Mercer (a New York–based consulting firm) has regularly ranked Kampala as East Africa's best city to live in,[11][12] ahead of Nairobi and Kigali.

[13] Before the British construction of Fort Lugard, the hill was a hunting reserve of the Kabaka (King) of Buganda and had several species of antelope, especially the impala.

[citation needed] The Baganda, in whose territory this British settlement was located, then translated "Hill of the Impala" as Akasozi ke'Empala.

[citation needed] The first written description of this Kibuga (capital) was by the explorer Sir Richard Burton in his book, The Lake Region of East Africa, published in 1860.

In the book, Burton, relying on the information collected by Snay Bin Amir, an Arab trader, described the Kibuga as: …the settlement is not less than a day's journey in length, the buildings are of cane and rattan.

[15] In 1875, explorer Henry Morton Stanley reported the capital as being at present-day Lubaga Hill, where he met the same Kabaka, Mutesa I.

[citation needed] In 1897, Mwanga launched a rebellion but was defeated and was subsequently captured and exiled, in 1899, to the Seychelles alongside Omukama Kabalega, and his 3-year-old son was made Kabaka by the combined forces of the European officers leading Nubian and Baganda colonial soldiers.

[citation needed] Also in 1897, Kampala's first Western-style health facility, Mengo Hospital, was opened on Namirembe hill by British doctor and missionary Sir Albert Ruskin Cook.

[citation needed] In 1968, six years after Uganda attained independence, the boundaries of Kampala were expanded incorporating the Kibuga (then known as Mengo Municipality), Kawempe and Nakawa Townships, and areas including Muyenga and Ggaba.

It resulted in the capture of the city by the National Resistance Movement, led by Yoweri Museveni and the subsequent surrender of the Ugandan government.

[33] On 11 July 2010, suicide bombers affiliated with al-Shabaab, a Sunni Islamist group based in Somalia, carried out two nearly simultaneous bombings in Kampala, killing 74 people.

[34][35] After eleven years of relative calm, on 16 November 2021, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group based in eastern Congo with ties to the Islamic State, carried out two suicide bombings near the central police station and parliament, killing three people and injuring 36.

The original seven hills are: Due to Kampala's hilly nature and tropical climate, the valleys have slow rivers/swamps that tend to flow southwards towards Lake Victoria or northwards.

While the city does not have a true dry season month, it experiences heavier precipitation from August to December and from February to June.

In addition to the Baganda and Banyankole, other large ethnic groups include the Basoga, Bafumbira, Batoro, Bakiga, Alur, Bagisu (better known as Bamasaba), Banyoro, Iteso, Langi, and Acholi.

[56] Historical population data for Kampala Prominent institutions include the Uganda Museum and the Ugandan National Theatre.

The city is alive with music and dance, with numerous bars, clubs, and lounges offering entertainment late into the night.

The culinary landscape of Kampala is as diverse as its people, with a range of dining options that reflect both local and international cuisines.

[citation needed] For those who prefer dining in a more formal setting, Kampala has numerous restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines.

From traditional Ugandan dishes like Luwombo and Matoke to international fare including Indian, Chinese, and Italian cuisines, there's something to satisfy every palate.

[citation needed] Cafe javas is a popular chain that offers a blend of local and international dishes in a relaxed setting, perfect for both a casual meal and a business meeting.

Located just outside Kampala in Bweyogerere, this multi-purpose stadium has a seating capacity of over 45,000 and is the primary venue for major sporting events, including football matches, athletics, and concerts.

[67] Crown Beverages Limited, the sole Pepsi-Cola franchise bottler in the country, is situated in Nakawa, a division of Kampala, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) east of the city centre.

[72] In early 2007, it was announced that Kampala would remove commuter taxis from its streets and replace them with a comprehensive city bus service.

The bus service was expected to cover the greater Kampala metropolitan area including Mukono, Mpigi, Bombo, Entebbe, Wakiso and Gayaza.

[73] Having successfully completed the Northern Bypass, the government, in collaboration with its stakeholders, now plans to introduce the bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Kampala by 2014.

[76] In 2014, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and a Chinese transportation company signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to embark at some point on building a light rail system in Kampala[citation needed], similar to the one in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"[77][78] The protest, which called on workers to walk to work to highlight the increased cost of transport in Uganda,[77] was disrupted by police, who fired tear gas and arrested three-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye and Democratic Party leader Norbert Mao.

The services are considered the safest and convenient means of travel in the capital of Uganda, but their drawback is they are quite expensive for the local person.

Kampala hosts a Bahá'í House of Worship known as the Mother Temple of Africa which is situated on Kikaya Hill in the outskirts of the city.