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Home Uganda Guide to Attractions| Uganda Towns | Uganda Information | Things to do in Uganda | Travel Tips in Uganda Mbarara Town

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Mbarara Town

Category: Cities & Towns

Population: 450,000

Economy: Agriculture

Nearest District: Masaka, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kiruhura

Nearest Airport: Mbarara Airstrip

Attractions: Long Horn Ankole Cattle, Zebras at Lake Mburo, Rolling Hills

Description:

Mbarara is situated in the Western region of Uganda, 295 Kilometres southwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Mbarara District is one of Uganda’s fastest growing districts something attributed to trade boom that has swept through the region over the last decades.

Mbarara district was the Eastern part of old Ankole district of the former Ankole Kingdom until1962. It comprised of present day districts of (Mbarara, Bushenyi and Ntungamo) however when Milton Obote 1 abolished kingdoms in Uganda in 1967, Mbarara became Ankole district. Later in 1974, the provincial administration divided Ankole into East and West Ankole. East Ankole became Mbarara district in 1980.

Today, Mbarara district is bordered by Ibanda District in the north, Kiruhura District in the east, Isingiro District & Ntungamo District in the south, Sheema District to the west and Buhweju District to the northwest.

Agriculture is the main economic activity of Mbarara District. Both crops and livestock are raised primarily on subsistence level. However, commercial farming is also practiced in some parts of the district. Crops grown mainly include; Matooke, Beans, Maize, Sorghum, Millet etc. Livestock includes; Ankole cattle, exotic cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, sheep, chicken etc

Getting there & Away

Mbarara is an important transport hub, lying west of Masaka on the road to Kabale. Mbarara town is the main route for many travelers and buses heading to Kabale, Rwanda & Burundi.

Buses run from Kampala to Mbarara regularly & can be found both in the Qualicell Bus Park next to the New Taxi Park and at the New Nakivubo Bus terminal. Regular buses operate Mbarara route include, Horizon Coaches, Swift coaches, Gateway Coaches.See Guide2Uganda bus section for bus details.

The post Bus also connects the Kampala, Mbarara, Masaka & Kabale routes and vice verse. Connecting Buses and Mini – Bus Taxis to neighboring districts use Mbarara Bus Park as connecting point before adjourning to different routes and vice verse.

Accommodation:

Budget and upmarket accommodation is available within and out of Mbarara town. These include Lakeview Resort Hotel, Rwizi Hotel, Oxford Inn, Agip Motel and many more. See Accommodation page for details.

Tourism attractions

Mbarara is a lively town which receives many visitors and is a cross-road for travelers heading towards the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, the Rwenzori mountains and kabale in the southwest.

The Nkonkonjeru tombs at Kakika, burial site of the last Abagabe (kings) of Ankole: Omugabe (King) Kahaya II and Omugabe Gasyonga and other Ankole royals.

Excursions include Safarilanda Park, built on the side of a hill overlooking the Rwizi. It is a wooden structure with restaurants, bars and balconies all decorated in African style.

Banks: Banking services are available within the town centre. Major Banks in Kampala have their branches also scattered in Mbarara town. These include;Barclays Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank Of Uganda, Centenary Rural Development Bank, Stanbic bank, Standard chartered.