Mbarara

City in Uganda

Mbarara Roud About Mbarara City Amahembe Gente(bull) in Mbarara city

Mbarara City is a city in the Western Region of Uganda and the second largest city in Uganda after Kampala. The city is divided into 6 boroughs of Kakoba Division, Kamukuzi Division, Nyamitanga Division, Biharwe Division, Kakiika Division, Nyakayojo Division. It is the main commercial centre of most of south western districts of Uganda and the site of the district headquarters.[1][2] In May 2019, the Uganda's cabinet granted Mbarara a city status, which started on 1 July 2020.[3]

## Location

[edit]

Mbarara is an important transport hub, lying west of Masaka on the road to Kabale, near Lake Mburo National Park. This is about 270 kilometres (168 mi), by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and oldest city.[4] The coordinates of the Mbarara central business district are 00 36 48S, 30 39 30E (Latitude:-0.6132; Longitude:30.6582).[5] The city lies at an average elevation at about 1,147 metres (3,763 ft) above sea level.[6]

## City Wards

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The city comprises 23 wards spread across 6 divisions and 2 constituencies.

Mbarara City Wards  Mbarara City North  | Mbarara City South

|

Kamukuzi | Kakoba
Ruharo  | Nyamityobora
Kakoma  | Katete
Nyarubanga  | Ruti
Rwemigyina  | Bugashe
Kakiika  | Katojo
Kishasha  | Kichwamba
Bunutsya  | Nyarubungo II
Nyabuhama  | Rukindo
Rwenjeru  | Rwakishakizi
Biharwe East  |
Nyakinengo  |
Biharwe West  |
Bubaare  |

## Population

[edit]

In 2002, the national census estimated the population of the town at 69,400. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 82,000 in 2010. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 83,700.[7] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 195,013.[8]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

1969| 16,078| —
1980| 23,255| +44.6%
1991| 41,031| +76.4%
2002| 69,363| +69.1%
2014| 195,318| +181.6%
2020| 221,300| +13.3%
source:[9]

## Climate

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Mbarara has tropical savanna climate (Aw). Between the driest and wettest months, the difference in precipitation is 94 mm | 4 inch. The variation in annual temperature is around 2.4 °C | 4.3 °F. The month with the highest relative humidity is November (76.93%). The month with the lowest relative humidity is July (53.76%). The month with the highest number of rainy days is October (22.37 days). The month with the lowest number of rainy days is July (3.67 days). Mbarara is in the middle and the summers are that easy to define.

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Climate data for Mbarara city

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 27.1
(80.8)  | 28.1
(82.6)  | 27.2
(81.0)  | 25.8
(78.4)  | 25.5
(77.9)  | 26.2
(79.2)  | 26.9
(80.4)  | 26.3
(79.3)  | 26.2
(79.2)  | 25.7
(78.3)  | 25
(77)  | 25.6
(78.1)  | 26.3
(79.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 16.6
(61.9)  | 17.2
(63.0)  | 17.1
(62.8)  | 16.5
(61.7)  | 16.2
(61.2)  | 16
(61)  | 16
(61)  | 16.2
(61.2)  | 15.8
(60.4)  | 16
(61)  | 15.8
(60.4)  | 16
(61)  | 16.3
(61.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 39
(1.5)  | 43
(1.7)  | 74
(2.9)  | 93
(3.7)  | 72
(2.8)  | 28
(1.1)  | 15
(0.6)  | 51
(2.0)  | 74
(2.9)  | 107
(4.2)  | 109
(4.3)  | 68
(2.7)  | 773
(30.4)
Average rainy days  | 7  | 7  | 12  | 15  | 12  | 5  | 3  | 8  | 13  | 17  | 17  | 12  | 128
Mean daily sunshine hours | 10.2  | 10.3  | 9.7  | 8.9  | 9.1  | 10.0  | 10.4  | 9.9  | 9.8  | 9.4  | 9.1  | 9.7  | 9.7
Source 1: [10]
Source 2: [10]

Amahembe Gente (bull) closer view

## Growth and expansion

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Mbarara came from behind and developed to surpass Entebbe, Masaka, Gulu, and Jinja. As of 2014, Mbarara was the second-largest city in Uganda after Kampala and also second to Kampala in importance, industry, and infrastructure.[11]

Starting with 2000, modern buildings have been established including malls, arcades, plaza, and hotels. Modern hospitals have also been constructed including Mbarara Hospital, which is now a Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara Community Hospital, a private hospital located in Kyamugorani, Kakiika Division,[12] and Mayanja Memorial Hospital, located in Nyamityobora Kakoba Division.[13]

## Infrastructure

[edit]

Mbarara is the home of Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST), founded in 1989.

Mbarara at Sundown

With significance for all Ugandan cities, Mbarara was the host to the 2004 Annual General Meeting of the Uganda Local Governments Association on 1 October, which saw the changing of the organisation to its current structure in order to represent all Ugandan local governments. Mbarara remains an active member of this governmental association.[14]

## Water supply

[edit]

Due to a rapidly expanding population, the current water supply from nearby River Rwizi is insufficient to meet the future needs of Mbarara City.[15] The Ugandan government has borrowed €120 million to source water from the Kagera River purify it and pump it to Mbarara, Masaka and Isingiro District.[16][17]

## Mbarara Bypass Road

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Main article: Mbarara Northern bypass road

As part of the modernisation of the Mbarara-Katuna Road (2011 - 2015), a new northern bypass road is planned for the town. The bypass will start from the Coca-Cola Plant on Mbarara-Masaka Road at Makenke, pass through Rwebishuri and Nkokonjeru and join the Mbarara-Kabale Road at Katatumba Resort, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of the central business district. The bypass is expected to decongest the city centre by taking the long-distance trucks destined for and coming from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo off of Mbarara's city streets. The 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) road is expected to cost about €170 million (US$210 million), of which the European Union is expected to lend about €122 million (US$153 million) with the government funding the balance from its own resources.[18]

## Points of interest

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The following additional points of interest lie within the city limits or close to its edges:

### Administration

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* Offices of Mbarara City Council

### Industry

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* Nile Breweries Mbarara - A subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev[19]
* Century Bottling Company Limited, Mbarara - Manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola products[20]
*   * Mbarara Steel Plant - Owned and operated by the China Machine Building International Corporation (CMIC), a Chinese Government parastal company[21]
* Roofings Uganda limited.
* Lato Milk - a dairy product manufacturing company founded by Pearl Dairy Farms Limited[22]
* Ntake bakery and company Limited, Mbarara

### Social services

[edit]

* Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: A 600-bed, public hospital, administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health. The teaching hospital of Mbarara University School of Medicine
* Mbarara Community Hospital: A private hospital that serves the community without regard to ability to pay.[23]
* Mayanja Memorial Hospital: A private 100-bed hospital[24]
* Holy Innocents Children's Hospital: A private 100-bed general pediatric hospital, administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara
* Ruharo Mission Hospital: An Anglican-based 100 bed hospital located at Ruharo Cathedral, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), west od downtown, along the Mbarara–Ishaka Road.

### Education

[edit]

* Mbarara University of Science and Technology \- one of the nine public universities in Uganda
* University of Saint Joseph Mbarara \- Church Founded University located on Nyamtinga Hill
* Makerere University Business School Mbarara Regional Campus [25]
* Uganda Bible Institute[26]
* The Western Campus of Uganda Management Institute
* Bishop Stuart University \- a private Christian University, affiliated with the Church of Uganda located in Kakoba division
* Ntare School \- a boys-only boarding middle and high school
* Mbarara High School \- an Anglican-Church of Uganda-based residential boys-only middle and high school located at Ruharo Cathedral and is a government-aided school
* Maryhill High School\- a girls-only boarding middle and high school founded by the Daughters of Mary and government aided
* Mbarara Municipal School - government sponsored school.[5]

### Transport

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* Mbarara Airport \- A public airport, located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), by road northwest of town, along Mbarara-Ibanda highway.
* Mbarara Northern Bypass Road \- A 14 kilometres (9 mi) bypass road, circling the northern half of the city. Constructed between March 2015 and June 2018.

## See also

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* Ankole sub-region
* List of cities and towns in Uganda
* Ray G
* Robert Mwesigwa

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ampurire, Paul (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Approves Phased Creation Of Nine New Cities Beginning 2020". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
2. ^ Uganda Radio Network (21 May 2019). "Cabinet approves creation of nine cities". Daily Monitor Quoting Uganda Radio Network. Kampala. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
3. ^ mbwalatum (2020-04-29). "Parliament approves creation of 15 cities". www.parliament.go.ug. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
4. ^ "Road Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Mbarara, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
5. ^ a b "Location of Mbarara at Google Maps" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
6. ^ Floodmap (2019). "Elevation of Mbarara, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
7. ^ "Estimated Population of Mbarara Town In 2002, 2010 & 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
8. ^ UBOS (27 August 2014). "The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 21 February 2015.
9. ^ Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). "Mbarara Population Statistics" (Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics). Kampala: Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
10. ^ a b "WEATHER BY MONTH // WEATHER AVERAGES MBARARA". Retrieved December 27, 2021.
11. ^ Pelican Hotel (12 August 2014). "Why Mbarara: Features About Mbarara City". Mbarara: Pelican Hotel Mbarara. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 4 April 2015) on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
12. ^ Bifubyeka, Ebenezer (4 April 2004). "Mbarara Gets A 2 Billion Hospital". New Vision via AllAfrica.com. Kampala. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
13. ^ Simon Mugenyi (30 March 2004). "Mbarara Gets Sh5 Billion Hospital". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
14. ^ "About ULGA". Uganda Local Governments Association(ULGA). Retrieved 21 April 2014.
15. ^ Monitor Team (29 March 2019). "How are 9 municipalities prepared for city status?". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
16. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (6 February 2019). "Uganda: AFD invests €270 million in two water and sanitation projects". Paris, France: Afrik21. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
17. ^ SoftPower Reporter (6 November 2018). "Government To Borrow Over One Trillion For Water Sanitation Projects". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
18. ^ Aidah Nanyonjo (26 May 2010). "Mbarara Gets Sh459 Billion Bypass". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
19. ^ "Nile Breweries Limited – Making a difference through beer". Retrieved 2019-04-19.
20. ^ "Soft Drinks, Soda | Coca-Cola Uganda". www.coca-cola.co.ug. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
21. ^ Vision, Reporter (24 September 2012). "China To Build US$100 Million Steel Plant In Mbarara". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
22. ^ "History". Lato Milk. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
23. ^ Fred Turyakira (28 December 2010). "Private Hospitals Urged To Implement Government Programmes". New Vision. Kampala. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 20 January 2015) on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
24. ^ Mayanja Memorial Hospital Foundation (2014). "About Mayanja Memorial Hospital". Mbarara: Mayanja Memorial Hospital Foundation. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 17 October 2014) on 2014-10-17. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
25. ^ "Regional Campuses". Makerere University Business School. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
26. ^ "About Uganda Bible Institute". Uganda Bible Institute. Archived from the original on 10 June 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2014.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mbarara.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mbarara.

* Mbarara University Homepage
* Britannica Online Article About Mbarara
* Nile Breweries Raises Tetchy Land Question Over Mbarara Project
* Mbarara City\- A city web portal for Mbarara
* Mbarara News website
* Downtown Mbarara
* The Ankole Times

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

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Mbarara District

Capital: Mbarara

Counties and
sub-counties|

* Kashari
* Bubaare
* Bukiro
* Kagongi
* Kakiika
* Kashare
* Rubaya
* Rubindi
* Rwanyamahembe
* Biharwe
* Mbarara City
* Nyakayojo
* Rugando
* Kakoba
* Kamukuzi
* Nyamitanga
* Rwampara
* Bugamba
* Mwizi
* Ndaija

Towns and villages|

* Mbarara
* Kakoba

Economy|

* Absa Bank Uganda Limited
* Bank of Africa Uganda Limited
* Bank of Baroda Uganda Limited
* Cairo Bank Uganda
* Centenary Bank
* DFCU Bank
* Equity Bank Uganda Limited
* GTBank Uganda
* Finance Trust Bank
* Housing Finance Bank
* KCB Bank Uganda Limited
* Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited
* PostBank Uganda
* Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
* Standard Chartered Uganda
* United Bank for Africa
* FINCA Uganda Limited
* Pride Microfinance Limited
* GBK Dairy Products Limited
* Pearl Dairy Farms Limited
* NSSF Mbarara Complex

Notable landmarks|

* Lake Mburo National Park
* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara

Transport|

* Mbarara Airport
* Masaka–Mbarara Road
* Mbarara Northern Bypass Road

Mbarara–Ishaka Road
* Mbarara–Kikagati Road

Mbarara–Ntungamo–Kabale–Katuna Road

Health|

* Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital
* Mbarara Regional Cancer Centre
* Holy Innocents Children's Hospital

Mayanja Memorial Hospital
* Ruharo Mission Hospital

Education|

* Mbarara University
* Mbarara University School of Medicine
* Mbarara Campus of Kampala International University
* Bishop Stuart University
* Ntare School
* Mbarara High School

Notable people|

* Davis Arinaitwe
* Francis K. Butagira
* Winnie Byanyima
* Sister Charity
* Patrick Karegeya
* Ivan Koreta
* Fredrick Mugisha
* John Mugume
* Peter Mugyenyi
* David Muhoozi
* Isaac Mulindwa
* Isaac Mulindwa Jr.
* Urban Tibamanya
* Elly Tumwine
* Michael Tusiime

00°36′48″S 30°39′30″E﻿ / ﻿0.61333°S 30.65833°E﻿ / -0.61333; 30.65833
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*[±%]: Percent change
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