Mbale
title: "Mbale" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mbale", "populated-places-in-eastern-region,-uganda", "cities-in-the-great-rift-valley", "jewish-communities", "jewish-ugandan-history", "mbale-district", "bugisu-sub-region"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbale" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| official_name | |
| native_name | |
| settlement_type | |
| motto | |
| image_caption | Near the grounds of Mbale Pentecostal Theological College |
| pushpin_map | Uganda |
| pushpin_label_position | bottom |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Uganda |
| subdivision_type | |
| subdivision_name | [[Image:Flag of Uganda.svg |
| subdivision_type1 | Regions |
| subdivision_name1 | Eastern Uganda |
| subdivision_type2 | Subregion |
| subdivision_name2 | Bugisu sub-region |
| subdivision_name4 | |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Mutwalibi Mafabi Zandya |
| leader_title1 | |
| established_title | |
| established_title2 | |
| established_title3 | |
| established_date3 | |
| area_total_km2 | |
| area_land_km2 | |
| area_blank1_sq_mi | |
| population_as_of | 2024 Census |
| population_total | 290414 |
| population_blank1_title | Ethnicities |
| population_blank2_title | Religions |
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi | |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_footnotes | tags-- |
| elevation_m | 1156 |
| elevation_ft | |
| postal_code_type | |
| blank_name | (+256) 045 |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the Ugandan city ::
| official_name = Mbale | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = | motto = | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = Near the grounds of Mbale Pentecostal Theological College | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = Uganda | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uganda | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Uganda.svg|25px]] Uganda | subdivision_type1 = Regions | subdivision_name1 = Eastern Uganda | subdivision_type2 = Subregion | subdivision_name2 = Bugisu sub-region | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Mutwalibi Mafabi Zandya | leader_title1 = Posted Sunday, | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = | established_date = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2024 Census | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 290414 | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = tags-- | elevation_m = 1156 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = (+256) 045 | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = 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.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Mbale_city_center.jpg" caption="Mbale city center." alt="Mbale city center."] ::
Location
Mbale is approximately 225 km northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on an all-weather tarmac highway.{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kampala/Mbale/@1.1339147,32.9164888,8.25z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x177dbc0f9d74b39b:0x4538903dd96b6fec!2m2!1d32.5825197!2d0.3475964!1m5!1m1!1s0x1778b6126bdea17b:0xb84df43e61b7b568!2m2!1d34.1810057!2d1.0784436!3e0!5i1 | title=Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Mbale, Uganda | access-date=9 February 2021}} The city lies at an average elevation of 1156 m 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).{{google maps | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/1%C2%B004'50.0%22N+34%C2%B010'30.0%22E/@1.6593938,36.2515953,434716m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 |title=Location of Mbale, Uganda |access-date=10 June 2019}} The city is on the railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa, is approximately 48 km, north-east of Mbale, by road.
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.
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
- The headquarters of Mbale District Administration
- The offices of Mbale City Council
Public facilities
- Mbale central market
- Mbale Municipal Stadium
Military
- The headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Uganda People's Defense Force
Health facilities
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Aerial_View_of_Cure_Children's_Hospital,_Mbale.jpg" caption="Cure Children's Hospital, Mbale" alt="Aerial View of Cure Children's Hospital in Mbale District in Uganda"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Mbale_Pentecostal_Theological_College_Africa5_019.jpg" caption="Mbale Pentecostal Theological College"] ::
- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital - a 400-bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health
- CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda
Educational institutions
- Uganda Christian University College - Headquartered at Mukono UCU, formerly Bishop Tucker Theological College
- Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences - the medical school of Busitema University, a public institution of higher education
- The main campus of the Islamic University in Uganda
- The Mbale Campus of Uganda Martyrs University - a private university, whose headquarters are located in Nkozi, Mpigi District
- LivingStone International University - a private university affiliated with the fellowship of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
- Mbale School of Clinical Officers
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
- Semei Kakungulu: a General from Kooki, who established Mbale Town in 1903
- John Wasikye: Anglican Bishop, was Murdered After Liberation of Kampala, April 11, 1979
- Canon Andrew Nyote: Political and Community Leader.
- James Wapakhabulo: Politician
- Lydia Wanyoto: Lawyer, politician and diplomat.
- Nathan Nandala Mafabi: Ugandan accountant, lawyer, and politician. He represents Budadiri County West in Sironko District in the Parliament of Uganda. From May 2011 until January 2014, he was the leader of the opposition.
- Walter de Sousa Field Hockey player for Indian hockey team. He was born in Mbale, Uganda and spent his early childhood here where his father was working under the colonial administration.
- Dani Wadada Nabudere (15 December 1932 – 9 November 2011) was a Ugandan academic, Pan-Africanist, lawyer, politician, author, political scientist, and development specialist.
- Gershom Sizomu: First chief rabbi of Uganda, from the Abayudaya community. Member of the Ugandan Parliament for the Bungokho North constituency.
- Lanie Banks: Canadian-Ugandan rapper, songwriter and community activist.
- Werike Kafabusa: Ugandan politician.
References
References
- Mafabi, David. (27 October 2013). "NRM Cadres Sabotaging Mbale Progress - Mayor". [[Daily Monitor]].
- Draku, Franklin. (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". [[Daily Monitor]].
- Floodmap. (2019). "Elevation of Mbale, Uganda". Floodmap.net.
- "Distance between Mbale, Uganda and Bugitimwa, Uganda With Map".
- Uganda Bureau of Statistics. (June 2011). "Projected Population of Mbale In 2002, 2010 & 2011". Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
- 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).
- "Background of Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust". Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust (PONT).
- Franklin Draku. (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". [[Daily Monitor]].
- Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam. (5 November 2019). "Cabinet Includes Masaka, Mbale Among New Cities To Be Operational In 2020". SoftPower Uganda.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::