Kasese
| Kasese | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Kasese Location in Uganda | |
| Coordinates: 0°11′12″N 30°05′17″E / 0.18667°N 30.08806°E | |
| Country |
 Uganda |
| Region | Western Uganda |
| Sub-region | Rwenzururu sub-region |
| District | Kasese District |
| Elevation | 3,000 ft (1,000 m) |
| Population (2014 Census) | |
| • Total | 101,679[1] |
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.
Location
Kasese lies at the western end of the Uganda Railway 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 360 kilometres (220 mi), by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.[2] This location lies about 36 kilometres (22 mi), by road, northeast of Mpondwe, the border town at the International border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3] The coordinates of Kasese Town are:0°11'12.0"N, 30°05'17.0"E (Latitude:0.186667; Longitude:30.088050).[4]
Population
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Kasese at about 53,900. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the population of the town at 71,700. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of Kasese at 74,300.[5] In August 2014, the national population census put Kasese's population at 101,679.[1]
Population dynamics
Kasese town is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Uganda. The reasons for this rapid population growth include:
- Increased tourism - Kasese is the gateway to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most popular in Uganda and the Rwenzori National Park.
- Kilembe Mines employs a large number of workers, when it is functional
- Hima Cement Factory is another big employer located in Hima, approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi), by road, north of Kasese.[6]
- Increased trade with the eastern districts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - The border town of Mpondwe is only 36 kilometres (22 mi), southwest of Kasese.
- Good transportation - The road between Kasese and Kampala is an all-weather tarmac highway. Kasese Airport receives regular flights from Entebbe International Airport. The railway to Kampala is currently non-functional but plans are underway to resume service.
Industry
The town of Hima, 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.
Kasese Cobalt Company 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.
Points of interest
The following points of interest lie within the town or close to its edges:
- The headquarters of Kasese District Administration
- The offices of Kasese Town Council
- Kasese Central Market
- Kasese Hospital - A 200-bed public hospital, administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health
- A branch of Barclays Bank
- A branch of Centenary Bank
- A branch of Stanbic Bank
- A branch of PostBank Uganda
- A branch of Pride Microfinance Limited
- A branch of the National Social Security Fund
- Hima Cement Limited - The second-largest cement factory in Uganda, located in the town of Hima, pop. 29,700 (2011), about 18 kilometres (11 mi), by road, north of Kasese.
- Kasese Airport
- Kasese Cobalt Company Limited - Cobalt extraction and processing
- Kilembe Mines Limited - Extraction of copper. Maintains a private hospital and a 5MW mini-hydropower plant, Mubuku I Power Station, that supplies the town of Kasese.[7]
- Kilembe Mines Hospital - A private 100-bed hospital administered by Kilembe Mines Limited.
- Springs International Hotel - A middle-class hotel built by the late Major General James Kazini, a native son. The hotel was purchased in 2011 by the Shamuk Group.[8]
- Hotel Margherita[9]
- Jambo Cafe[10] [11]
- Modern Foods Cafe[12][13]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 UBOS, . (27 August 2014). "The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ↑ "Distance Between Kampala And Kasese With Map". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ "Map Showing Kasese And Mpondwe With Distance Marker". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ Google, . "Location of Kasese At Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ UBOS, . "Estimated Population of Kasese In 2002, 2010 And 2011". Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ "Travel Distance Between Kasese And Hima With Interactive Map". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ↑ Asiimwe, Wilson (7 June 2014). "Kilembe Mines Rehabilitation Starts". New Vision. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ Ssekika, Edward (23 November 2011). "Shumuk Takes Kazini’s Hotel". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ ., . "About Hotel Margherita". Hotel Margherita. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ↑ http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1155103-d4603570-Reviews-Jambo_Cafe-Kasese_Western_Region.html
- ↑ http://www.bmsworldmission.org/news-blogs/archive/coffee-and-cupcakes-kasese
- ↑ http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1155103-d6208942-Reviews-Modern_Foods_Restaurant-Kasese_Western_Region.html
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/modernfoodskasese
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||