Masaka City

Location

Masaka Town is located in the central part of Uganda about 140 kilometers from Kampala City , on the highway to Mbarara Town. It is an important business hub for travelers as it is famously known as the home of the Equator

History of Masaka

Masaka was founded as a township in 1953. It became a town council in 1958 and a municipality in 1968.

Masaka was a strategically important location during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–79), and was accordingly garrisoned by Uganda Army troops. These soldiers terrorized the local civilians, and most fled the town. On 23–24 February 1979, the Tanzania People's Defence Force and allied Ugandan rebels attacked the settlement, resulting in the Battle of Masaka. The town was bombarded with artillery, and fell to the Tanzanian-led forces after light resistance. The Tanzanians subsequently levelled much of the town to take revenge for atrocities committed by the Uganda Army during its previous invasion of northwestern Tanzania.

In course of the Ugandan Bush War, Masaka again suffered from fighting. The town was garrisoned by the Uganda National Liberation Army which served as Uganda's national army at the time. In late 1985, National Resistance Army rebels laid siege to the town. After heavy combat, Masaka's garrison surrendered on 10 December 1985.

In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Masaka, city status effective July 2023j. In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.

Attractions in Masaka

• Nabajjuzi Swamp: It’s a water treatment plant located immediately out of the town Masaka towards on the highway to Mbarara Town.
• Lake Victoria is located 44 kilometers from Masaka Town.
• Lukaya is approximately 34 kilometers by road, Northeast of Masaka  famous for bus stop for meat, food and drinks to travelers.
• Lake Nabugabo is located 20 Km east of Masaka Town The lake is popular for annual canoeing competitions and it is special for its beaches, coastlines and many rare species. It is one of the few lakes where one can swim and it is free of Bilharzia.
• Nabugabo Sand Beach is  located about 23 kilometers from Masaka Town, at the shores of Lake Victoria with activities like motor rallying events, fishing, camping, beautiful cottages , beach volleyball and  bird watching.

Points of Interest in Masaka

Muteesa 1 Royal University
This University was established in 2007 in memory of the late Kabaka Muteesa I Mukaabya who reigned over the Kingdom of Buganda between 1856 until 1884.

The Western Campus of Kampala International University (KIU)
It is located in the town of Masaka, 130 kilometers Southwest of Kampala City on the highway to Mbarara Town.

St. Henry’s College Kitovu
The College is located on Kitovu Hill, approximately 7 kilometres form Masaka Town.  The college was established in 1922 by the White Fathers.and it is a boy’s boarding school.

Sources

• Wikipedia