Masaka is approximately 132 kilometres (82 mi) to the south-west of Kampala on the highway to Mbarara.[4] The city is close to the Equator. The coordinates of Masaka are 0°20'28.0"S, 31°44'10.0"E (Latitude:-0.341111; Longitude:31.736111).[5] Masaka lies at an average elevation of 1,288 metres (4,226 ft) above sea level.[6]
History
Masaka was founded as a township in 1953. It became a town council in 1958 and a municipality in 1968.[7]
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, prompting most to flee 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.[8]
In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Masaka, city status effective July 2023.[2][10] In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.[11]
As of June 2021, the city of Masaka occupied a total area in excess of 100 square kilometres (25,000 acres). Masaka City Council, with assistance from the Central Ugandan government and the World Bank is in the process of implementing major road and street improvements, as part of the Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program. The city has a working budget of USh73 billion (approx. US$21 million), in the 2020/2021 financial year.[12]
Population
According to the 2002 national census, the population of Masaka was about 67,800. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 73,300. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 74,100.[13] In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 103,829.[14]
In 2020, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of Masaka City at 116,600 people. The population agency calculated the population growth rate of the town to average 2.11 percent, between 2014 and 2020.[15] The 2024 national census enumerated the people in Masaka City at 285,509.[1]
Maize plantation in MasakaVilla Maria Catholic parish in Masaka
In 2016, before the metropolis attained city status, Masaka occupied 58 square kilometres (22 sq mi). It was divided into three administrative divisions, (a) Katwe-Butego (b) Kimaanya-Kyabakuza
and (c) Nyendo-Ssenyange. It is further subdivided into 54 zones.[7]
The annual Uganda Marathon event takes place in June, the race route loops twice through the town and the funds generated support local employment and community development.[citation needed]
Hamda Vocational and Social Institute is a institute, Emirati women philanthropist Hamda Taryam was a well-known philanthropist in Masaka Uganda who initiated this charitable projects aims to qualify students professionally for the labour market. The foundation provides free training to orphan students, ensuring they qualify for the market, with proceeds going towards humanitarian and charitable projects sponsored by the Foundation[23][24][25]
