Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, and is said to have been built on seven hills;
• Kasubi Hill, site of the Kasubi Tombs, the tombs of the Kabakas, the Ugandan kings.
• Mengo Hill, site of the present Kabaka's Palace and the Headquarters of the Buganda Court of Justice.
• Kibuli Hill, home to the Kibuli Mosque.
• Namirembe Hill, home to the Namirembe Protestant Cathedral.
• Rubaga Hill, site of the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral, headquarters of the White Fathers.
• Nsambya, site of the Nsambya Hospital.
• The little hill of Impala, once the hunting grounds of the Ugandan kings
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. 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.
Airport
Entebbe International Airport is located at Entebbe, 35 km (22 miles) away, while Port Bell on the shore of Lake Victoria is 10 km (7 miles) away.
History
Before the arrival of the British, Mutesa I the Kabaka (king) of Buganda had chosen the area that was to become Kampala as one of his favourite hunting grounds. The area was made up of numerous rolling hills and lush wetlands. It was an ideal breeding ground for various game, particularly a species of antelope, the Impala (Aepyceros melampus). The British called the area the hills of the Impala. Translated to Luganda it became "kasozi ka Impala". With time, local usage took to referring to the Kabaka's hunting expeditions as "Kabaka agenze e ka´empala ("The Kabaka has gone to Ka'mpala"). Eventually the hills became known as Kampala. 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.
Ethnic make-up
Kampala has a diverse ethnic population, although the Baganda - the local tribe - make up over 60% of the Greater Kampala region. Other large ethnic groups include; the Banyankole, Basoga, Bafumbira, Batoro, Bakiga, Alur, Banyoro, Iteso and Acholi.
The Kampala City Tour, a comprehensive tour of this bustling city that also takes in the African Craft Village and the National Museum.
The Kasubi Tombs, 5 kms outside the city centre standing high on Kasubi Hill are the royal tombs of the ancient Buganda kingdom, the Kabaka’s or Kasubi Tombs. Housed within a magnificent domed traditional structure made from thatch, poles and reeds are the remains of four Buganda kings. Visitors can also see a display of cultural artefacts, weapons and musical instruments.
The Uganda Wildlife Centre, a small collection of buffalo, zebra, chimpanzees, monkeys, lion antelopes, crocodiles and hyenas plus numerous birds, the centre is also in Entebbe.
The Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, the site where in 1886 twenty newly converted Christians were burnt alive by Kabaka Mwanga II whose order to ‘renounce the white man’s religion’ they had disobeyed.
Entebbe
Visits to Entebbe, which offers a range of hotels, a popular beach and numerous boating excursions. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens, these 2.6 sq km gardens were founded in 1898 and offer a wide selection of exotic flora, small mammals, monkeys and excellent bird-spotting.
Jinja
Visits to Jinja, the source of the Nile. Uganda’s second largest city, Jinja lies 80km from Kampala and offers numerous leisure options (to include white-water rafting and bungy jumping on the Nile) a yacht club and the renowned Jinja Golf Course.
Visits to the Owen Falls, Sezibwa Falls and Bujagali Falls on the Nile. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The Mabira Forest, a virgin tract of indigenous forest, which offers hundreds of butterflies, 300 bird species, guided walks and the chance of seeing both red-tailed and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
What to see and do beyond Kampala
The ‘Land of Lakes’
25 per cent of Uganda’s entire surface is covered by a glittering skein of lakes and rivers, earning her the title ‘The Land of Lakes’. As to scenery, Uganda has been dubbed ‘The Switzerland of Africa’ thanks to its impressive mountain ranges, which include the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’, the snow-capped Ruwenzoris, and the enormous and immeasurably ancient Mount Elgon which, at 4,324 metres is all that remains of a massive volcano, now extinct, which forms the boundary between Uganda and Kenya.
The national parks and reserves
The national parks of Uganda (11, 023 sq km) have been set aside as wildlife and botanical sanctuaries. There are 10 national parks and a number of game reserves. The main national parks are; Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga Gorilla, Mount Elgon, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Ruwenzori, and Semuliki.
Fauna and avifauna
Uganda offers 50 large mammal species all members of the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhinoceros) and she is particularly famous for her primates – especially the mountain gorillas (western lowland, eastern lowland and mountain). There are also 1000 species of birds and 300 species of butterfly.
National museums and historical sites
The Uganda National Museum, Kampala; Bigo Bya Mugenyi, Kabaka Mwanga’s Lake, The Kakoro Rock Paintings, Kamukazi, The Kasubi Tombs, Masaka Hill, The Mparo Tombs, Mubende Hill, he Munsa Earthworks, The Namugongo Shrine, The Nkokonjeru Tomb, Ntusi, Numagabwe Cave, The Nyero Rock Paintings.