Kampala

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Kampala is, besides capital of Uganda, also the largest city in the country. The city, built on seven hills, is 1189 meters above sea level, near Lake Victoria. Kampala is also the economic and administrative center of Uganda and everything begins and ends here. After the civil war, in which it had a very hard time, the city rose from its ashes and can now be described as a modern and active city.

It has a lively student group and the nightlife is good. As a result of the returning Asians there is a lot of commerce and trade and it can certainly continue as one of East African most fast growing cities. It has casinos, nightclubs and good restaurants. In addition, the city is relatively safe (especially for Africa) and green. Biggest sights are the Kasubi tombs, the Uganda museum and the buildings of the Boegandese Kingdom.

Finally it’s a big transport hub voor sites outside town and other cities. 

Before the arrival of the British, the area now called Kampala was one of the favorite hunting grounds of Mutesa I, the Kabaka, the king of Boeganda. The hilly area, with richly vegetated wetlands, lent itself well to the habitat of the impala and other antelopes. When the British arrived in the region they called them the Impala Hills.

The present Kampala saw the light around 1880, when it was the capital of Boeganda. Ten years later the English built a fort on the Impala Hill and controlled the area from there. In 1962, when the country became independent, Kampala became the capital of Uganda. That was the responsibility of Entebbe.

In the conflict that led to the deposition of Idi Amin in 1979 (Ugandan-Tanzanian war) and the civil war afterwards, the city was badly damaged. The misery really came to an end when the army of the national resistance (under leadership of Yoweri Museveni) took over the city in 1986. Since then the city has been rebuilt with many new buildings such as banks, hotels, covered shopping centers, schools and hospitals.

Kampala is severely affected by the AIDS issue. According to the Ministry of Health, 9.2% of adults and 47% of prostitutes are infected with HIV.

The Entebbe international airport is situated about 35 kilometers southwest of the city, while Port Bell, a port on Lake Victoria, is located about 10 kilometers south of Kampala. The most important transport modes in Kampala are Boda-bodas (motorcycles), taxis (minibuses), private cars and trucks. Kampala's main bus station is just below the Kampala Road on the corner of Allen Road and Luwum Str.

Kampala - Butogota (Bwindi National Park): there is a daily bus around 06:00 - 06:30 from the bus station (bus stop). The ride will take almost the entire day (count on a arrival of about 18:00) and costs 14,000 Ush. The bus company is "Silverline".

• Name: Nakivubo guesthouse

Address: Nakivubo place

Price: 10,000 Ush

Phone nr. : 259088

Content:

This hostel is situated among many other (competitors) in the Nakivubo place opposite the market with the same name. The hostel is cleaned daily and there is a rooftop restaurant. The rooms are certainly not super but okay - you do have your own toilet and shower. There is hot water.