Kampala, the bustling capital and largest city of Uganda, rests on a series of scenic hills at an elevation of about 1,190 meters (3,900 feet). Located near the shores of Lake Victoria, it serves as the country’s political, commercial, and cultural heart. The city is also a key transportation hub—connected by rail to Kenya’s port city of Mombasa, with ferry access via Port Bell and international flights arriving through nearby Entebbe International Airport.

Originally selected in 1890 by Captain Frederick Lugard as the headquarters of the Imperial British East Africa Company, Kampala has grown into a dynamic metropolis. It lies at the heart of Uganda’s most productive agricultural region and plays a vital role in exporting coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, and sugar.

Despite being second to Jinja in industrial output, Kampala hosts a variety of enterprises—from food processing and furniture workshops to metalworks and tractor assembly plants. It also serves as the headquarters for major Ugandan companies and acts as a central marketplace for the Lake Victoria Basin.

Culturally rich, Kampala is home to Makerere University—one of Africa’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning, established in 1922. The Uganda Museum and an array of religious landmarks reflect the city’s diverse heritage.