whole territory to be a colony until independence. Kampala, however, continued to be the main manufacturing and economic center for Uganda. Kampala's buildings suffered damage during the Uganda-Tanzanian War initiated by Uganda's Milton Obote. Kampala has since been rebuilt and features modern amenities such as shopping malls, banks, and hotels.
Characteristics Of The Capital Of Uganda
Kampala initially developed on seven hills, but its territory has since expanded to include more hills. The initial hills are Kasubi, Mengo, Kibuli, Namirembe, Lubaga, Nsambya, and Kampala. Each of the hills has historical and cultural significance. Kampala Hill, for example, is home to the Uganda National Mosque which was sponsored by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. The mosque boasts a seating capacity of 15,000 people. Kampala expanded to Nakasero Hill which hosts several international hotels such as the Kampala Serena Hotel and the Grand Imperial Hotel. The city is also stretching to Tank, Mulago, Makindye, and Konge Hills. The headquarters of the regional East Africa Development Bank are in the city.
Demographics Of The Capital City Of Uganda
Kampala had an estimated 1,507,080 inhabitants in 2014 compared to the 1,189,142 residents in 2002, and it has a diverse ethnic population. Kampala's ethnic mix has been influenced by the country's economic and political factors. After the ascension of Yoweri Museveni to power, for example, a significant number of western Ugandans especially the Banyankole relocated to the city. Although most Kampala inhabitants have been born and raised in the city, they still associate themselves with their tribal roots. Native languages are thus heard alongside Swahili, Luganda, and English. Other large ethnic communities with a presence in Kampala other than Baganda and Banyankole are the Bakiga, Bafumbira, Banyoro, Basoga, Batoro, and Alur.
Economy Of Uganda's Capital City
All of the twenty-five commercial banks approved in the country have their headquarters in Kampala as well as the media conglomerate New Vision Group and the Daily Monitor publication which is part of the Nation Media Group based in its neighboring country of Kenya. The informal sector is a significant contributor to the GDP of Kampala. Urban agriculture and operating taxis are popular business ventures for Kampala's residents. The use of the city's wetlands for urban cultivation has been on the increase in the recent few decades. The Kampala Business and Industrial Park was created to host heavy industry and thus ease Kampala's traffic congestion. The park is situated about 8.7 miles east of Kampala's central business district.
