Kasese
Encyclopedia
Kasese is a town in Western Uganda
, lying north of Lake George
. It originally grew around the copper mine at Kilembe, while attention later turned to cobalt
mining. It is the 'chief town' of Kasese District
and the district headquarters are located there. Kasese is also the largest town in Renzururu sub-region (Kingdom) and the King of Rwenzururu
maintains a palace
in the town.
to Kampala
and Tororo
, and is home to Kasese Airport
. The city is known for its nightlife and lies near the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park
. It is located approximately 350 kilometres (217.5 mi), by road, west of Kampala
, Uganda
's capital and largest city.
. The reasons for this rapid population growth include:
, approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of Kasese is the site of a Hima Cement Limited
, the second-largest cement
manufacturer in Uganda. Hima Cement Limited, is a subsidiary of the French
conglomerate
, Lafarge
e.
Kasese Cobalt Comppany Limited (KCCL), located on the road from Kasese to Rubirizi
, just south of the central business district
of Kasese, extracts cobalt
from the sludge left after copper is extracted from the raw ore. The cobalt is then exported. Kasese has also given name to a crude variant of Waragi
, an alcoholic spirit.
Western Region, Uganda
Western Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
, lying north of Lake George
Lake George (Uganda)
Lake George or Lake Dweru is a lake in Uganda. It covers a total surface area of 250 km² and is a part of Africa's Great Lakes system but is not itself considered one of the Great Lakes. Like the other lakes in the region it was named after a member of the British royal family, in this case...
. It originally grew around the copper mine at Kilembe, while attention later turned to cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
mining. It is the 'chief town' of Kasese District
Kasese District
Kasese District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kasese, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:Kasese District is located along the Equator...
and the district headquarters are located there. Kasese is also the largest town in Renzururu sub-region (Kingdom) and the King of Rwenzururu
Charles Mumbere
Charles Wesley Mumbere is the king of the African kingdom of Rwenzururu, which is part of Uganda.-Biography:Rwenzururu was established in the 1962 as the result of a secessionist movement by the Bakonjo people in the mountainous region of western Uganda. The revolt was led by Mumbere's father,...
maintains a palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
in the town.
Location
Kasese lies at the western end of the Uganda RailwayUganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
to Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
and Tororo
Tororo
Tororo is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Tororo District. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
, and is home to Kasese Airport
Kasese Airport
Kasese Airport is an airport in Uganda. It is one of the forty-six airports in the country.-Location:Kasese Airport is located in the town of Kasese, Kasese District, Rwwenzururu Sub-region, in Western Uganda, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, cclose to the International border with the...
. The city is known for its nightlife and lies near the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
-Location:The national park is located in western Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri. Its location is approximately , by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The town of Kasese lies just outside the northeastern edge of the park,...
. It is located approximately 350 kilometres (217.5 mi), by road, west of Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's capital and largest city.
Population
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Kasese at 53,907. In 2008, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the population of the town at 66,600. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of Kasese at 74,300. Kasese town is one of the fastest growing municipalities in UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. The reasons for this rapid population growth include:
- Increased tourism - Kasese is the gateway to Queen Elizabeth National ParkQueen Elizabeth National Park-Location:The national park is located in western Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri. Its location is approximately , by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The town of Kasese lies just outside the northeastern edge of the park,...
, one of the most popular in UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the Rwenzori National Park. - Kilembe Mines employs a large number of workers, when it is functional
- Hima Cement Factory is another big employer not far (approx. 29 kilometres (18 mi) north) from Kasese.
- Increased trade with the eastern districts of the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
- the border town of MpondweMpondwe-Location:Mpondwe is located in the Rwenzori Mountains, in Kasese District, Western Uganda. The town lies at the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bwera is another settlement to the immediate east of Mpondwe border crossing...
is only 36 kilometres (22.4 mi), southwest of Kasese. - Good transportation - The road between Kasese and Kampala is an all-weather tarmac highway. Kasese AirportKasese AirportKasese Airport is an airport in Uganda. It is one of the forty-six airports in the country.-Location:Kasese Airport is located in the town of Kasese, Kasese District, Rwwenzururu Sub-region, in Western Uganda, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, cclose to the International border with the...
receives regular flights from Entebbe International AirportEntebbe International AirportEntebbe International Airport is the principal international airport of Uganda.-Location:It is located near the town of Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria, and about from the capital, Kampala...
. The railway to Kampala is currently non-functional but plans are underway to resume service.
Industry
The town of HimaHima
A himá "inviolate zone" refers to an area set aside for the conservation of natural capital, typically fields, wildlife and forests - contrast ḥaram, which defines an area protected for more immediate human purposes....
, approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of Kasese is the site of a Hima Cement Limited
Hima Cement Limited
-Overview:Hima Cement Limited is the second-largest manufacturer of cement in Uganda, producing an estimated 850,000 metric tonnes annually. The leading cement manufacturer in the country, Tororo Cement Limited, has a production capacity of over 1 million metric tonnes annually...
, the second-largest cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
manufacturer in Uganda. Hima Cement Limited, is a subsidiary of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
, Lafarge
Lafarge
Lafarge is a French industrial company specialising in four major products: cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. In 2010 the company was the world's second-largest cement manufacturer by mass shipped behind Holcim.-History:...
e.
Kasese Cobalt Comppany Limited (KCCL), located on the road from Kasese to Rubirizi
Rubirizi
Rubirizi, sometimes spelled Rubiriizi, is a town in Rubirizi District, Ankole sub-region, Western Uganda. The town is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Rubirizi District. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, just south of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Kasese, extracts cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
from the sludge left after copper is extracted from the raw ore. The cobalt is then exported. Kasese has also given name to a crude variant of Waragi
Waragi
Waragi is a generic term in Uganda for domestic distilled beverages. Waragi is also given different names, depending on region of origin, the distillation process, or both. It is commonly called Waragi in the central area of Uganda but in the West it is sometimes called "Kasese". In northern Uganda...
, an alcoholic spirit.
Landmarks
The landmarks within the town limits or near the edges of town include:- The headquarters of Kasese District AdministrationKasese DistrictKasese District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kasese, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:Kasese District is located along the Equator...
- The offices of Kasese Town Council
- Kasese Central Market
- Kasese Hospital - A 200-bed public hospital, administered by the Uganda Ministry of HealthUganda Ministry of HealthThe Uganda Health Ministry, commonly known as the Uganda Ministry of Health, is a government department in Uganda. The ministry is headed by three cabinet members; one Minister of Health and two State Ministers of Health.-Location:...
- A branch of Barclays BankBarclays Bank (Uganda)Barclays Bank Limited, commonly known as Barclays Bank , is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- A branch of Centenary BankCentenary BankCentenary Bank is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three licensed commercial banks in the country.-Overview:The bank is a mid-sized financial services provider in Uganda. It is primarily involved in the promotion of development through loans to rural farmers, processors of...
- A branch of Stanbic BankStanbic Bank (Uganda) LimitedStanbic Bank Limited is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- A branch of PostBank UgandaPostBank UgandaPostBank Uganda is a non-bank credit institution in Uganda. As of May 2010, PostBank Uganda was a small credit institution whose asset base was estimated at about US$39 million.-History:...
- A branch of Pride Microfinance LimitedPride Microfinance LimitedPride Microfinance Limited , is a Microfinance Deposit-taking Institution in Uganda.-Location:The headquarters of PML are located in Metropole House, on Entebbe Road, in the central business district of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
- A branch of the National Social Security FundNational Social Security Fund (Uganda)The National Social Security Fund is a semi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda, who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme...
- Hima Cement LimitedHima Cement Limited-Overview:Hima Cement Limited is the second-largest manufacturer of cement in Uganda, producing an estimated 850,000 metric tonnes annually. The leading cement manufacturer in the country, Tororo Cement Limited, has a production capacity of over 1 million metric tonnes annually...
- The second-largest cementCementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
factory in UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, located in the town of HimaHima, Uganda-Location:Hima lies on the main highway between Kasese and Fort Portal. The town is located approximately , by road, north of Kasese, the largest town in the Rwenzururu sub-region. The coordinates of the town are: 00° 17' 21N, 30° 10' 41E .-Population:In 2010 the Uganda Bureau of Statistics ,...
, pop. 29,700 (2011), about 29 kilometres (18 mi), by road, north of Kasese. - Kasese AirportKasese AirportKasese Airport is an airport in Uganda. It is one of the forty-six airports in the country.-Location:Kasese Airport is located in the town of Kasese, Kasese District, Rwwenzururu Sub-region, in Western Uganda, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, cclose to the International border with the...
- Kasese Cobalt Company Limited - Cobalt extraction and prrocessing
- Kilembe Mines Limited - Extraction of copper (now dormant). Maintains a private hospital (now active) and a mini-hydropower plant that supplies the town of Kasese
- Kilembe Mines Hospital - A private 100-bed hospital admnistered by Kilembe Mines Limited.
See also
- Railway stations in UgandaRailway stations in Uganda- Maps :* * * * - Existing : Bungoma - last town in Kenya Malaba** Tororo - near Kenya border; junction for north line* Main Line* Iganga* Jinja - bridge over Victoria Nile* Iganga - washed away culvert * Busembatia...
- Kasese DistrictKasese DistrictKasese District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kasese, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:Kasese District is located along the Equator...
- Kagando HospitalKagando Hospital-Location:Kagando Hospital, also known as Kagando Mission Hospital, is located in Kagando, Kasese District, Rwenzururu sub-region, Western Uganda, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, and close to Queen Elizabeth National Park....
- Rwenzururu sub-region
- Western Region, UgandaWestern Region, UgandaWestern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...