Mbale
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| Mbale | |
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  Mbale
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| Coordinates: 01°04′50″N 34°10′30″E / 1.08056°N 34.175°E | |
| Country |  Uganda |
| District | Mbale District |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Hajjat Jamilah Naleba[1] |
| Population (2008 Est.) | |
| - Total | 84,100 |
- This article refers to the city of Mbale. For Mbale District, see Mbale District.
Mbale is a city in in southeastern Uganda and the chief town of the Mbale District.
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[edit] Location
Mbale lies approximately 237 kilometres (147 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, on an all weather tarmac highway.[2] The coordinates of the city are: 01 04 50N, 34 10 30E.
The city also lies on the railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Mount Elgon, one of the highest peaks in East Africa lies nearby.[3]
[edit] Overview
Mbale is home to the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), as well as the Moses Synagogue around which most of the Abayudaya live. The population includes members of the Gishu ethnic group, mainly the Bamasaaba and Bagisu.
Mbale is known for its limited nightlife, and has a clock tower in the centre of town. An early scene in Casino Royale (2006) is set in Mbale, but was not filmed there. James Bond (Daniel Craig) himself is not in the scene.
[edit] Population
The 2002 national census put the population of Mbale at 71,130. In 2008, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimated that the population of the city was 84,100.[4]
[edit] Landmarks
The landmarks within the city limits or close to its vicinity include:
- The headquarters of Mbale District Administration
- The headquarters of the 3rd Division of the Uganda People's Defense Force
- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital - A 400 bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health
- Mbale Municipal Stadium - Capacity: 25,000.
- A branch of Bank of Africa
- A branch of Bank of Baroda
- A branch of Barclays Bank
- A branch of Centenary Bank
- A branch of Crane Bank
- A branch of DFCU Bank
- A branch of Equity Bank
- A branch of Housing Finance Bank
- A branch of Kenya Commercial Bank
- A branch of Orient Bank
- A branch of PostBank Uganda
- A branch of Stanbic Bank
- A branch of United Bank for Africa[5]
- The main campus of the Islamic University in Uganda
