Mbale
Location
Mbale is approximately 225 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on an all-weather tarmac highway. The city lies at an average elevation of 1,156 metres (3,793 ft) above sea level.
The coordinates of the city are 1°04'50.0"N, 34°10'30.0"E (Latitude:1.080556; Longitude:34.175000). The city is on the railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa, is approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi), north-east of Mbale, by road.
Population
According to the 2002 census, the population of Mbale was about 71,130. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 81,900. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 91,800. The 2014 population census put the population at 96,189.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 71,130 | — |
| 2010 | 81,900 | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 91,800 | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 96,189 | +4.8% |
| source: | ||
Twinning
Mbale was formally linked with the town of Pontypridd, Wales through local and regional twinning ceremonies in 2005. The link was intended to associate professionals and organizations in Pontypridd with their counterparts in Africa, under the auspices of the charity known as the Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust.
Points of interest
The following points of interest lie within the city limits or close to its borders:
Administrative
- The headquarters of Mbale District Administration
- The offices of Mbale City Council
Public facilities
- Mbale central market
- Mbale Municipal Stadium
Military
- The headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Uganda People's Defense Force
Health facilities
- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital - a 400-bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health
- CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda - a 42-bed private neurosurgery hospital, owned and administered by CURE International
Educational institutions
- Uganda Christian University College - Headquartered at Mukono UCU, formerly Bishop Tucker Theological College
- Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences - the medical school of Busitema University, a public institution of higher education
- The main campus of the Islamic University in Uganda
- The Mbale Campus of Uganda Martyrs University - a private university, whose headquarters are located in Nkozi, Mpigi District
- LivingStone International University - a private university affiliated with the fellowship of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
- Mbale School of Clinical Officers
Financial institutions
- Absa Bank Uganda Limited
- Bank of Africa Uganda Limited
- Mbale Currency Center
- Centenary Bank
- DFCU Bank
- Diamond Trust Bank (Uganda)
- Equity Bank Uganda Limited
- Finance Trust Bank
- Housing Finance Bank
- KCB Bank Uganda Limited
- National Social Security Fund
- PostBank Uganda
- Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
City status
In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Mbale, city status effective July 2021. In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.
Notable people
- John Wasikye: Anglican Bishop, was Murdered After Liberation of Kampala, April 11, 1979
- James Wapakhabulo: Politician
- Lydia Wanyoto: Lawyer, politician and diplomat.
- Nathan Nandala Mafabi: Ugandan accountant, lawyer, and politician. He represents Budadiri County West in Sironko District in the Parliament of Uganda. From May 2011 until January 2014, he was the leader of the opposition.
- Walter de Sousa Field Hockey player for Indian hockey team. He was born in Mbale, Uganda and spent his early childhood here where his father was working under the colonial administration.
- Dani Wadada Nabudere (15 December 1932 – 9 November 2011) was a Ugandan academic, Pan-Africanist, lawyer, politician, author, political scientist, and development specialist.
See also
- Gisu people
- Gisu language
- Mbale Kenya
- Railway stations in Uganda
- Bugisu Co-operative Union Limited
- List of cities and towns in Uganda