Kampala Hill | |
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| Nickname: | |
  Kampala Hill Map of Kampala showing the location of Kampala Hill. | |
| Coordinates: 00°18′55″N32°34′07″E / 0.31528°N 32.56861°E | |
| Country |  Uganda |
| Region | Central Uganda |
| District | Kampala Capital City Authority |
| Division | Kampala Central Division |
| Elevation | 1,210 m (3,970 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Kampala Hill, commonly referred to as Old Kampala, is a hill in the centre of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.
Kampala Hill is bordered by Makerere to the north, Nakasero to the east, Mengo to the south and Namirembe to the west. When calculating distances between Kampala and other places, Kampala Hill is often taken as the starting point. The coordinates of the hill are:0°18'55.0"N, 32°34'07.0"E (Latitude: 0.315278; Longitude: 32.568611). [1]
Kampala Hill was the nucleus of the city of Kampala. When the city expanded to other neighbouring hills, the place began to be referred to as Old Kampala, a name that is still in use today, 120 years later. As of June 2014 [update] , the hill is a mixed commercial and residential neighbourhood with high-rise apartment complexes, shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, bed-and-breakfast establishments and several motels. The neighbourhood is a beehive of activity, both during the week and on weekends. [2]
Before the arrival of the British, Kampala Hill, along with the neighbouring environs, was a favourite hunting ground of the King of Buganda. The area was particularly rich with game, especially impala, a type of African antelope. The word Impala, most probably comes from the Zulu language. The British referred to the hill as the Hill of the Impala. The Luganda translation comes to Akasozi K'empala. Through repeated usage, the name of the place eventually became Kampala. The name then came to apply to the entire city.
Frederick Lugard, a British mercenary in the pay of Imperial British East Africa Company arrived in Uganda in the 1890s, built his fort on top of the hill. The original fort was relocated to a different site on the hill in 2003, to accommodate the largest mosque in Uganda, with a seating capacity of 15,000 people, built with monetary assistance from Libya. [3] The completed mosque was opened officially in June 2007. [4]
The following points of interest are located on or near Kampala Hill:
Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Rubaga Division.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is a cabinet-level government ministry responsible for the implementation and management of Uganda's foreign policy and international activity.
Nsambya is a hill in the center of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. The name also refers to the upscale and middle-class neighborhoods that have been developed on the hill and its slopes.
Mengo is a hill in Rubaga Division, Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The name also applies to the neighborhood on that hill.
Nakasero is a hill and neighborhood in the centre of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Nakasero is important to Uganda's economy and politics, as it is home to Kampala's central business district and several government offices, including the Ugandan Parliament Buildings.
Rubaga Division, also Lubaga Division, is one of the divisions that makes up the city of Kampala, Uganda. The division takes its name from Rubaga, where the division headquarters are located.
Namirembe is a hill in Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. It is also a common name given to girls in several Baganda clans. Namirembe comes from the Luganda word "mirembe" meaning peace. Namirembe loosely translates into Full of Peace. Legend has it that this hill was a gathering place for celebrating peace or war victories.
Kibuli is a hill in the centre of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. The area is a suburb in the city centre and its name also applies to the commercial and residential neighbourhoods on that hill.
Wandegeya is a neighborhood within the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest metropolitan area. The name is derived from the weaver birds,, which used to inhabit the area prior to the 1990s.
Naakulabye, also Nakulabye, is a neighborhood within the city of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda.
Kampala Speke Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East African Community.
Mengo Hospital, also known as Namirembe Hospital, is a private, faith-based, community, teaching hospital in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.
The Bulange (boo-lah-ngeh) is a building in Uganda. It houses the Lukiiko (Parliament) of the Kingdom of Buganda. The Kabaka of Buganda and the Katikkiro of Buganda also maintain offices in the building. The building serves as the administrative headquarters of the Buganda Kingdom.
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kampala, Buganda, Uganda.
Mengo Senior School, also known as Mengo SS, is a comprehensive, mixed day school in Kampala. As of March 2020, it had over 5300 students, 250 teachers, 28 technical staff, and more than 30 support staff.
Saint Paul's Cathedral Namirembe, commonly referred to as Namirembe Cathedral, is the oldest cathedral in Uganda. It serves as the provincial cathedral of the Anglican Church of Uganda and the diocesan cathedral for Namirembe Diocese, the first diocese to be founded in the Church of Uganda province in 1890. Between 1919 and 1967, the Cathedral served as the provincial cathedral of the Church of Uganda, Anglican Communion. In the 1960s, the headquarters of the Church of Uganda moved to All Saints Church in Nakasero then moved back to Namirembe later.
Saint Mary's Cathedral Rubaga, commonly referred to as Rubaga Cathedral, is the parent cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala, the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in Uganda. It is the home church of Archbishop of Kampala.
Kampala Central Division is one of the five divisions that make up Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The city's five divisions are: (a) Kampala Central Division (b) Kawempe Division (c) Lubaga Division (d) Makindye Division and (e) Nakawa Division.
Christ The King Catholic Church, also Christ The King Church, is the parish church of Christ The King Catholic Parish in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.
All Saints' Cathedral, Kampala also known as All Saints Church Kisozi is an Anglican cathedral in Uganda. It is the seat of the bishop of Kampala, who serves concurrently as the archbishop of Uganda. The existing cathedral dates to the early 20th century, while a much larger modern cathedral building remains under construction.
