Quick answerKampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, with 1,797,722 people inside the city limits in 2024. The wider metropolitan area had about 6.7 million people in 2024. It is best known for the Seven hills, the Kasubi Tombs and the Uganda National Mosque. Its official languages are English and Swahili, and its currency is the Ugandan shilling.
Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, with 1,797,722 people in the 2024 census and about 6.7 million in the metropolitan area. It sits on seven hills near Lake Victoria and is home to the Kasubi Tombs and the Uganda National Mosque.
Key facts
| Country | Uganda |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,797,722 (2024) |
| Population (metro) | 6,709,900 (2024) · Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (2019 estimate) |
| Elevation | 1200 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Kampala |
| Language | English, Swahili |
| Currency | Ugandan shilling (UGX, USh) |
| Coordinates | 0.314° N, 32.581° E |
Overview
Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, on a set of hills near the northern shore of Lake Victoria. It had 1,797,722 people in the 2024 census, while the metropolitan area, including the neighbouring districts of Wakiso, Mukono, Mpigi, Buikwe and Luweero, is estimated at 6,709,900 people. The city stands at 1,200 metres above sea level, just north of the equator.
Kampala grew in the 19th century around the palace of the Kabaka, the king of Buganda, on Mengo hill, and it became the capital when Uganda became independent in 1962. Its best-known landmarks are the Kasubi Tombs, the burial place of the kings of Buganda and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, and the Uganda National Mosque, with the tallest minaret in the country.
Today Kampala is Uganda's political, commercial and cultural centre, home to the parliament, the main university and the country's busiest markets. Its hills give it a spread-out shape, and its nightlife, music and the Ndere dance troupe draw visitors from across East Africa.
What Kampala is known for
- Seven hills
- Kasubi Tombs
- Uganda National Mosque
- Lake Victoria
- Ndere Centre
- Owino Market
Landmarks
- Kasubi Tombs
- Uganda National Mosque
- Kabaka's Palace
- Uganda Museum
- Bahá'í Temple
- Ndere Centre
- Port Bell
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kampala?
About 1.8 million people live in Kampala (1,797,722 in the 2024 census), with about 6.7 million in the metropolitan area. That makes Kampala Uganda's largest city by far, about six times the size of Jinja, and the political, commercial and cultural centre of the country.
What is Kampala famous for?
Kampala is famous as the city on seven hills, built around the palace of the Kabaka, the king of Buganda. It is known for the Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for the Uganda National Mosque with its tall minaret, and for its markets, nightlife and Ndere dance troupe.
Where is Kampala located?
Kampala is in southern Uganda, near the northern shore of Lake Victoria, about 10 kilometres from the lake itself. It stands on a set of hills at 1,200 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 0.31° N, 32.58° E, just north of the equator.
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Keep exploring
- Uganda — the country Kampala is in
- Jinja — another city in Uganda
- Mbarara — another city in Uganda
- Lira — another city in Uganda
- All cities in Uganda
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.