Mbale

This article is about the Ugandan city. For the Ugandan district, see Mbale District. For the Kenyan town, see Mbale, Kenya.

Mbale is a city in Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region.

Location

Mbale is approximately 245 kilometres (152 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala on an all weather tarmac highway. The coordinates of the city are 1°04'50.0"N, 34°10'30.0"E (Latitude:1.080556; Longitude:34.175000). The city also lies on the railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa, is approximately 52 kilometres (32 mi) east of Mbale.

Population

According to the 2002 national 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. In 2014, the national 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

Mbale PTC

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 (Municipal) Council

Public facilities

• Mbale central market
• Mbale Municipal Stadium - Capacity: 25,000

Military

• The headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Uganda People's Defense Force

Health facilities

• Mbale Regional Referral Hospital - A 400 bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health
• CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda - A 42 bed private neurosurgery hospital, owned and administered by CURE International

Educational institutions

• Busitema University Medical School - 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

Financial institutions

The following financial institutions maintain branches in Mbale.

• PostBank Uganda
• National Social Security Fund
• Mbale Currency Center
• Barclays Bank
• Stanbic Bank
• Crane Bank
• Standard Chartered Bank
• Bank of Africa
• Housing Finance Bank

See also

• Gisu people
• Gisu language
• Mbale Kenya
• Railway stations in Uganda
• Bugisu Co-operative Union Limited

External links

• About Mbale
• Climbing Mount Elgon