The city of seven hills
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, and is said to have been built on seven hills;
• Kasubi Hill, site of the Kasubi Tombs, the tombs of the Kabakas, the Ugandan kings.
• Mengo Hill, site of the present Kabaka's Palace and the Headquarters of the Buganda Court of Justice.
• Kibuli Hill, home to the Kibuli Mosque.
• Namirembe Hill, home to the Namirembe Protestant Cathedral.
• Rubaga Hill, site of the Rubaga Catholic Cathedral, headquarters of the White Fathers.
• Nsambya, site of the Nsambya Hospital.
• The little hill of Impala, once the hunting grounds of the Ugandan kings
Other features of the city include the Ssezibwa Falls, Ugandan National Theatre, St. Balikuddembe Market (formerly Owino Market) and Nakasero Market. Kampala is also known for its nightlife, which includes a casino. The main campus of Makerere University, one of East and Central Africa's premier institutes of higher learning, can be found in the Makerere Hill area of the City. Kampala is also home to the headquarters of the East African Development Bank.
Airport
Entebbe International Airport is located at Entebbe, 35 km (22 miles) away, while Port Bell on the shore of Lake Victoria is 10 km (7 miles) away.
History
Before the arrival of the British, Mutesa I the Kabaka (king) of Buganda had chosen the area that was to become Kampala as one of his favourite hunting grounds. The area was made up of numerous rolling hills and lush wetlands. It was an ideal breeding ground for various game, particularly a species of antelope, the Impala (Aepyceros melampus ). The British called the area the hills of the Impala. Translated to Luganda it became "kasozi ka Impala". With time, local usage took to referring to the Kabaka's hunting expeditions as "Kabaka agenze e ka´empala ("The Kabaka has gone to Ka'mpala"). Eventually the hills became known as Kampala. The city grew as the capital of the Buganda kingdom, from which several buildings survive, including the Kasubi Tombs (built in 1881), the Buganda Parliament, the Buganda Court of Justice and the Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site.
Ethnic make-up
Kampala has a diverse ethnic population, although the Baganda - the local tribe - make up over 60% of the Greater Kampala region. Other large ethnic groups include; the Banyankole, Basoga, Bafumbira, Batoro, Bakiga, Alur, Banyoro, Iteso and Acholi.