Masindi Hotel
Encyclopedia
Masindi Hotel is a hotel in Masindi
, the district headquarters of Masindi District
, in western Uganda
.
, Uganda's capital and largest city, on an all-weather tarmac highway. The coordinates of Masindi Hotel are:01 41 26N, 31 42 43E (Latitude:1.6906; 31.7120).
’s oldest hotel. Masindi
was a transit point for many goods and produce from the Northern Congo
and Southern Sudan destined for export to Europe
an markets in the early 20th century. Cargo was shipped across Lake Albert, trucked from Butiaba
up to Masindi Customs Sheds. From Masindi, goods were trucked on to Masindi Port
on to Lake Kyoga
where it was shipped down to Soroti
and then by railway to Mombasa
. Ernest Hemingway
was involved in two plane crashes at Murchison Falls
and Butiaba airstrip, within the space of one week. Hemingway recovered at Masindi Hotel. Humphrey Bogart
and Katharine Hepburn
stayed at Masindi Hotel whilst filming The African Queen at Masindi Port.
After independence Masindi Hotel was taken over by the Government, and it was a part of the Uganda Hotels chain for nearly 30 years. In the year 2000 Masindi Hotel was privatized and has undergone major renovations. The hotels has a restaurant, the Kabalega Restaurant, a bar, the Hemingway Bar and both land-line and wireless Internet connections.
Masindi
Masindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
, the district headquarters of Masindi District
Masindi District
Masindi District is a district in Western Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of Masindi, the location of the district headquarters. The region of the country in which the district is located is comparatively dry, but is fertile enough to support a...
, in western Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Location
The hotel is located in the town of Masindi, approximately 214 kilometres (133 mi) northwest of KampalaKampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda's capital and largest city, on an all-weather tarmac highway. The coordinates of Masindi Hotel are:01 41 26N, 31 42 43E (Latitude:1.6906; 31.7120).
Overview
Masindi Hotel was built in 1923 by the now defunct East Africa Railways and Harbours Company. It is UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
’s oldest hotel. Masindi
Masindi
Masindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
was a transit point for many goods and produce from the Northern Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and Southern Sudan destined for export to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an markets in the early 20th century. Cargo was shipped across Lake Albert, trucked from Butiaba
Butiaba
Butiaba, sometimes spelled as Butyaba, is a town in Western Uganda.-Location:Butiaba is situated on the eastern shores of Lake Albert, in Masindi District. It is located approximately , by road, west of the district headquarters at Masindi. This location is approximately , by road, northwest of...
up to Masindi Customs Sheds. From Masindi, goods were trucked on to Masindi Port
Masindi Port
-Location:Masindi Port is located in Masindi District in western Uganda. The town is located on the western banks of the Victoria Nile, approximately , by road, northwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. This location is approximately , by road, east of Masindi, the district capital...
on to Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga is a large shallow lake complex of Uganda, about in area and at an elevation of 914 m. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert. The main inflow from Lake Victoria is regulated by the Nalubaale Power Station in Jinja. Another source of water...
where it was shipped down to Soroti
Soroti
Soroti is the main municipal, commercial and administrative centre of Soroti District in Eastern Uganda, lying near Lake Kyoga. It is known for the rock formation near the town as well as a variety of Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras as well as several churches that meet in various...
and then by railway to Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
. Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
was involved in two plane crashes at Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls, also known as Kabarega Falls, is a waterfall on the Nile. It breaks the Victoria Nile, which flows across northern Uganda from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and then to the north end of Lake Albert in the western branch of the East African Rift....
and Butiaba airstrip, within the space of one week. Hemingway recovered at Masindi Hotel. Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
and Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
stayed at Masindi Hotel whilst filming The African Queen at Masindi Port.
After independence Masindi Hotel was taken over by the Government, and it was a part of the Uganda Hotels chain for nearly 30 years. In the year 2000 Masindi Hotel was privatized and has undergone major renovations. The hotels has a restaurant, the Kabalega Restaurant, a bar, the Hemingway Bar and both land-line and wireless Internet connections.