Mbarara City is a city in the Western Region of Uganda and the second largest city in Uganda after Kampala. The city is divided into 6 boroughs of Kakoba Division, Kamukuzi Division, Nyamitanga Division, Biharwe Division, Kakiika Division, Nyakayojo Division. It is the main commercial centre of most of south western districts of Uganda and the site of the district headquarters.[1] [2] In May 2019, the Uganda's cabinet granted Mbarara a city status, which started on 1 July 2020.[3]
Mbarara is an important transport hub, lying west of Masaka on the road to Kabale, near Lake Mburo National Park. This is about 270km (170miles), by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and oldest city. The coordinates of the Mbarara central business district are 00 36 48S, 30 39 30E (Latitude:-0.6132; Longitude:30.6582). The city lies at an average elevation at about 1147m (3,763feet) above sea level.[4]
The city comprises 23 wards spread across 6 divisions and 2 constituencies.
| Kamukuzi | Kakoba | |
| Ruharo | Nyamityobora | |
| Kakoma | Katete | |
| Nyarubanga | Ruti | |
| Rwemigyina | Bugashe | |
| Kakiika | Katojo | |
| Kishasha | Kichwamba | |
| Bunutsya | Nyarubungo II | |
| Nyabuhama | Rukindo | |
| Rwenjeru | Rwakishakizi | |
| Biharwe East | ||
| Nyakinengo | ||
| Biharwe West | ||
| Bubaare |
In 2002, the national census estimated the population of the town at 69,400. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 82,000 in 2010. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 83,700.[5] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 195,013.[6]
Mbarara has tropical savanna climate (Aw). Between the driest and wettest months, the difference in precipitation is 94 mm | 4 inch. The variation in annual temperature is around 2.4 °C | 4.3 °F. The month with the highest relative humidity is November (76.93%). The month with the lowest relative humidity is July (53.76%). The month with the highest number of rainy days is October (22.37 days). The month with the lowest number of rainy days is July (3.67 days). Mbarara is in the middle and the summers are that easy to define.
Mbarara came from behind and developed to surpass Entebbe, Masaka, Gulu, and Jinja. As of 2014, Mbarara was the second-largest city in Uganda after Kampala and also second to Kampala in importance, industry, and infrastructure.[7]
Starting with 2000, modern buildings have been established including malls, arcades, plaza, and hotels. Modern hospitals have also been constructed including Mbarara Hospital, which is now a Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara Community Hospital, a private hospital located in Kyamugorani, Kakiika Division,[8] and Mayanja Memorial Hospital, located in Nyamityobora Kakoba Division.[9]
Mbarara is the home of Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST), founded in 1989.With significance for all Ugandan cities, Mbarara was the host to the 2004 Annual General Meeting of the Uganda Local Governments Association on 1 October, which saw the changing of the organisation to its current structure in order to represent all Ugandan local governments. Mbarara remains an active member of this governmental association.[10]
Due to a rapidly expanding population, the current water supply from nearby River Rwizi is insufficient to meet the future needs of Mbarara City.[11] The Ugandan government has borrowed €120 million to source water from the Kagera River purify it and pump it to Mbarara, Masaka and Isingiro District.[12] [13]
See main article: Mbarara Northern bypass road.
As part of the modernisation of the Mbarara-Katuna Road (2011 - 2015), a new northern bypass road is planned for the town. The bypass will start from the Coca-Cola Plant on Mbarara-Masaka Road at Makenke, pass through Rwebishuri and Nkokonjeru and join the Mbarara-Kabale Road at Katatumba Resort, about 5km (03miles) southwest of the central business district. The bypass is expected to decongest the city centre by taking the long-distance trucks destined for and coming from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo off of Mbarara's city streets. The 14km (09miles) road is expected to cost about €170 million (US$210 million), of which the European Union is expected to lend about €122 million (US$153 million) with the government funding the balance from its own resources.[14]
The following additional points of interest lie within the city limits or close to its edges:
An Anglican-based 100 bed hospital located at Ruharo Cathedral, about, west od downtown, along the Mbarara–Ishaka Road.
