Kampala is the seat of the government of Uganda as well as its commercial capital. The city sprawls over more than 20 hills and is one of Africa's most rapidly developing urban centres. Kampala is not very far from Lake Victoria, and with good value Kampala hotels the city is a good base to explore the lake. Other attractions include the National Museum, Lake Victoria, Kabaka's Palace and Africa's only Baha'i temple. Entebbe is a 37 km drive away from Kampala and is located on the shores of Lake Victoria. Its international airport makes Entebbe the main access point for visitors to Uganda. This charming town, with a range of Entebbe hotels, is famous for its relaxed atmosphere and shady avenues, and visitors can enjoy its wildlife centre and botanical garden.
Kampala and Entebbe are warm, friendly cities, quite different from many busy, cosmopolitan centres of the world that have lost their human touch.
Kampala's friendly residents always seem to have time for a smile and a cheerful greeting, and its ethnic traditions have not been lost in the rush to modernise. Rather, they are celebrated as seasonal festivals, Kampala events or ceremonies which keep the past alive. Don't be surprised if you see spontaneous dances and music on the streets - that's the spirit of Kampala.
Kampala's architecture is an eclectic blend of colonial, Indian and contemporary buildings and are ideally explored on a Kampala tour . Although it suffered severe damage during recent political unrest, the city has bounced back and is once again buzzing with its customary energy and there is enough to see and do in Kampala to keep you busy during your stay.
Modern Kampala has a thriving nightlife with casinos, chic Kampala restaurants and nightclubs. Markets selling African bric-a-brac for souvenir collectors are aplenty. Kampala is also safe, unlike many other African cities. It has developed into the region's travel hub, though many tourists travelling independently take the overland route from Kenya.
A wide range of Kampala accommodation is on offer, from international hotel chains equipped with the latest in conference facilities, to simple and comfortable options for budget travellers. You can use our Kampala and Entebbe map to choose your hotel in Kampala or hotel in Entebbe based on its location. Thanks to the city's multicultural make-up, a variety of cuisines such as Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Thai have established themselves here, showcasing the varied produce of the region and freshwater fish from its lakes.
Like many cities in the world with a rich, cultural past, Kampala's history is a mix of factual records and folklore. Local myth has it that the city area was once a hilly region with swamps all over, making it the perfect habitat for the Impala and other species of antelope. The slopes provided them with grass and when thirsty, they could come down to drink water at the swamps. The Kabaka - or ruler of Buganda - built his palace right here, amidst this wealth of wildlife and used it as his hunting ground.
The British landed here towards the end of the 19th century; from here onwards, recorded history is available. It was they who gave the name ‘Impala' to a particular species of antelope, as a result of which the region came to be referred to as the Hill of the Impala. In Luganda, the indigenous language, this translated as ‘Kasozi k'empala' (Kasozi means hill), which eventually became Kampala. The particular hill which was associated with the Impala was where Captain Frederick Lugard of the Imperial British East African Company established a base in 1890. Today, this spot is named Old K'la. It served as administrative headquarters of the Company (as well as Uganda) until 1894, when the British Protectorate shifted its seat of administration to Entebbe.
In 1962, Uganda became independent and Kampala was once again declared the capital. In the years preceding independence, the tiny 19 sq km hamlet had expanded to cover seven hills. Hence its name, ‘City of Seven Hills'. Modern Kampala has grown even further to cover as many as 21 hills. However, the seven original hills are Rubaga, Mengo, Makerere, Nakasero, Namirembe, Kololo and Old K'la.
Entebbe consists of Old Entebbe and Kitoro suburb, which is nearer the airport. Kitoro is where all the action is, with tourist shops, Entebbe hotels, supermarkets and bars. The suburb is also home to government employees. Taking an Entebbe tour is the ideal way of exploring the city and its surrounds.
Entebbe, in the native language Luganda, means ‘seat' or ‘chair'. According to an ancient legend, a Buganda chieftain called Mugula had a throne or seat sculpted out of the rock near the modern airport. The site has long been submerged but the name lives on.
Entebbe became an administrative and trade centre for the British in 1893, when Sir Gerald Portal, a trade commissioner, set up base here. Port Bell later became Kampala's harbour. Though the harbour has fallen into disuse, a jetty still exists, which was once used by ferries operating on Lake Victoria.
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