Namirembe Hill

Namirembe is a hill in Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. It is also a common name given to girls in several Baganda clans.[1] Namirembe comes from the Luganda word “mirembe” meaning “peace”.[2] Namirembe loosely translates into "Full of Peace". Legend has it that this hill was a gathering place for celebrating peace or war victories.

For other uses, see Namirembe (disambiguation).
Namirembe
Namirembe
Map of Kampala showing the location of Namirembe
Coordinates: 00°18′54″N 32°33′34″E
CountryUganda
RegionCentral Region
DistrictKampala Capital City Authority
DivisionLubaga Division
Elevation
1,260 m (4,130 ft)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)

Location

Namirembe is bordered by Makerere to the north-east, Old Kampala to the east, Mengo to the south-east, Lubaga to the south-west, Lungujja to the west, the Kasubi Tombs to the north-west, and Naankulabye to the north. The distance, by road, from the central business district of Kampala to Namirembe is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km). The coordinates of Namirembe Hill are 0°18'54.0"N, 32°33'34.0"E (Latitude:0.315000; Longitude:32.559444).[3]

St. Paul's Cathedral Namirembe
Main article: Namirembe Cathedral

Namirembe Hill has been the location of the main Anglican place of worship in Buganda since Bishop Alfred Tucker established the offices of the Diocese of Eastern Equatorial Africa in 1890.[4]

Namirembe is the location of St. Paul's Cathedral Namirembe. This was the main place of worship of the Anglican Church in Uganda from completion of its construction in 1919 until the 1960s when the cathedral became the seat of the Diocese of Namirembe. At that time, the headquarters of the Church of Uganda moved to All Saints Church in Nakasero but later on moved back to Namirembe. The Anglican Faith is the religion most closely associated with the Buganda Monarchy since the end of the religious wars of the 1890s.[5]

Overview

The hill rises 1,260 metres (4,130 ft) above sea level. It is adjacent to Mengo Hill, the seat of the Buganda government. The history of the two hills is intertwined, geographically, politically, and religiously.[5]

The 300-bed Mengo Hospital is a community hospital affiliated with the Church of Uganda. It is also known as Namirembe Hospital. It was the first hospital in Uganda and was started by Albert Ruskin Cook in May 1897.[5]

At the north-western base of Namirembe Hill are the Buganda royal burial grounds known as the Kasubi Tombs. It is here that the last four kings of Buganda have been buried.[5]

The Bulange Complex includes Buganda’s parliament building, known as the "Lukiiko", The complex is on Namirembe Hill, just across from Mengo Hill. The Mengo Palace on Mengo Hill is connected to the Bulange Complex by a straight road, about a mile long, called the "Kabaka Anjagala Road" ("The King Loves Me" in English). About halfway, the straight road is intersected by Lubaga Road. There is a roundabout for the use of ordinary travelers. However, there is a strait-way through the roundabout with a gate. That is for the exclusive use of the Kabaka when moving between the palace and the parliament building. Tradition forbids the king from going round the roundabout. He must travel straight when moving between the two locations.[5]

Additional points of interest

The following additional points of interest lie on or near Namirembe Hill:

  • Headquarters of the Province of the Church of Uganda.
  • Residence of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.
  • Residence of the Bishop of Namirembe Anglican Diocese.
  • Mengo Senior School - a public mixed day school.
  • Sanyu Babies Home - An orphanage managed by a non-governmental organization.
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See also

References
  1. Nsimbi, M. B. (April 1980). "Munger Africana Library Notes: Luganda names, clans and totems". California Institute of Technology. 0047-8350.
  2. Barlas, Robert (2000). Uganda. New York: Marshall Cavendish. p. 86. ISBN 0-7614-0981-5. OCLC 41299243.
  3. Google. "Location of Namirembe Hill At Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. Kampala (Uganda). City Council. Kampala city handbook. Published by Gava Associated Services. LCCN 2008346872. OCLC 231694517.
  5. UTG. "Profile And History of Namirembe Hill". Uganda Travel Guide (UTG). Retrieved 21 June 2014.

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