For any Ugandan, there are places we simply know. We use them or hear of them so often that they’ve become normal parts of our vocabulary, particularly when giving directions. But have you ever paused to wonder about the origin of the names of these popular places in Kampala, and why they are named that way? It’s a bit of a mystery, especially for most of the youths who grew up merely accepting the names as they are. Fret not, we did some research, and what we discovered might just surprise you. Here are the 13 popular places in Kampala and the origin of their names.
#1. Kampala.
Now, what better way to start this list than with our capital city? The name Kampala itself carries a wild origin, and I mean this literally. Before it became Uganda’s capital, the area was a stretch of gentle hills populated by Impala antelopes. The graceful creatures roamed freely, especially around what is now known as Old Kampala.
When British colonial officials arrived in Uganda around 1860, they referred to the area as the “Hill of the Impala,” which, in Luganda dialect, translates to Akasozi K’empala. Over time, the phrase was shortened to K’empala, and eventually, the name evolved into what we now recognise as Kampala.
#2. Ewa Kisekka
You’ve likely heard of Kisekka Market, or perhaps you’ve even taken a shortcut through it. But did you know the area is named after Dr. Samson Babi Mululu Kisekka, a former Prime Minister and Vice President of Uganda? Back in the day, Dr. Kisekka established the Kisekka Foundation Hospital in that area. In Luganda, people began referring to the area as Ewa Kisekka, meaning the place where Kisekka is. The name caught on, as nicknames often do, and today it refers to an entire neighbourhood in the heart of Kampala.
#3. Bakuli
The place Bakuli, or as travellers call it, Ewa Bakuli, is located between Old Kampala and Namirembe hill and in our search, we found two origin stories.
In one version, tracing back to Ernest James Berkeley, the British Commissioner in Uganda between 1894 and 1899. Over time, locals are believed to have morphed the pronunciation of Berkeley into Bakuli.
Berkeley Lane, commonly known as “Bakuli” and the area “Ewa Bakuli,” was named after Ernest James Berkeley, the British commissioner in Uganda from August 24, 1894, to December 1899. – Kampala Roads Keep the British Colonial Legacy Alive, New Vision.
Another version, however, credits a Goan restaurant owner named Pharkulo, who was popular for serving meals in bowls, called Bakuli in the local dialect. The place became so associated with these meals that the name took hold.
“Though some say, it was the locals’ failure to pronounce the name Pharkulo that it was easy for them to say ‘Bakuli,’ henceforth naming the place.” – How most locations or present Places in Kampala got their Names with History.
Whichever story you prefer, the name has managed to survive to date.
#4. Kasubi
When people hear about Kasubi, they at once assume it was named so because of the grass-thatched tombs situated along Masiro Road.
Originally known as Nabulagala, this hill got its new name in 1856 when Kabaka Muteesa I relocated his palace to the location, renaming it Kasubi in memory of his mother’s ancestral home in Kyaggwe County (now Mukono District), where he grew up.
Today, Kasubi is home to the largest grass-thatched house in Africa—the Kasubi Tombs, the royal burial site for Buganda Kings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name may have personal origins, but it has since become a national symbol of Buganda heritage and a great tourist attraction.
#5. Ku Nya/Ku Taano
These two names sound like street slang, but they’re actually rooted in colonial-era geography. In Luganda, Ku Nya means “at four/at the 4th” and Ku Taano means “at five/at the 5th,” as in the 4th and 5th mile markers along major roads.
Back when road infrastructure was being laid out, road workers and transporters used these mileposts as reference points. Over time, people living and operating in those areas began referring to them simply by their mile number, hence Nteeka Ku Nya/Ku Taano, meaning “Drop me at the 4th/5th mile.”
#6. Mu Kiyembe (Kiyembe Lane)
For those who frequent Kampala’s hustles, the tailors and fashion enthusiasts on the web today, it’s hard not to know Kiyembe, although the origin of the name has been lost to many. Kiyembe Lane, located in the area near Old Taxi Park, is one of the busiest walkways in downtown Kampala, a tight corridor mainly associated with fabric traders, tailors, and shoppers.
The name Kiyembe traces back to a huge mango tree (Muyembe in the local dialect) that once stood in the area. It was such a prominent feature that the lane came to be called Kiyembe. Over time, as Kampala expanded and high-rises replaced nature, the iconic tree was cut down, and the story behind the name began to fade. Today, some people even assume Kiyembe was a person, an elder or a businessman who became popular.
Historically, this narrow street was a key hub in Uganda’s tailoring and textile industry, especially for those dealing in suits and traditional wear, long before imported second-hand clothes took over the market. Mu Kiyembe was and is still the place to go for quality fabrics and skilled tailoring.
To many of the younger generation, it’s just another shopping lane. On that note, you should probably check out Why Imported Secondhand Clothes, “Mivumba” are so Popular to Ugandans.
#7. Ku Masitowa.
To the Nansana residents, Ku Masitowa is a common name, derived from a Luganda adaptation of the English word store, which translates to large storage facilities.
The naming of the place dates back to a time when Asian wholesale businesses thrived in Uganda, before President Idi Amin expelled them in 1972. Masitowa referred to a “place of storage” where these businessmen kept their merchandise.
Today, while the place name still exists, few remember its connection to Uganda’s commercial past, and the meaning behind it continues to fade into obscurity as new buildings replace the old ones.
#8. Owino Market.
Kampala shoppers, this one is for you. Most youth know of Owino, or more dominantly known as the bend down boutique, because Mivumba clothes are laid out on tarpaulins, requiring buyers to “bend down” to choose what piece of cloth to inspect and hopefully buy.
Owino Market in Kampala was named after an elderly gentleman named Owino, who had already been selling maize and potatoes in the area before the market developed. When traders from Nakasero Market were relocated to the area in 1971, they found that Owino had already established his business and began referring to the new market by his name.
#9. Mulago.
Hospitals often have descriptive names, either adopted from the founder, the organisations that established them, or, as in the case of Mulago, based on a conceptual idea.
Mulago is named after the Luganda word omulago, a type of medicinal herb used for protection, specifically against evil spirits. This herb grew on Mulago Hill and was used by the King, Kabaka Suuna II of Buganda, to ward off evil spirits. Today, the hill and its surrounding area are most renowned for the Mulago National Referral Hospital, which is conveniently situated in the vicinity.
#10. Ministers’ village
If you are into upscale residences and locations, then Ntinda has definitely crossed your mind. One of its most prestigious enclaves, Minister’s Village, stands out, not just for its serene ambience or affluent homes, but for the story behind its name.
Minister’s Village got its name from a government housing initiative in the 1970s, when the National Housing and Construction Company established a residential estate in Ntinda called “Village 19.”
This estate was specifically built to accommodate Uganda’s top government officials, including ministers and senior civil servants, during a time when organised urban housing was gaining momentum in Uganda. Internally referred to as “Ministerio Village,” the area gradually earned its now-iconic title, the Minister’s Village, as more high-ranking officials made it their home.
By the 1980s, regime changes saw many new elites moving into the area. This included notable figures like former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya, who helped further build its status as a residential zone for the powerful and well-connected.
#11. Wandegeya
Just a short stretch from the heart of Kampala, Wandegeya has been a melting pot of students, traders, and long-time city dwellers for quite some time. As for how it got its name, Wandegeya owes its name to the “endegeya,” or weaver birds, that once nested in abundance across its green patches. Long before it became a commercial hub or a student magnet, the area was known for its birdlife, and in the early mornings and evenings, vivid flashes of yellow and loud bird noises were a distinctive event.
As the city expanded and Makerere University gained popularity, Wandegeya quickly became a spillover zone for student life and urbanisation, which, as is expected, forced the birds to search for new homes.
#12. Namboole.
Namboole is a popular location for many Ugandans, especially football enthusiasts, as it is home to one of the few scaled stadiums in the country. Yes, Namboole is the name of the hill on which the stadium stands; the stadium got its name after the hill on which it stood, until later, when it was renamed to Mandela Stadium in honour of Nelson Mandela.
#13. Nakasero.
For many of Uganda’s locations, the names came from descriptions of the place, activities in the place, or what the Kabaka’s of that time deemed them. For Nakasero, it was an activity common to the area that earned it its name.
Nakasero was named after the basket-weaving activity that took place on the hill. Women in the area were known to weave baskets, and the word for these baskets in the local language, Luganda, is Ebisero. Because of this association, the place was eventually referred to as Ewobusero, which then evolved into Nakasero.
Many places in Kampala carry names we hear daily without knowing their rich histories. Whether inspired by animals, people, or colonial-era quirks, these names tell a deeper story about Uganda.
Compiled by Enoch Muwanguzi
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