Kasese Municipality | |
|---|---|
 A view of Kasese | |
  Kasese Municipality Location in Uganda | |
| Coordinates: 0°11′12″N 30°05′17″E / 0.18667°N 30.08806°E | |
| Country |  Uganda |
| Region | Western Region |
| District | Kasese District |
| City status | 1 July 2023[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Council |
| • City Mayor | Chance Kahindo[2] |
| • Member of Parliament | Kambale Ferigo (Kasese Municipality)[3] |
| Elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) |
| Population (2014 Census[4]) | |
• Total | 101,057 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | www |
Kasese is a municipality in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the main urban, commercial, and administrative centre of Kasese District. Kasese serves as the capital of the Rwenzururu, a cultural institution and subnational kingdom.[5] The city is located in the Albertine Rift at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains and is a gateway to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
History
Kasese began as a small trading post in the early 20th century. Its growth was significantly stimulated in the 1950s with two major developments: the establishment of the Kilembe Mines for copper and cobalt extraction, and the construction of the western extension of the Uganda Railway to the area, creating a transport hub.[6] The town was planned and built to support the mining industry, which attracted a large workforce and spurred commercial activity.
During the mid-20th century, Kasese became the epicentre of the Rwenzururu movement, a political and armed struggle by the Bakonzo and Amba people seeking secession from the Tooro Kingdom. The town and surrounding district were the heartland of the self-declared Rwenzururu Kingdom led by Isaya Mukirania.[7]
Kasese was granted township status and later became a municipality.
Geography and location
Kasese is situated at the western end of the Uganda-Congo border, just north of Lake George and south of the Rwenzori Mountains. The city's coordinates are 0°11'12.0"N, 30°05'17.0"E (Latitude: 0.186667; Longitude: 30.088050).
It is approximately 360 kilometres (224 mi) by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital. The city's location makes it a strategic hub for trade with the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the border town of Mpondwe located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) to the south-west.
Climate
| Climate data for {{{location}}} | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.6 (87.1) |
31.1 (88.0) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.6 (85.3) |
29.4 (84.9) |
29.6 (85.3) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.7 (83.7) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.8 (85.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.3 (61.3) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.4 (63.3) |
16.7 (62.1) |
16.4 (61.5) |
16.9 (62.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.7 (60.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 27.9 (1.10) |
37.8 (1.49) |
83.9 (3.30) |
130.1 (5.12) |
100.2 (3.94) |
45.8 (1.80) |
36.7 (1.44) |
67.5 (2.66) |
87.9 (3.46) |
115.7 (4.56) |
104.2 (4.10) |
62.3 (2.45) |
900 (35.42) |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization[8] | |||||||||||||
Environmental challenges
Due to its location at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, Kasese is highly susceptible to severe flooding. The Nyamwamba River, which flows down from the mountains and through the city, frequently bursts its banks during heavy rainy seasons. This is caused by a combination of factors, including the steep terrain, deforestation, and the effects of climate change on the mountain's glaciers.[9] Major floods, such as those in 2013, 2020, and 2022, have caused widespread destruction, displacing thousands of residents, destroying infrastructure like bridges and buildings, and resulting in loss of life.[10]
Population
According to the 2014 national census, the population of Kasese Municipality was 101,057.[4] The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the mid-year population in 2020 to be approximately 115,400.[11] The population is ethnically diverse due to historical labour migration for the mines, but the majority are of the Bakonzo ethnic group.
Economy
The economy of Kasese municipality is driven by several key sectors:
- Mining: Historically, the city's economy was dominated by Kilembe Mines, one of Africa's largest copper and cobalt producers. While large-scale mining ceased in the 1980s, the Kasese Cobalt Company Limited (KCCL) later processed the stockpile of cobalt-rich tailings.[12] Hima Cement Limited, located in the nearby town of Hima, is also a major employer in the region.
- Tourism: Kasese is a primary entry point for tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This supports a local industry of hotels, lodges, and tour operators.
- Agriculture: The surrounding region is fertile, supporting the cultivation of crops such as coffee, cotton, and various fruits and staple foods, which are traded in the city's markets.
- Trade: Its proximity to the Democratic Republic of the Congo makes Kasese an important centre for cross-border trade.
Points of interest
- The headquarters of Kasese District administration.
- The main palace of the Omusinga of Rwenzururu.
- Kasese Airport, which serves tourists and regional travellers.
- Kilembe Mines Hospital, a 200-bed community hospital.
- A branch of the National Social Security Fund.
Notable people
- Charles Mumbere: The reigning Omusinga (King) of the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
- Winnie Kiiza: Politician and former Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Uganda.
- Godfrey Kabbyanga: Politician, former Mayor of Kasese, and current Minister of State for National Guidance.
- Christopher Kibanzanga: Politician, former Member of Parliament, and former Minister of State for Agriculture.
- Florence Kabugho: Politician, current Member of Parliament in the 11th Parliament of Uganda.
- Kambale Ferigo: Politician, current Member of Parliament in the 11th Parliament of Uganda.
See also
References
- ^ "Govt creates 7 new cities". Daily Monitor. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "FDC's Chance Kahindo Elected Kasese Municipality Mayor". ChimpReports. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Kambale Ferigo - 11th Parliament of Uganda". Parliament of Uganda. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b UBOS (November 2016). The National Population and Housing Census 2014 – Main Report (PDF). Kampala, Uganda: Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). p. 15. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Inside the Rwenzururu palace". New Vision. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Stephens, A. J. (1955). "THE KILEMBE MINE". The Uganda Journal. 19 (1): 85–86. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Prunier, Gérard (2009). Africa's World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Making of a Continental Catastrophe. Oxford University Press. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-19-970583-2.
- ^ "World Weather Information Service". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Uganda: The vicious cycle of Kasese floods". Daily Monitor. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Thousands Displaced as Floods Ravage Western Uganda". Human Rights Watch. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). "The population of all Ugandan cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants according to census results and latest official projections". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Mugira, Fredrick (31 January 2015). "Chinese consortium to revive Uganda's copper mines". China Africa Reporting. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
External links
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Capital: Kasese | ||
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