It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region.

[3] Mbale is approximately 225 kilometres (140 mi) northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on an all-weather tarmac highway.

Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa, is approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi), north-east of Mbale, by road.

[1] 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.