Muyenga
Encyclopedia
Location
Muyenga is bordered by Bukasa to the east, Kiwuliriza to the north, Kisugu and KabalagalaKabalagala
Kabalagala is a neighborhood in the city of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The name Kabalagala comes from a local type of pancake made from cassava flour and sweet bananas and is spiced with local peppers. Hawkers of this food variety would pull up to motorists as they were waiting to turn...
to the west, Kansanga
Kansanga
-Location:Kansanga is bordered by Kabalagala and Kisugu to the north, Muyenga to the northeast, Kiwafu to the east, Bbunga to the southeast, Konge to the south, Lukuli to the southwest, Kibuye to the west and Nsambya to the northwest. The road distance between Kampala's central business district...
to the southwest, Kiwafu to the south and Kyeyitabya to the southeast. The coordinates of Muyenga Hill are: Latitude:0.2938; Longitude:32.6114.
Overview
Muyenga, at its peak, stands 4285 feet (1,306.1 m) above sea level and is one of the highest points in the city of Kampala. For that reason, the hill was chosen to house the water storage tanks for National Water and Sewerage CorporationNational Water and Sewerage Corporation
National Water and Sewerage Corporation ' is a water supply and sanitation company in Uganda. It is 100% owned by the Government of Uganda.-History:...
, which supply Kampala
Kampala
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...
, Kira
Kira Town
Kira Town is a municipality in Wakiso District in Central Uganda. It is administered by Kira Town Council, an Urban Local Government within Wakiso District Administration.-Location:...
and Mukono. Because of the water tanks, Muyenga is also known as Tank Hill. The hill commands expansive views of the city towards the north and the west. To the east and the south the predominant view is that of nearby Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
.
Prior to Uganda's Independence in 1962 and through the 1960s and 1970s, Muyenga was an upscale residential area, on account of the excellent views and cool breezes. After the removal of the Obote II
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
regime in 1986, there followed a period of rapid, unplanned and coordinated development of the real estate on Muyenga. As a result, it is an area with good houses but with a chaotic road and drainage system. Many of the property owners on the hill are from government and business who bought plots and put up expensive buildings without conforming to the rules of urban planning. Kabalagala
Kabalagala
Kabalagala is a neighborhood in the city of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The name Kabalagala comes from a local type of pancake made from cassava flour and sweet bananas and is spiced with local peppers. Hawkers of this food variety would pull up to motorists as they were waiting to turn...
, a neighborhood to the west of Muyenga, suffered from the same mismanagement of urban planning.
Landmarks
Landmarks on Muyenga Hill or near the hill include:- Water storage tanks of the National Water and Sewerage CorporationNational Water and Sewerage CorporationNational Water and Sewerage Corporation ' is a water supply and sanitation company in Uganda. It is 100% owned by the Government of Uganda.-History:...
- Kampala International UniversityKampala International UniversityKampala International University is a private multi-campus university in Uganda.-Location:Kampala International University has its main campus at Kansanga, a location in the southeastern part of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The coordinates of the university's main campus are:00 17...
(KIU) - one of the 30 universities in Uganda - Diplomate Hotel - Managed by the Protea Hotel chain
- KabalagalaKabalagalaKabalagala is a neighborhood in the city of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The name Kabalagala comes from a local type of pancake made from cassava flour and sweet bananas and is spiced with local peppers. Hawkers of this food variety would pull up to motorists as they were waiting to turn...
- Location of numerous restaurants, bars and nightclubs