If you are visiting Mulago Kampala in Uganda, here is detailed information about Mulago Hill in Kampala City. Mulago is a hill in north-central Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The hill rises 4,134 feet (1,260 m) above sea level.
Key Features: Mulago National Referral Hospital, Medical College
Distance from City centre: 5kms
Neigbouring town centres: Kamwokya, Wandegeya, Kitante, Kawempe
Mulago Hill named after the Luganda word “omulago”, meaning a traditional herbal medicine among the Baganda culture, this grass grew from this hill, and was used by Kabaka Suuna II (King of Buganda from 1832–1856) for protection against spirits. It’s on Mulago hill where the King Suuna 11 stationed his administration capital during his reign sometimes regarded as “reign of terror”
It’s on Mulago hill where the largest referral hospital in Uganda sits – the Mulago National Referral Hospital Mulago Hill Kampala established in 1917 by Sir Albert Ruskin Cook. Mulago Hospital also serves as the teaching hospital for the Makerere University College of Health Science, the oldest medical College in Uganda.
At the lower end of the Mulago hill about 1.2kilometres from the hospital complex, lie the Uganda Museum built in 1908, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) headquarters neighboring the Museum and the British High Commission Uganda offices also next to UWA. In the western direction of Mulago Hill lie Makerere University and the Katanga Valley (one of East Africa’s largest slums). From the north, Mulago hill faces the Bahai temple.
In summary, Mulago hill is dominated by hospital related activities like; Doctor’s Village, Nurses Hostel, Mulago procurement unit etc. From Mulago hill you will enjoy stunning views of different residential homes and suburbs stretching Kilometres away.
Getting there:
Mini-bus taxis run from the old & new Kampala taxi parks and they operate the Mulago, Kamwokya and Bukoto route daily. They operate up to late in the night.
History and location of Mulago Kampala Hill in Uganda
Mulago was derived from the Luganda word “omulago”, a type of medicine, kept on this hill, that was used by Kabaka Suuna II for protection against spirits.
The landmark on this hill is Mulago Hospital. Built in 1917, Old Mulago merged with the New Mulago Hospital in 1960 to form Mulago Hospital Complex, a giant complex that is the National Referral Hospital.
The complex also houses Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
At the lower end of the hill about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the hospital complex, are the Uganda Museum and headquarters of the Uganda Wildlife Authority at Kamwookya.
The British High Commission office is also located at Kamwokya.
The hill is, however, dominated by hospital related activities that include:
- A Doctor’s Village
- A Nurses Hostel
- The Infectious Diseases Institute
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences
- Makerere University School of Medicine
- Makerere University School of Public Health
- Makerere University School of Biomedical Sciences
- Makerere University School of Health Sciences
- Kampala City Mortuary
- Research Laboratories
- Pharmacies
The headquarters of the Uganda Ministry of Health is located at Wandegeya, in the valley between Nakasero Hill and Mulago Hill.
There is a small residential area on Mulago Hill, overlooking the Uganda National Museum.
Also, there is a vibrant market at Kamwokya, between Kololo Hill and Mulago Hill.