| Official Name: | Masaka |
| Native Name: | Masaka |
| Pushpin Map: | Uganda |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Uganda |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Uganda |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Buganda Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Masaka District |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Unit Pref: | metric |
| Population As Of: | 2014 Census |
| Population Total: | 103829 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Coordinates: | -0.3411°N 31.7361°W |
| Elevation M: | 1288 |
Masaka is a district and a city in the Buganda Region in southern Uganda, west of Lake Victoria.[1] The city is the headquarters of Masaka District.[2]
Masaka is approximately 132km (82miles) to the south-west of Kampala on the highway to Mbarara. The city is close to the Equator. The coordinates of Masaka are 0°20'28.0"S, 31°44'10.0"E (Latitude:-0.341111; Longitude:31.736111). Masaka lies at an average elevation of 1288m (4,226feet) above sea level.[3]
Masaka was founded as a township in 1953. It became a town council in 1958 and a municipality in 1968.
Masaka was a strategically important location during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–79), and was accordingly garrisoned by Uganda Army troops. These soldiers terrorized the local civilians, prompting most to flee the town. On 23–24 February 1979, the Tanzania People's Defence Force and allied Ugandan rebels attacked the settlement, resulting in the Battle of Masaka. The town was bombarded with artillery, and fell to the Tanzanian-led forces after light resistance. The Tanzanians subsequently levelled much of the town to take revenge for atrocities committed by the Uganda Army during its previous invasion of northwestern Tanzania.
In course of the Ugandan Bush War, Masaka again suffered from fighting. The town was garrisoned by the Uganda National Liberation Army which served as Uganda's national army at the time. In late 1985, National Resistance Army rebels laid siege to the town. After heavy combat, Masaka's garrison surrendered on 10 December 1985.
In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Masaka, city status effective July 2023.[1] [4] In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.[5]
As of June 2021, the city of Masaka occupied a total area in excess of 100km2. Masaka City Council, with assistance from the Central Ugandan government and the World Bank is in the process of implementing major road and street improvements, as part of the Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program. The city has a working budget of USh73 billion (approx. US$21 million), in the 2020/2021 financial year.[6]
According to the 2002 national census, the population of Masaka was about 67,800. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 73,300. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 74,100.[7] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 103,829.[8]
In 2020, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of Masaka City at 116,600 people. The population agency calculated the population growth rate of the town to average 2.11 percent, between 2014 and 2020.
In 2016, before the metropolis attained city status, Masaka occupied 58km2. It was divided into three administrative divisions, (a) Katwe-Butego (b) Kimaanya-Kyabakuzaand (c) Nyendo-Ssenyange. It is further subdivided into 54 zones.[9]
The annual Uganda Marathon event takes place in June, the race route loops twice through the town and the funds generated support local employment and community development.
The following points of interest are located in Masaka or close to its borders: (a) the offices of Masaka City Council(b) Masaka central market (c) the headquarters of the Mechanized Brigade of the Uganda People's Defense Force(d) the main campus of Muteesa I Royal University[10] (d) Western Campus of Kampala University (e) St. Henry's College Kitovu.
Other points of interest include (f) the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka[11] (g) Lake Nabugabo, 20km (10miles) to the east of downtown Masaka.[12] (h) Bukakkata, on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 36km (22miles) east of Masaka.[13] (i) Masaka Regional Referral Hospital (j) Masaka Currency Center, a currency storage and processing facility owned and operated by the Bank of Uganda, Uganda's central bank.[14] (k) A branch of the National Social Security Fund.
Hamda Vocational and Social Institute is a institute, Emirati women philanthropist Hamda Taryam was a well-known philanthropist in Masaka Uganda who initiated this charitable projects aims to qualify students professionally for the labour market. The foundation provides free training to orphan students, ensuring they qualify for the market, with proceeds going towards humanitarian and charitable projects sponsored by the Foundation[15] [16] [17]