7 Hills of Kampala in Uganda

7 Hills of Kampala in Uganda : Kampala is found in the central region in Buganda kingdom and also known to be the capital city of Uganda. Kampala is covered by seven hills and that’s why the British named it the `city of seven hills` by the period uganda acquired her independence. All the 7 hills have an attraction and local name that makes them to be known and worthy a visit on Uganda safari.

Kampala city now covers 21 hills due to the steady growth and development but still maintain the original name of `city of the seven hills’ because of the various history and stories attached to them which are amazing. These hills include Mengo hill, Rubaga hill, Kampala hill, Mulago hill, Namirembe hill, Nakasero hill and Makerere hill.

Traditionally the kingdoms in uganda always wanted to have their palaces established on various hills for example the kabaka palace which is situated on mengo hill the kingdom of tooro located on a hill in fort portal and lastly the Kampala hills has many breathtaking attractions.

BELOW ARE THE 7 HILLS OF KAMPALA

MENGO HILL

The name mengo is derived from a Luganda word called `Emmengo’ which means grinding stones. Mengo hill is where the 1900 Buganda agreement was sgned between the British colonialists and the kabaka of Buganda to form a brutish protectorate.

The hill is found just next to Namirembe hill and it rises to 4000 meters above sea level. The mengo hill holds the Buganda kingdom property known as lubiri which means the kabaka’s palace which sits on 4 square kilometers.

Historically this is where kabaka Mwanga admired to put his place and as time went by, he decided to put a palace and established his capital after the death of his father in 1884. Besides the hill is a man-made lake which was constructed after the orders of kabaka Mwanga who also took part in the digging process. The lake was made with the intentions of linking it to Lake Victoria. Currently it’s the largest man-made lake in uganda.

NAMIREMBE HILL

At Namirembe hill that’s where the oldest cathedral is found and is known as Saint Paul’s cathedral where the first diocese of the Anglican communion was founded. The hill rises to 4,134ft above the sea level

The hill acquired the name from a Luganda word called `Mirembe’ which means peace and thus the hill was called the hill of peace. This makes it worthy of a visit in order to learn about its history of how it was built 5 times also its architectural construction and the amazing view of Kampala.

RUBAGA HILL

Rubaga hill is found next to Namirembe and mengo hill and it rises so a height of 4,134 ft above sea level. At rubaga that’s where kabaka Muteesa 1 received the French white fathers at his palace.

7 Hills of Kampala in Uganda

After the death of kabaka Muteesa, his son Mwanga took over power where the palace was still at rubaga hill but it was later struck by lightening and the king had to shift to mengo hill. He then gave the two hills of Namirembe and Rubaga to the Christian fraternity in order to establish their church. The name rubaga comes from a Luganda word kubaga which means to plan. Historically the Baganda used to plan their wars and that’s made the hill called rubaga.

Currently the hill is a home for the catholic fraternity. On the same hill we find a place for the cardinal, rubaga hospital, rubaga girls’ school and a home for the elderly.

MAKERERE HILL

Makerere hill is located 3kilometers from town along kawempe road. It rises to a height of 4,188ft above sea level and it’s known as the hill of knowledge due to the Makerere university which is found on the top.

Makerere university is known to be the first public university which started in 1922 and is now the best university in Africa

Historically, the hill was bwaise and later changed to Makerere. This was because the kabaka of Buganda failed to go back to his palace in mengo because he was with a woman at that place. He got amazed at how dawn fell before he returned to the palace and described it as ganno Makerere meaning it had dawned without him knowing. Thus, the hill was named as Makerere.

MULAGO HILL

Mulago hill is on a height of 4,134ft above sea level and neighbors the national museum and Makerere hill.

The name Mulago was got from a Luganda word `omulago’ which means a local herb that was grown on the hill by a kabaka called Ssuna who used it for protecting him from spirits. He also established his palace at the hill, 7 Hills of Kampala in Uganda.

Currently the hill has the national referral hospital which is the largest and receives several patients on a daily basis.

NAKASERO HILL

The hill is located in the Centre of Kampala and rises to a height of 4,134ft above sea level. Nakasero hill is where the colonial masters settled at the upper side and its where the luxurious hotels are located plus a number of embassies

Hotels like serena, Sheraton, Speke, and grand imperial hotel. Then embassies such as embassy of the republic of South Sudan, Nigerian high commission, south African embassy, embassy of France, embassy of Finland among others, 7 Hills of Kampala in Uganda.

OLD KAMPALA HILL

The name Kampala was got from the name of the African antelopes known as impala which lived on the hill in the 19^th century. The old Kampala hill was called `Akasozi ka impala’ meaning the hill of impalas and thus the name Kampala. When captain Lugard in 1890s selected the hill, a fort was constructed but later the remains were removed as the construction of the mosque started which was commissioned by Iddi Amin Dada.

A mosque was later opened in 2007 which was gifted to uganda by Gaddafi the president of Libya. It’s known to be the biggest in uganda and second biggest in Africa. It was named the national mosque and named Gaddafi Mosque

Other hills of Kampala today include kibuli,mutungo,mbuya,Nsambya,mutundwe,Kireka,naguru among others making up the 21 hills and thus the name 21 hills of Kampala.