Kampala Hill

"Old Kampala" redirects here. For the city of Kampala, see Kampala.

Kampala Hill
Gaddafi Mosque
Nickname(s): Old Kampala
Kampala Hill Map of Kampala showing the location of Kampala Hill.
Coordinates: 00°18′55″N 32°34′07″E / 0.31528°N 32.56861°E / 0.31528; 32.56861
Country	Uganda
Region	Central Uganda
District	Kampala Capital City Authority
Division	Kampala Central Division
Elevation	1,210 m (3,970 ft)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Kampala Hill, commonly referred to as Old Kampala, is a hill in the center of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

Location

Kampala Hill is bordered by Makerere to the north, Nakasero to the east, Mengo to the south and Namirembe to the west. The coordinates of the hill are 00°18′55"N, 32°34′07"E (Latitude: 0.3153; Longitude: 32.5685). When calculating distances between Kampala and other places, Kampala Hill is often taken as the starting point.

History

Before the arrival of the British, Kampala Hill, along with the neighboring environs, was a favorite 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, the British soldier who 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.^[1] The completed mosque was opened officially in June 2007.^[2]

Overview

Kampala hill was the nucleus of the city of Kampala. When the city expanded to other neighboring hills, the place began to be referred to as Old Kampala, a name that is still in use today, 120 years later. As of 2010, the hill is a mixed commercial and residential neighborhood with high-rise apartment complexes, shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, bed-and-breakfast establishments and several motels. The neighborhood is a beehive of activity, both during the week and on weekeds.^[3]

Landmarks

Landmarks on Kampala Hill or near the hill include:

• The site where St. Matiya Mulumba was murdered on 30 May 1886 - One of the Uganda Martyrs
• The Uganda Moslem Supreme Council Mosque (also known as Gaddafi Mosque) - The largest mosque in Uganda; seating capacity 15,000.^[4]
• Fort Lugard - Built in the 1890s, by Lord Lugard, the first military administrator of the British East Africa Company
• Old Kampala Hospital - A private hospital
• Old Kampala Senior Secondary School - A non-residential public high school
• A branch of Diamond Trust Bank (Uganda) Limited
• Nana Hostel - An upscale residential hostel for affluent university students
• Old Kampala Police Station
• The Headquarters of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council
• Nakivubo Stadium - Seating capacity 25,000, located in the valley between Kampala Hill, Nakasero and Mengo

See also

• Kampala
• Nakasero
• Mengo
• Namirembe
• Kampala District

References

1. ^ Uganda National Mosque Built with Libyan Financing
2. ^ Old Kampala Mosque Opened in 2007
3. ^ Overview of Kampala Hill
4. ^ About Old Kampala Mosque

External links

• About Kampala Hill

Coordinates: 00°18′55″N 32°34′07″E / 0.31528°N 32.56861°E / 0.31528; 32.56861