Mbale

Mbale
Location in Uganda
Coordinates: 01°04′50″N 34°10′30″E / 1.08056°N 34.17500°E / 1.08056; 34.17500
Country Uganda
RegionsEastern Uganda
SubregionBugisu sub-region
Government
 • MayorJoyce Kidulu Matuka
Elevation
1,156 m (3,793 ft)
Population
 (2024 Census)
 • Total
290,414

Mbale is a city in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region.

Mbale city center.
Mbale city center.

Location

Mbale is approximately 225 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on an all-weather tarmac highway. The city lies at an average elevation of 1,156 metres (3,793 ft) 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 to Pakwach. Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa, is approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi), north-east of Mbale, by road.

Mbale City is found in the Bugisu sub-region and is administratively divided into two divisions: Industrial Division and Northern Division.

Industrial Division

The industrial Division has one sub-county called Industrial Division and it has a number of parishes which include:

  1. Boma ward
  2. Bukasakya ward
  3. Bumboi ward
  4. Bumutoto ward
  5. Busamaga East ward
  6. Busamaga West ward
  7. Doko ward
  8. Kijja ward
  9. Malukhu ward
  10. Malare ward
  11. Masaba ward
  12. Mooni-nambale ward
  13. Mooni-wanale ward
  14. Mukhubu ward
  15. Muyanda ward
  16. Nabitiri ward
  17. Namalogo ward
  18. Namatala ward
  19. Napooli central ward
  20. Napooli lower ward
  21. Napooli upper ward
  22. South Central ward
  23. Tsabanyanya ward
  24. Wakhwaba central ward
  25. Wakhwaba lower ward
  26. Wakhwaba upper ward

Northern Division

The Northern division also has one sub-county namely Northern division and its parish includes:

  1. Afya ward
  2. Aisa ward
  3. Bukikali
  4. Bulweta
  5. Bumuluya
  6. Bumuyanga
  7. Buwangolo
  8. Bwana ward
  9. Doko ward
  10. Fika Salama ward
  11. IU-IU ward
  12. Kihuno ward
  13. Kireka Nakaloke SC ward
  14. Kireka Nakaloke TC ward
  15. Kolonyi ward
  16. Lwasso
  17. Mukunja ward
  18. Nabuyonga ward
  19. Nabweya ward
  20. Najja ward
  21. Nakaloke ward
  22. Namabasa ward
  23. Namagumba ward
  24. Namakwekwe ward
  25. Nambulu/Kasanja ward
  26. Namunsi ward
  27. Nanyunza
  28. Nkoma-Namanyonyi ward
  29. Nkoma-Northern ward
  30. North Central ward
  31. Rock ward
  32. Salem Ward

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.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
200271,130—    
201081,900+15.1%
201191,800+12.1%
201496,189+4.8%
source:

Twinning

Mbale was formally linked with the town of Pontypridd, Wales 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

Public facilities

  • Mbale central market
  • Mbale Municipal Stadium

Military

Health facilities

Aerial View of Cure Children's Hospital in Mbale District in Uganda
Cure Children's Hospital, Mbale
Mbale Pentecostal Theological College

Educational institutions

City status

In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, 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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mbale City elects first female mayor". Daily Monitor. January 26, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 UBOS (27 August 2014). "The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Draku, Franklin (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Mbale, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Floodmap (2019). "Elevation of Mbale, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "Location of Mbale, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Distance between Mbale, Uganda and Bugitimwa, Uganda With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Statistics, Uganda Bureau of. "MBALE CITY - Census Data Dashboard". NPHC 2024 Dashboard. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  9. ↑ "Overview | Mbale District". www.mbale.go.ug. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  10. 1 2 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (June 2011). "Projected Population of Mbale In 2002, 2010 & 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Kampala, Uganda. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 7 July 2014) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Background of Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust". Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust (PONT). Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Franklin Draku (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam (5 November 2019). "Cabinet Includes Masaka, Mbale Among New Cities To Be Operational In 2020". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 6 November 2019.

01°04′50″N 34°10′30″E / 1.08056°N 34.17500°E / 1.08056; 34.17500

Noun 1. a humble man of honor, respected towards others. 2. a plate 3. Helper, Giver or Flower