Location: Kololo Hill – Kampala
Height: 4,305 feet
Distance from city centre: 3 Km
Attractions: Kololo Airstrip and heroes burial graves, Stunning view of Kampala city and Lake Victoria.
Kololo hill is the most popular & highest hill in Kampala, Uganda’s largest capital centre. With a history dating back in 1912, Kololo got its name from Rwoti Awich, a paramount chief of payiira ethinic group from Acholi region of Uganda. The Acholi people fought the British colonialism in 1926, and many Acholi tribal leaders like Rwot Awich (Payira) Rwot Ogwok (Padibe) and Rwot Olyaa (Atiak) took part in the fight against British rule.
Kololo hill lies just five minutes drive away from Kampala, and this steep hill is bordered by other prominent hills & town in Kampala like Naguru hill to the east, Bukoto trading centre and the Mulago hill to the northwest, Makerere University to the west and Kibuli to the south.
Due to its central location in the city and the dazzling views the hill commands, Kololo hill has been an expensive residential area for years since colonial rule up to this century. The hill is dominated by embassies and Ambassadors’ residences in Uganda, hotels, banks, hospitals, and supermarkets. Television & Telecommunication companies also operate several telecommunication masts at the peak of Kololo hill.
Background Info about Kololo Hill in Kampala City
Starting in the 1950’s, before Uganda’s Independence, Kololo has been an upscale residential area, due to its central location in the city and to the spectacular views that the hill offers.
Kololo is a popular location for Diplomatic Missions to Uganda, housing more than a dozen Embassies and Ambassadors’ residences.
During the 2000’s, hotels, banks, hospitals and other corporate entities have begun to infiltrate the hill, mainly to serve the elite who reside there, away from the noise and traffic congestion in the central business district located on the neighbouring hill called Nakasero.
At the summit of the hill, there are television and telecommunication masts.
Other Key features of Kololo hill are listed below:
The Kololo Airstrip popularly used to hold national celebrations & festivals and also a landing site for small jets. Part of the land at Kololo airstrip is reserved burial ground for Uganda heroes. So far, heroes laid to rest here include; Uganda Independence movement hero Ignatius K. Musaazi founder of Uganda National Congress – the first Political Party in Uganda, Prof. Yusuf Kironde Lule – the Founder of the National Resistance Movement.
The Summit View military barracks, this colonial outpost atop the hill served as a prison in the British colonial days.
Protea Hotel Kampala, a very smart branch of the South African Protea hotels chain
The hill also features the best road network and the most beautiful & luxurious houses in Kampala City
Getting there:
Taxis are the best means of transport to get there.
Attractions and Landmarks in Kololo Kampala Area
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Landmarks on Kololo Hill or near the hill include:
- A branch of DFCU Bank
- Arya Sumaj School
- Casino Simba
- Centenary Park
- Dr. Stockley’s Hospital
- East Kololo Primary School
- Embassy of Algeria
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
- Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Embassy of Egypt
- Embassy of Germany
- Embassy of Libya
- Embassy of North Korea
- Embassy of Russia
- Embassy of Rwanda
- Embassy of Saudi Arabia
- Embassy of South Africa
- Garden City Mall
- Hotel Africana
- Independence Park
- Jinja Road Police Station
- Kampala Christian Cemetery
- Kampala Golf Course
- Kampala Golf Club
- Kampala Hospital Limited
- Kololo Airstrip
- Kampala Protea Hotel
- Kitante High School
- Kololo Secondary School
- Kololo Hospital
- Lincoln International School
- Metropole Hotel
- Oasis Mall
- Speke Apartments
- Uganda Management Institute
- Uganda National Museum
- Airtel Telecom Headquarters
- The headquarters of Opportunity Uganda Limited, a Tier II Financial Institution
- Nakumatt Supermarket – The supermarket chain also owns stores in Bugoloobi, Bukoto, and Kabalagala