Places & Areas

42 phrases · Luganda with romanization, English and audio

  1. Kampala

    Kampala (capital of Uganda)

    Usage

    Capital and largest city of Uganda. Most visitors land at Entebbe and come on to Kampala. lg.wikipedia calls it "ekibuga ekikulu ekya Uganda" (the capital city of Uganda)

    Grammar Note

    The name is written unchanged. The e- in "e Kampala" means "to/in" (as in the attested "Tikiti emu e Kampala"). lg.wikipedia says "capital" as ekibuga (city) + ekikulu (main, big).

  2. Entebbe

    Entebbe (town in central Uganda)

    Usage

    A town on the shore of Lake Victoria that has the international airport

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  3. Entebbe International Airport

    Entebbe International Airport (the only international airport in Uganda)

    Usage

    The gateway to Uganda. Signs and boards use the English spelling; the lg.wikipedia article is titled "Ekisaawe ky'ennyonyi Entebbe"

    Grammar Note

    Given as the sign spelling. In Luganda "airport" is ekisaawe ky'ennyonyi (lit. "place of aeroplanes"), the form used in the lg.wikipedia article title.

  4. Jinja

    Jinja (city in eastern Uganda)

    Usage

    A town near the source of the Nile and a base for activities such as rafting at Bujagali. lg.wikipedia lists the Lusoga name as Idindha

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  5. Masaka

    Masaka (city in central Uganda)

    Usage

    A town on the highway south-west of Kampala. lg.wikipedia describes the area as a major coffee (emmwanyi) growing district

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  6. Mukono

    Mukono (town in central Uganda)

    Usage

    A town on the road between Kampala and Jinja and the seat of Mukono District

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  7. Fort Portal

    Fort Portal (city in western Uganda)

    Usage

    A western town used as a base for the Rwenzori Mountains and the crater lakes

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  8. Mbale

    Mbale (city in eastern Uganda)

    Usage

    The main eastern city, at the foot of Mount Elgon

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  9. Kabale

    Kabale (city in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A south-western town that serves as the gateway to Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  10. Kasese

    Kasese (city in western Uganda)

    Usage

    A western town close to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  11. Kisoro

    Kisoro (town in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A small town near the Rwanda and Congo borders and a base for mountain gorilla trips

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  12. Gulu

    Gulu (city in northern Uganda)

    Usage

    The largest city of northern Uganda

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  13. Arua

    Arua (city in north-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A trading city and the centre of the West Nile region

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  14. Hoima

    Hoima (city in western Uganda)

    Usage

    A western town on the way to Lake Albert and Murchison Falls

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  15. Soroti

    Soroti (city in eastern Uganda)

    Usage

    A town in eastern Uganda

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  16. Mbarara

    Mbarara (city in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    The main south-western city, a common stop for long-distance buses from Kampala

    Grammar Note

    Given as the sign spelling. lg.wikipedia has no article of its own but uses the name widely in running text. A preceding e gives "to/in".

  17. Kalangala

    Kalangala (town in central Uganda)

    Usage

    The main town of the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria

    Grammar Note

    A place name, written unchanged. Putting e before a place name gives "to/in" (attested: e Kampala, e Jinja).

  18. Ssese Islands

    Ssese Islands (islands in Lake Victoria)

    Usage

    Islands in Lake Victoria known as a relaxed lakeside getaway. The sign spelling doubles the s: "Ssese"

    Grammar Note

    No separate lg.wikipedia article, so the sign spelling is given. "Island" in Luganda is ekizinga (dictionary).

  19. Nnalubaale

    Nnalubaale (Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania)

    Usage

    The Luganda name of Lake Victoria. lg.wikipedia describes it as the biggest lake in Africa. The English name Lake Victoria is also common on signs and maps

    Grammar Note

    A lake is ennyanja in Luganda. lg.wikipedia has the heading Nnalubaale as well as Ennyanja Nalubaale.

  20. Ennyanja Bunyonyi

    Ennyanja Bunyonyi (lake in the south-west near Kabale)

    Usage

    A lake in the south-west that lg.wikipedia describes as a place with many birds, between Kisoro and Kabale. Many visitors stay on its shores

    Grammar Note

    Ennyanja (lake) + the place name. Bunyonyi looks related to ebinyonyi (birds), but the etymology has not been verified.

  21. Ennyanja Mwitanzige

    Ennyanja Mwitanzige (Lake Albert, a lake shared by Uganda and the DR Congo)

    Usage

    The Luganda name of Lake Albert. lg.wikipedia gives the English name as Albert, formerly Lake Mobutu Sese Seko. The Nile flows into it past Murchison Falls

    Grammar Note

    Ennyanja (lake) + Mwitanzige, the Ugandan name; the lg.wikipedia heading uses the same form.

  22. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

    Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (national park in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A forest national park known for mountain gorilla trekking. lg.wikipedia says it can only be entered on foot and is recognised by UNESCO

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title is "Ekkuumiro ly'ebisolo erya Bwindi" (lit. a reserve of animals); Luganda has no fixed term for "national park" and the titles vary.

  23. Murchison Falls National Park

    Murchison Falls National Park (national park in north-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A park around the falls where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gap in the rock. lg.wikipedia gives a width of about 7 m and a drop of about 43 m

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. lg.wikipedia calls the falls "Ebiyiriro bya Murchison" (ebiyiriro is the plural of ekiyiriro, waterfall).

  24. Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Queen Elizabeth National Park (national park in western Uganda)

    Usage

    A popular safari park in the west. The lg.wikipedia article keeps the English spelling in its title

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. lg.wikipedia says "Ekkuumiro ly'ebisolo erya Queen Elizabeth National Park".

  25. Kidepo Valley National Park

    Kidepo Valley National Park (a savannah park in Uganda's Karamoja region, north-east)

    Usage

    A savannah park in the Karamoja region. lg.wikipedia gives its area as about 1,442 square kilometres

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title is "Ekkuumiro ly'ebisolo erya Kidepo Valley".

  26. Lake Mburo National Park

    Lake Mburo National Park (national park in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A park near Mbarara. lg.wikipedia places it in Nyabushozi county of Kiruhura District

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title is "Ekkuumiro ly'ebisolo erya Lake Mburo".

  27. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

    Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (national park in south-western Uganda)

    Usage

    A small park in the mountains on the Rwanda and Congo borders, near Kisoro. lg.wikipedia says it was established in 1991 and covers about 33.9 square kilometres

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title contains "ly'amazike", a word not in the dictionary, so only the place name Mgahinga is used.

  28. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

    Rwenzori Mountains National Park (national park in western Uganda)

    Usage

    A mountain park that includes the third highest mountain in Africa. lg.wikipedia notes glaciers, waterfalls and lakes and a UNESCO designation

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title is "Ekkuumiro ly'ebisolo erya Rwenzori Mountains National Park". A mountain is olusozi, plural ensozi.

  29. Ngamba Island

    Ngamba Island (island in Lake Victoria with a chimpanzee sanctuary)

    Usage

    An island sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees. lg.wikipedia says it is run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority

    Grammar Note

    Given in the sign spelling. The lg.wikipedia title uses "ku kazinga ka Ngamba" (kazinga looks like a diminutive of ekizinga, island).

  30. Karuma Falls

    Karuma Falls (waterfall on the Nile in the north)

    Usage

    A waterfall on the Nile. lg.wikipedia places it in Kiryandongo District. The main road north passes close by

    Grammar Note

    Given as written on signs and maps. A waterfall is ekiyiriro in Luganda, plural ebiyiriro.

  31. Sipi Falls

    Sipi Falls (waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon in the east)

    Usage

    Waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon in the east, often visited as a day trip from Mbale

    Grammar Note

    There is no lg.wikipedia article, so the sign and English-Wikipedia spelling is given unchanged.

  32. Bujagali Falls

    Bujagali Falls (rapids on the Nile near Jinja)

    Usage

    Rapids on the Nile near Jinja and a base for white-water rafting

    Grammar Note

    There is no lg.wikipedia article, so the sign and English-Wikipedia spelling is given unchanged.

  33. Source of the Nile

    Source of the Nile (where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria at Jinja)

    Usage

    The tourist spot at Jinja where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria. Signs use this English wording

    Grammar Note

    No lg.wikipedia article exists, so the sign wording is given. lg.wikipedia also writes the Nile as "Kiyira", but it is rare in running text.

  34. Kasubi Tombs

    Kasubi Tombs (burial site of the Buganda kings in Kampala (World Heritage Site))

    Usage

    The burial place of Buganda kings. lg.wikipedia says it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001

    Grammar Note

    Given as the English sign spelling "Kasubi Tombs". lg.wikipedia text also says "Amasiro g'e Kasubi" in Luganda (amasiro = burial place in the dictionary).

  35. Bulange

    Bulange (building of the Buganda kingdom's parliament in Kampala)

    Usage

    The building that houses the Lukiiko (parliament) of the Buganda kingdom and serves as its administrative seat. lg.wikipedia says the Katikkiro (prime minister) also works there

    Grammar Note

    A proper name, spelled as in the lg.wikipedia title. It is usually placed on Mengo hill, as in "Bulange e Mengo".

  36. Olubiri lwa Kabaka e Mengo

    Olubiri lwa Kabaka e Mengo (official palace of the Kabaka of Buganda on Mengo hill, Kampala)

    Usage

    The official palace of the Kabaka of Buganda. The lg.wikipedia article is titled Lubiri and says it is also called Olubiri lwa Kabaka, Olubiri lw'e Mengo or Twekobe. A road links it to Bulange

    Grammar Note

    Uses an alternative name given in lg.wikipedia. lwa is the "of" that agrees with olubiri (lu- class), and e- marks the place.

  37. Lutikko ya Namirembe

    Lutikko ya Namirembe (Anglican cathedral on a hill in Kampala)

    Usage

    The cathedral of the Church of Uganda (Anglican). lg.wikipedia says it was the first cathedral built in Uganda; its full name is Saint Paul's Cathedral Namirembe

    Grammar Note

    lutikko is the word lg.wikipedia uses for "cathedral". ya is the "of" that agrees with it.

  38. Lutikko ya Rubaga

    Lutikko ya Rubaga (cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala)

    Usage

    The cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala. lg.wikipedia gives the full name as Saint Mary's Cathedral Rubaga

    Grammar Note

    Same pattern as Lutikko ya Namirembe. The spelling Rubaga follows the lg.wikipedia title.

  39. Omuzikiti gw'eggwanga mu Uganda

    Omuzikiti gw'eggwanga mu Uganda (the largest mosque in the country, on a hill in Kampala (formerly the Gaddafi Mosque))

    Usage

    The country's biggest mosque, on a hill in the old part of Kampala. The lg.wikipedia article has this title. Visitors also know it as the Gaddafi Mosque

    Grammar Note

    gw'eggwanga is gwa (the "of" agreeing with omuzikiti) + eggwanga (nation, tribe) with the vowel elided, shown by the apostrophe. The spelling omuzikiti follows lg.wikipedia.

  40. Nakasero Market

    Nakasero Market (a large market in central Kampala)

    Usage

    A market in central Kampala. lg.wikipedia says it sells fresh food from the farms, clothes, shoes and electrical goods

    Grammar Note

    Given as the English sign spelling. In Luganda it is "akatale ka Nakasero" (akatale = market), and lg.wikipedia gives both forms.

  41. Uganda National Cultural Centre

    Uganda National Cultural Centre (cultural centre in Kampala that includes the National Theatre)

    Usage

    A cultural institution set up by a 1959 act of parliament (abbreviated UNCC). It is known by the name National Theatre on performance listings

    Grammar Note

    Given in its English official name; the lg.wikipedia article uses the same spelling.

  42. Makerere

    Makerere (hill and district of Kampala, the site of Makerere University)

    Usage

    The name of one of Kampala's original seven hills and of the district on it. It is best known as the home of Makerere University

    Grammar Note

    The lg.wikipedia article describes it as a hill and district; the university has a separate article.

More Luganda phrases

Browse all TravelPhrases languages