Guide to 18 Largest Cities in Uganda (Attractions, Population)

Storyteller.travel shares the best travel insights, facts, and photos. When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Planning a trip to the country of Uganda? In this post, you’ll learn about 18 of the largest cities in Uganda. You’ll learn information like their population, locations, attractions, and more.

Armed with this information, you should be able to have a more informed trip to Uganda, and hopefully a more enjoyable one.

Guide to Cities in Uganda

Uganda is a beautiful landlocked country in East Africa. The following list is a brief overview of Uganda’s largest countries, organized in descending order by population size. These figures are recent as of a 2014 national census.

City	District	Population
1. Kampala	Kampala	1,507,080
2. Nansana	Wakiso	365,124
3. Kira Town	Wakiso	317,157
4. Ssabagabo	Wakiso	283,272
5. Mbarara	Mbarara	195,531
6. Mukono Town	Mukono	162,710
7. Njeru	Buikwe	159,549
8. Gulu	Gulu	150,306
9. Lugazi	Buikwe	114,524
10. Mubende	Mubende	103,473
11. Masaka	Masaka	103,227
12. Kasese	Kasese	101,065
13. Hoima	Hoima	100,099
14. Lira	Lira	99,392
15. Mityana	Mityana	95,428
16. Masindi	Masindi	94,438
17. Mbale	Mbale	92,857
18. Jinja	Jinja	76,188

These cities are spread out through the country’s 4 main regions and many districts. The 4 regions are Central or Buganda, Western, Eastern, and Northern.

Interesting side note on the districts: Uganda has added many over time. Back in 2006, there were 7 districts. By 2010, that number had grown to 111. As of 2020, the number of districts has grown again to 135.

Having looked at a quick overview of the biggest cities in Uganda, let’s take a closer look at the 8 of the biggest.

Note: The top four, while distinct municipalities are considered part of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, or GKMA.

1. Kampala (City proper)

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. It’s named for the area’s population of impalas.

It’s also the largest by a considerable margin, the only one with a population of 7 figures and has over 1 million more people than the next biggest city.

Kampala is the main economic center of Uganda and thus has a diverse ethnic population. Not only is it the capital of the entire country, but Kampala is also the capital of the Central or Buganda region.

Here are some more details on the city:

Population: 1,507,080
District: Kampala
Region: Central or Buganda
Demonym(s): Munakampala
Elevation: 3,900 feet (1,189 m)
Land area: 68 sq mi (176 sq km) (73 sq mi total for the city including water)
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical rainforest
Weather: 2 yearly wet seasons, heavier rain August to December, heaviest rain February to June, average temperature of 77 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 29 degrees Celsius)
Kampala Attractions: Owino Market, Rubaga Cathedral, the 7 Hills of Kampala, Kasubi Royal Tombs,

Kampala gained municipal status in 1949, though the area is a core part of the Buganda Kingdom which was unified in 1300.

A few miles south of Kampala, you’ll find Entebbe International Airport. Learn about the airports in Uganda.

2. Nansana

Nansana is considered to be a working-class neighborhood. It’s found in the Wakiso district, about 7 miles northwest of the capital Kampala, and around 5 miles south of the district capital of Wakiso Town.

Nansana became a Town Council in 2007. The name “Nansana” came from a female ghost “Nansaana” that the Queen mother worshipped around the year 1300.

Here’s a further look into the city of Nansana:

Population: 365,124
District: Wakiso
Region: Central or Buganda
Elevation: 3,907 feet (1,191 m)
Land area: 2.8 sq mi (7.2 sq km)
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical climate
Weather: Hot and humid, 2 wet seasons (August to December, February to June)
Attractions: Nexus Resorts Hotel, 4×4 Uganda, Nansana United Football Club

Learn more about weather in Uganda: Uganda Climate Guide

3. Kira Town

Kira Town is part of the Wakiso district and lies northeast of Kampala city proper.

Kira Town became a Municipal Council in July 2015. It is also the location of the biggest stadium in Uganda, Mandela National Stadium.

Here are some more details on Kira Town:

Population: 317,157
District: Wakiso
Region: Central or Buganda
Elevation: 3,900 feet (1,189 m)
Land area: 38.16 sq mi (98.83 sq km)
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: Hot and Humid; 2 wet seasons (August to December, February to June)
Attractions: Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs, Mandela National Stadium

4. Ssabagabo

Another town part of the Metropolitan area, Ssabagabo (also known as Makindye-Ssabagabo or Ssabagabo-Makindye) became a city in July 2015.

Here are some more details on Ssabagabo:

Population: 283,272
District: Wakiso
Region: Central or Buganda
Elevation: 3,870 feet (1,180 m)
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: 2 wet seasons (August to December, February to June)

5. Mbarara

Mbarara is a city in the Western region of Uganda and serves as the capital of that region. It is about 168 miles from Kampala. Founded in 1901, it gained city status as of July 1, 2020.

Mbarara has 2 main sections, Mbarara City North and Mbarara City South, which are further split into 23 wards. The city is also split up into 6 boroughs.

If you take into account that cities 2-4 on this list are part of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, then Mbarara is considered Uganda’s second city.

mbarara city uganda — Bus stop in Mbarara, Uganda

Here’s a quick overview of Mbarara:

Population: 195,531
District: Mbarara
Region: Western
Elevation: 4,860 feet (1,481 m)
Land area: 31.33 sq mi (81.15 km 2)*
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: Warm and overcast, with temperatures ranging from 58 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 28 degrees Celsius)
Attractions: Mbarara River Rwizi Falls, Nkokonjeru, Mbarara City Football Club

6. Mukono Town

Mukono lies about 13 miles (13 km) east of Kampala, also on the north shore of Lake Victoria.

Mukono gained municipal status in 2010. It is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in Uganda.

In 1991, there were 7,406 inhabitants in the area. That number ballooned to 91,568 by 2002 and continued to grow to 162,710 by the time of the 2014 census.

Here’s a list of some details on Mukono:

Population: 162,710
District: Mukono
Region: Central or Buganda
Elevation: 4,088 feet (1,246 m)
Land area: 12.1 sq mi (31.4 sq km)
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: Muggy, warm, overcast. Temperatures range from 62 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 28 degrees Celsius)
Attractions: Mukono Central Market, Uganda Christian University, Mukono United Football Club

Hungry? Check out our Guide to Ugandan Food

7. Njeru

Njeru is a city that is on the bank of the River Nile, located 46 miles (71 km) east of Kampala, and around 24 miles (38 km) northeast of the district capital of Buikwe. It gained a municipal council in July 2015.

While mainly a residential area, Njeru is the biggest city in the Buikwe District. It also has some manufacturers like Nile Breweries and Nyanza Textiles Industries.

Here are some more details on the city of Njeru.

Population: 159,549
District: Buikwe
Region: Central or Buganda
Elevation: 3,600 feet (1,097 m)
Land area: 2.74 sq mi (7.1 sq km)*
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: Lots of rain, even during the so-called dry season, 79.3 inches (2015 mm) of precipitation per year; average temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius)
Attractions: River Nile, Nile Breweries, Nyanza Textiles

8. Gulu

Gulu is a city in the Northern Region of Uganda. It lies about 207 miles (333km) from Kampala.

Gulu was the site of refugee camps, with many refugees of Sudan, Rwanda, and Congo. There were as many as an estimated 2 million people who lived in these camps at one point. There has, unfortunately, been some unrest in the area where Gulu is located, with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) waging guerilla warfare there.

Here’s a closer look at the city of Gulu:

Population: 150,306
District: Gulu
Region: Northern
Elevation: 3,600 feet (1,097 m)
Land area: 25.68 sq mi (66.51 sq km)*
Time zone: UTC+3 (EAT)
Climate: Tropical
Weather: heaviest rain from March to November, August being the rainiest month, average with 59.4 inches (1,507 mm) of precipitation per year; average temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius)
Attractions: Pece War Memorial Stadium, Gulu United FC, Gulu University

*These marked land area figures have been taken from the distance measurement tool on Google Maps

Is Uganda Safe? Guide to Water, Crime, Disease, and Sun Safety

jinja uganda — Pictured is Jinji, Uganda – the headwaters of the Nile River.

More Reading: 15 Incredible Things to do In Uganda

Common Questions about Ugandan Cities

What is the capital city of Uganda?

The capital city of Uganda is Kampala, Kampala district. It is located in the Central or Buganda region of the country, on the northern shore of Lake Victoria.