Uganda has about 15 large cities. They include Kampala, Gulu, Mbarara, and Jinja. Some of these cities also double as Uganda’s most developed cities.
The Ugandan Cabinet agreed in May 2019 to the gradual construction of these cities during the ensuing one to three years.
Here’s a full list of the top ten largest cities in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda’s Capital
The largest capital city of Uganda is Kampala. With a population of 1,680,000, the city is divided into the Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Rubaga Division political divisions.
With an annual population growth rate of 4.03 per cent, Kampala is reportedly one of Africa’s cities with the greatest population increase.
Mbarara City
Mbarara City is the second-largest city in Uganda right after Kampala. It is located in the Western part of the country. Kakoba, Kamukuzi, Nyamitanga, Biharwe, Kakiika, and Nyakayojo are the six divisions that make up the city.
The majority of Uganda’s southwestern districts’ commercial hub and district administrative centres are located there. The Ugandan government granted Mbarara city status in May 2019. Mbarara city’s population was 195,013 according to the national population census in August 2014.
Jinja City
The city of Jinja is regarded as Africa’s tourism capital. It is a city in Uganda’s Eastern Region that is situated on Lake Victoria’s northern shore. The Ugandan government granted a dozen or so communities city status on July 1, 2020.
One of the places was Jinja. Jinja grew to incorporate the previous Jinja Municipality, Bugembe Town Council, Mafubira sub-county, and Budondo sub-county as part of the requirements to become a city. By October 2020, the new city is expected to have roughly 300,000 residents.
Kayaking, traditional dances, sailing, native battles and tag games, horseback riding, experiencing the nightlife, biking, village walks, museum visits, water rafting, and many other activities are among the things to do while there.
Gulu City
Gulu City is situated in the northern part of Uganda. It serves as the administrative and commercial hub of the Gulu District. The following city divisions were anticipated to make up Gulu City’s mid-year population in 2020, for a total of 177,400:
These divisions include Bar Dege (47,700), Laroo (32,300), Layibi (43,900), and Pece (53,500).
Hoima City
The city of Hoima is found in western Uganda. It serves as the district’s principal municipal, administrative, and commercial hub.
The mid-year population of the city was predicted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) to be 122,700 in 2020. Between 2014 and 2020, Hoima’s population is expected to rise by an average of 3.54 per cent yearly, according to UBOS.
Masaka City
In Uganda’s Buganda Region, west of Lake Victoria is the city of Masaka. Masaka District’s administrative centre is located in the city. In 1953, Masaka Township was established.
In 1958, it was given a town council, and in 1968, it was given a municipality. Masaka will be a city starting in July 2023, according to a 2019 Cabinet of Uganda decision.
The city status date was changed to 1 July 2020 by Cabinet in November of the same year. According to UBOS, Masaka City will have 116,600 residents at its midpoint in 2020.
Lira City
According to the 2014 national population census, which was performed in August, the population of Lira, a city in the Northern Region of Uganda, totalled 99,059 people.
Mbale City
Mbale, a city in Uganda’s Eastern serves as the primary municipal, administrative, and commercial hub for the neighbouring subregion and Mbale District.
The Ugandan Cabinet decided in 2019 to grant Mbale city status beginning in July 2021. However, the date of city status was changed by the Cabinet to 1 July 2020 in November of the same year. The population was 96,189 according to the national population census in 2014.
Arua City
Arua is a town in northwest Uganda. At an elevation of 4,300 feet (1,310 meters), Arua is located roughly 12 miles (19 km) east of the common border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) predicted that 72,400 people would live in the country at midyear in 2020.
It has an airport and is connected to Moyo and Nebbi by road.
Soroti City
Uganda’s Eastern Region includes the city of Soroti. One of the nine administrative districts in the Teso sub-region, it is the principal urban, commercial, and administrative hub.
The Ugandan Parliament promptly gave the go-ahead for Soroti City to begin operations in the fiscal year 2020–2021. The mid-year population of Soroti, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), is expected to be 60,900 in 2020.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of Uganda’s biggest cities in terms of size. The biggest city in Uganda is Kampala, the capital city, followed by Mbarara city and Jinja.
These towns are also among the most developed cities in Uganda as you may find out.
