Kampala, Uganda
Kampala is Uganda's capital and largest city, built on a series of hills overlooking Lake Victoria. Known for its green hilltops, motorbike-taxi (boda-boda) traffic and lively nightlife, it has been one of East Africa's fastest-growing cities.
Highlights
- Built on seven (now many more) hills
- Kasubi Tombs UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Uganda Museum and Namugongo Martyrs Shrine
- Gateway to Lake Victoria and Murchison Falls National Park
History
Originally the seat of the Buganda Kingdom on Mengo Hill, Kampala became British colonial capital in 1962 just before Ugandan independence. The city survived the brutal Idi Amin regime, the Bush War of the 1980s, and has been rebuilt as a hub for trade with eastern DRC, South Sudan and Rwanda.
Economy
Kampala generates roughly 60% of Uganda's GDP through services, trade and increasingly tech (Andela has a major office). It is the import-export gateway for landlocked Uganda's coffee and tea exports through Mombasa port.
Neighborhoods
Nakasero is the central business district; Kololo is the upscale diplomatic hill; Mengo and Lubaga are royal Buganda hills; Wandegeya and Kabalagala are nightlife districts; Kawempe and Makindye are larger residential zones.
Distances from Kampala
Calculate distance and flight time from Kampala to other major African cities: