Kabalagala Explained

Kabalagala is a neighbourhood in Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. It houses some of the leading partygoers in the city. It is located next to Nsambya where the American Embassy in Uganda is found.

Location

Kabalagala is bordered by Kibuli to the northwest, Namuwongo to the northeast, Muyenga to the east and southeast, Kansanga to the south, Lukuli to the southwest and Nsambya to the west. Kabalagala is located about 6km (04miles) southeast of Kampala's central business district.^[1] The coordinates of the neighborhood are:0° 17' 53.00"N, 32° 36' 2.00"E (Latitude:0.298056; Longitude:32.600556).^[2]

Overview

Kabalagala is a fast-growing neighborhood in Kampala, Uganda's capital, and largest city. The neighborhood is famous for its many restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It is a major entertainment center, with many of the establishments open 24 hours, 7 days a week. During the 2000s the neighborhood has become a vibrant business hub, with new commercial banks, supermarkets, fuel stations and a university campus. The American Embassy in Uganda is located in neighboring Nsambya, about 1km (01miles) west of Kabalagala, along Ggaba Road. The neighborhood is a favorite hangout for foreigners visiting or resident in Uganda.^[3]

History

The name Kabalagala is derived from the Luganda name of a pancake made from sweet bananas, cassava flour and is spiced with local peppers.^[4] Street vendors of this food delicacy would yell "Kabalagala" to motorists waiting to turn at the junction. The name stuck. Prior to that, the neighborhood was known as "Kisugu". That name is now reserved for the more affluent residential area further north and east of Kabalagala.^[5]

Points of interest

The following points of interest lie in Kabalagala, or close to the edges of the neighborhood:

• The confluence of (a) Ggaba Road (b) Nsambya Road and (c) Muyenga Road
• The American Embassy in Uganda lies to the west of the neighborhood in another suburb called Nsambya
• The main campus of Kampala International University lies at the border between Kabalagala and neighboring Kansanga
• The Ethiopian Village, a restaurant, bar and nightclub – one of the locations bombed by Somali terrorists on 11 July 2010.^[6]
• For accommodation Hotel Kenrock
• A branch of Cairo International Bank
• A branch of DFCU Bank
• A branch of Equity Bank Uganda
• A branch of Orient Bank
• A branch of Tropical Bank
• A branch of Diamond Trust Bank
• A branch of Stanbic Bank
• A branch of Dahabshiil, the international money transfer and exchange company.
• Sosolya Undugu Family Academy and Sosolya Undugu Dance Academy, based here since 1990; Ivan Byekwaso, Lukenge Yusuf, Ssemaganda Ronald, Kudra Rashid, Madina Nalwanga and mutazindwa Sharifu have all been trained here ^[7]

External links

• The Many Faces of Prostitution In Uganda

0.2981°N 32.6006°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Map Showing Central Kampala & Kabalagala With Distance Marker. 13 June 2014. Globefeed.com.
2. Web site: Location of Kabalagala At Google Maps. Google Maps. 13 June 2014.
3. Web site: 13 June 2014. Kabalagala, Hub of Power Theft. 15 January 2012. The Observer (Uganda).
4. Web site: Kabalagala, An Inevitable 'Escort'. Solomon. Arinaitwe. 22 July 2012. 13 June 2014. Daily Monitor.
5. Web site: Kabalagala: Kampala's Commercial Suburb Hijacked By Sex Workers. Jean Pierre. Bucyensenge. 13 June 2014. 4 May 2013. The New Times (Rwanda). https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224628/http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15347&a=66592. 14 July 2014. dead.
6. Web site: 13 June 2014. Over 40 Die In Kampala Bomb Blasts. New Vision. 12 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100715054623/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/725545. 15 July 2010.
7. Web site: Home - Sosolya . www.sosolya.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130818235459/http://sosolya.com/ . 2013-08-18.