Kisoro
Encyclopedia
Kisoro is a town in Western Uganda
. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District
and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.
, the largest town in the sub-region
. This location lies approximately 460 kilometres (285.8 mi), by road, southwest of Kampala
, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country. The coordinates of the town are: 01 17 06S, 29 41 06E (Latitude:-1.2850; Longitude:29.6850). It lies east of Rumangabo
in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Virunga Mountains
.
and home to the rare Mountain Gorilla
. Because of this, Kisoro has become a magnet to tourists. Mountainous scenery, Lake Mutanda, Mountain Gorillas, colorful markets, and volcano trekking provide an array of activities for visitors to do. Kisoro is just about the end of the road for those visiting western Uganda
. It is the nearest town to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
and is the access town for those proceeding to Rwanda
or the Democratic Republic of the Congo
for gorilla tracking
in the Parc Des Volcans
or the Parc Des Virunga
.
Western Region, Uganda
Western Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District
Kisoro District
Kisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.
Location
Kisoro is located approximately 41 kilometres (25.5 mi), by road, west of KabaleKabale
Kabale is a city in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kabale District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, the largest town in the sub-region
Kigezi
Kigezi District once covered what are now Kabale District, Kanungu District, Kisoro District and Rukungiri District, in southwest Uganda. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known as the Switzerland of East Africa...
. This location lies approximately 460 kilometres (285.8 mi), by road, southwest 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...
, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country. The coordinates of the town are: 01 17 06S, 29 41 06E (Latitude:-1.2850; Longitude:29.6850). It lies east of Rumangabo
Rumangabo
Rumangabo is a military base of the Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo located north of Goma in Nord-Kivu province. 3.5 km south of the military base is the headquarters of the Virunga National Park....
in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Virunga Mountains
Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu...
.
Overview
Kisoro is located in a wonderful setting under the peaks of the Mufumbiro Mountains which are part of the Virunga MountainsVirunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu...
and home to the rare Mountain Gorilla
Mountain Gorilla
The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
. Because of this, Kisoro has become a magnet to tourists. Mountainous scenery, Lake Mutanda, Mountain Gorillas, colorful markets, and volcano trekking provide an array of activities for visitors to do. Kisoro is just about the end of the road for those visiting western 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...
. It is the nearest town to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in the far south-west of Uganda near the town of Kisoro.-Location:The park is located in the Virunga Mountains and is contiguous with the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and is the access town for those proceeding to Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
or the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The 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...
for gorilla tracking
Mountain Gorilla
The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
in the Parc Des Volcans
Volcanoes National Park
For the park in Hawaii, see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.Volcanoes National Park lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the mountain gorilla...
or the Parc Des Virunga
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
.
Population
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Kisoro at 11,328. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the population of the town at 12,400 in 2008. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of Kisoro at 12,900.Landmarks
Landmarks that are located within the town limits or near the edge of town include:- The headquarters of Kisoro District AdministrationKisoro DistrictKisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- The offices of Kisoro Town Council
- Kisoro Central Market
- Kisoro AirportKisoro AirportKisoro Airport is an airport in Uganda. It is one of the forty-six airports in the country.-Location:Kisoro Airport, is located in extreme southwestern Uganda, approximately , by air, southwest of Entebbe International Airport, the country’s largest civilian and military airport...
- Administered by the Uganda Civil Aviation AuthorityCivil Aviation Authority of UgandaThe Civil Aviation Authority was created by an Act of Parliament in 1994 as a state agency of the Ministry of Transport, Housing and Communication... - Kisoro Hospital - A 160 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 Crane BankCrane BankCrane Bank is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:The bank is a mid-sized financial services provider in Uganda...
- A branch of Equity BankEquity Bank (Uganda)-Overview:The bank provides banking services to individuals and to small and medium business enterprises. As of December 2009, the bank was the 14th largest commercial bank in Uganda with an estimated asset valuation of approximately US$81.4 million or approximately 2% of all bank assets in the...
- 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:...
- Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkMgahinga Gorilla National ParkMgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in the far south-west of Uganda near the town of Kisoro.-Location:The park is located in the Virunga Mountains and is contiguous with the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- For viewing Mountain Gorillas and the Virunga MountainsVirunga MountainsThe Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu... - Lake MutandaLake Mutanda-Location:The lake is located in Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda, approximately north of the town of Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located. This location is approximately , by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
- Located approximately 20 kilometres (12.4 mi), by road, north of Kisoro.
