Masaka

Masaka is a city in the Buganda Region of Uganda, west of Lake Victoria.[2] The city is the headquarters of Masaka District.[3]

For other uses, see Masaka (disambiguation).
Masaka

Masaka
Masaka in 2014
Masaka
Location in Uganda
Coordinates: 00°20′28″S 31°44′10″E
Country Uganda
RegionBuganda Region
DistrictMasaka District
Elevation
1,288 m (4,226 ft)
Population
 (2014 Census)
 • Total103,829[1]

Location

Masaka is approximately 132 kilometres (82 mi) to the south-west of Kampala on the highway to Mbarara.[4] The city is close to the Equator. The coordinates of Masaka are 0°20'28.0"S, 31°44'10.0"E (Latitude:-0.341111; Longitude:31.736111).[5] Masaka lies at an average elevation of 1,288 metres (4,226 ft) above sea level.[6]

History

Masaka was founded as a township in 1953. It became a town council in 1958 and a municipality in 1968.[7]

Masaka was a strategically important location during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–79), and was accordingly garrisoned by Uganda Army troops. These soldiers terrorized the local civilians, and most fled the town. On 23–24 February 1979, the Tanzania People's Defence Force and allied Ugandan rebels attacked the settlement, resulting in the Battle of Masaka. The town was bombarded with artillery, and fell to the Tanzanian-led forces after light resistance. The Tanzanians subsequently levelled much of the town to take revenge for atrocities committed by the Uganda Army during its previous invasion of northwestern Tanzania.[8]

In course of the Ugandan Bush War, Masaka again suffered from fighting. The town was garrisoned by the Uganda National Liberation Army which served as Uganda's national army at the time. In late 1985, National Resistance Army rebels laid siege to the town. After heavy combat, Masaka's garrison surrendered on 10 December 1985.[9]

In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Masaka, city status effective July 2023.[2][10] In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.[11]

Population

According to the 2002 national census, the population of Masaka was about 67,800. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 73,300. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 74,100.[12] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 103,829.[1]

Overview
Maize plantation in Masaka

In 2016, before the metropolis attained city status, Masaka occupied 58 square kilometres (22 sq mi). It was divided into three administrative divisions, (a) Katwe-Butego (b) Kimaanya-Kyabakuza and (c) Nyendo-Ssenyange. It is further subdivided into 54 zones.[7]

The annual Uganda Marathon event takes place in June, the race route loops twice through the town and the funds generated support local employment and community development.

Points of interest

The following points of interest are located in Masaka or close to its borders: (a) the offices of Masaka City Council (b) Masaka central market (c) the headquarters of the Mechanized Brigade of the Uganda People's Defense Force[13] (d) the main campus of Muteesa I Royal University[14] (d) Western Campus of Kampala University (e) St. Henry's College Kitovu.[15]

Other points of interest include (f) the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka[16] (g) Lake Nabugabo, 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the east of downtown Masaka.[17] (h) Bukakkata, on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 36 kilometres (22 mi) east of Masaka.[18] (i) Masaka Regional Referral Hospital (j) Masaka Currency Center, a currency storage and processing facility owned and operated by the Bank of Uganda, Uganda's central bank.[19] (k) A branch of the National Social Security Fund.

Notable people
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See also

Photos

References
  1. 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 22 February 2015.
  2. Franklin Draku (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. Fields, Megan (December 2009). "Masaka: Big Shoes, Small Feet". Wordpress.com (Megan Fields Blog). Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. Globefeed.com (1 June 2019). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Masaka, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. Google (1 June 2019). "Location of Masaka City At Google Maps" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. Floodmap (2018). "Elevation of Masaka, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. Martins Ssekweyama (15 June 2016). "Masaka Town Expands To Get City Status". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, pp. 30–31.
  9. Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, pp. 49–50.
  10. Isa Aliga, and Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa (10 June 2019). "Kabaka Faults Government On Delayed Masaka City Status". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  11. Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam (5 November 2019). "Cabinet Includes Masaka, Mbale Among New Cities To Be Operational In 2020". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  12. "Estimated Population of Masaka In 2002, 2010 & 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  13. Google (1 June 2019). "Location of UPDF Mechanized Brigade Barracks" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. Campus Times Reporter (15 January 2014). "Courses offered at Muteesa I Royal University". Kampala: Campus Times Uganda. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  15. Google (1 June 2019). "Location of St. Henry's College Kitovu, Masaka, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. David M. Cheney (June 2019). "About the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  17. Lake Nabugabo Terrace View Beach (2014). "Location of Lake Nabugabo". Lake Nabugabo Terrace View Beach. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. Globefeed.com (1 June 2019). "Distance between Masaka, Uganda and Bukakata, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. "Bank of Uganda Maintains A Currency Center In Masaka". Bank of Uganda. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

Works cited
  • Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2015). Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994. Solihull: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-910294-55-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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