Mbale is a city in the

Eastern Region Eastern Region or East Region may refer to: * Eastern Region (Abu Dhabi): Al Ain *Eastern Region, Ghana *Eastern Region (Iceland) *Eastern Region, Malta *Eastern Region, Nepal *Eastern Region, Nigeria * Eastern Region, Serbia *Eastern Region, Ugand ...

of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of

Mbale District Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also serves as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region. Location Mbale District is bordered by Sironko ...

and the surrounding sub-region. Mbale city center

Location

Mbale is approximately northeast of

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

, Uganda's capital city, on an all-weather

tarmac Tarmac may refer to: Engineered surfaces * Tarmacadam, a mainly historical tar-based material for macadamising road surfaces, patented in 1902 * Asphalt concrete, a macadamising material using asphalt instead of tar which has largely superseded tar ...

highway. The city lies at an average elevation of above sea level. The coordinates of the city are 1°04'50.0"N, 34°10'30.0"E (Latitude:1.080556; Longitude:34.175000). The city is on the railway from

Tororo Tororo is a town in the Eastern Region, Uganda, Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Tororo District. History Tororo was garrisoned by the Uganda Army (1971–1980), Uganda Army's Air an ...

Pakwach Pakwach is a town in the Northern Region, Uganda, Northern Region of Uganda. It is the main commercial, political and administrative center of Pakwach District. In the 19th century the town came under brief occupation by the Ottoman Empire, Ottom ...

Mount Elgon Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu and west of Kitale. The mountain's highest point, named "Wagagai", is located entirely within Uganda.

, one of the highest peaks in

East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

, is approximately , north-east of Mbale, by road.

Population

According to the 2002 census, the population of Mbale was about 71,130. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 81,900. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 91,800. The 2014 population census put the population at 96,189.

Twinning

Mbale was formally linked with the town of

Pontypridd Pontypridd ( , ), Colloquialism, colloquially referred to as ''Ponty'', is a town and a Community (Wales), community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, approximately 10 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. Geography Pontypridd comprises the ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

through local and regional twinning ceremonies in 2005. The link was intended to associate professionals and organizations in Pontypridd with their counterparts in Africa, under the auspices of the charity known as the Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust.

Points of interest

The following points of interest lie within the city limits or close to its borders:

Administrative

* The headquarters of Mbale District Administration * The offices of Mbale City Council

Public facilities

* Mbale central market * Mbale Municipal Stadium

Military

* The headquarters of the 3rd Division of the

Uganda People's Defense Force The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), previously known as the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. From 2007 to 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the UPDF had a total strength of 40,000–4 ...

Health facilities

Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, commonly known as Mbale Hospital is a hospital in Mbale, Eastern Uganda. It is the referral hospital for the districts of Busia, Budaka, Kibuku, Kapchorwa, Bukwa, Butaleja, Manafwa, Mbale, Pallisa, Sironko ...

- a 400-bed public hospital administered by the

Uganda Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health is a Cabinet of Uganda, cabinet-level government ministry of Uganda. It is responsible for planning, delivering, and maintaining an efficient and effective healthcare delivery system, including preventive, curative, and reh ...

CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda (CCHU) is a specialized children's neurosurgery hospital in Uganda. It is a private hospital, owned and operated by CURE International. The hospital is also a teaching center in neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurge ...

Educational institutions

* Uganda Christian University College - Headquartered at Mukono UCU, formerly Bishop Tucker Theological College *

Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences The Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences (BUFHS), also known as the Busitema University Medical School (BUMS) and the Busitema University School of Medicine (BUSM), is the school of medicine of Busitema University, one of Uganda's publ ...

- the medical school of

Busitema University Busitema University (BU) is a university in Uganda. It is one of the public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country. It has six different campuses around the country; all situated in the Eastern Region of Uganda. The universi ...

, a public institution of higher education * The main campus of the

Islamic University in Uganda The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) is a multi-campus university offering courses at certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The main campus of the university is in Mbale, about north-east of Kampala, Uganda's capital an ...

* The Mbale Campus of

Uganda Martyrs University Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is a private University affiliated with the Roman Catholicism in Uganda, Roman Catholic Church in Uganda. The University is owned by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Bishops of Uganda. It is licensed by the ...

- a private university, whose headquarters are located in

Nkozi Nkozi is a town in central Uganda. It is one of the urban centers in Mpigi District. Location The town is situated along the Kampala–Masaka Road, approximately , southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. This location is approxim ...

Mpigi District Mpigi District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'main town', Mpigi. Location Mpigi District is bordered by Wakiso District to the north and east, Kalangala District to the south, Kalungu ...

LivingStone International University LivingStone International University (LIU) is a private university in Uganda near Mbale town. It is overseen by a board of directors composed of Christians from both Uganda and U.S. The university is non-denominational, with no denominational ove ...

- a private university affiliated with the fellowship of

Christian Churches In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus Christ. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a syn ...

and

Churches of Christ The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation ...

* Mbale School of Clinical Officers

City status

In 2019 the

Cabinet of Uganda There are 30 Cabinet ministers and 50 Ministers of State in the Cabinet of Uganda (2021 to 2026). The number of state ministers reduced by one in September 2024 after the death of Hon. Sarah Mateke who was the state minister for defence. Accor ...

, resolved to award Mbale, city status effective July 2021. In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.

Notable people

John Wasikye John Alfred Wasikye was an Anglican bishop in Uganda. Wasikye was educated at Buwalasi Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1954 and priest in 1956. He served in the diocese until 1961 and in Mbale from 1961. He was Archdeacon of Bugis ...

: Anglican Bishop, was Murdered After Liberation of Kampala, April 11, 1979 *

James Wapakhabulo James Francis Wambogo Wapakhabulo (23 March 1945 – 27 March 2004) was a Ugandan politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda from 2001 to 2004. Background Wapakhabulo began his career studying law at the University of Ea ...

: Politician * Lydia Wanyoto: Lawyer, politician and diplomat. * Nathan Nandala Mafabi: Ugandan accountant, lawyer, and politician. He represents Budadiri County West in

Sironko District Sironko District is a district in the Eastern Region of Uganda. The district was created in 2000 and had previously been part of Mbale District. Sironko is the main commercial town in the district. Location Sironko District is bordered by Bulamb ...

in the

Parliament of Uganda The Parliament of Uganda is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Uganda. One of its primary functions is to pass laws that support effective governance in the country. Government ministers are required to answer to the people's represe ...

. From May 2011 until January 2014, he was the

leader of the opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

. * Walter de Sousa Field Hockey player for Indian hockey team. He was born in Mbale, Uganda and spent his early childhood here where his father was working under the colonial administration. *

Dani Wadada Nabudere Dani Wadada Nabudere (15 December 1932 – 9 November 2011) was a Ugandan academic, Pan-Africanist, lawyer, politician, author, political scientist, and development specialist. At the time of his passing, he was a professor at the Islamic Unive ...

(15 December 1932 – 9 November 2011) was a Ugandan academic, Pan-Africanist, lawyer, politician, author, political scientist, and development specialist. *

Gershom Sizomu Gershom Sizomu (born 1969) is a Ugandan rabbi serving the Abayudaya, a Baganda community in eastern Uganda near the town of Mbale who practice Judaism. Sizomu is the first native-born black rabbi in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is also the first Chief ...

: First chief rabbi of Uganda, from the

Abayudaya The Abayudaya (Luganda for "People of Judah (Biblical figure), Judah") are a Jewish community in eastern Uganda, near the town of Mbale. They are devout in their practice, keeping kashrut and observing Shabbat. There are several different village ...

community. Member of the Ugandan Parliament for the Bungokho North constituency.

References

External links

About Mbale

Climbing Mount Elgon
{{coord, 01, 04, 50, N, 34, 10, 30, E, display=title Noun 1. a humble man of honor, respected towards others. 2. a plate 3. Helper, Giver or Flower Populated places in Eastern Region, Uganda Cities in the Great Rift Valley Jewish communities Jewish Ugandan history Mbale District Bugisu sub-region