Kasangati: A melting pot for all tribes
The areas was best described as a sleepy market town, synonymous with a rural settlement. However, things have since changed. Kasangati is now a township.
By Alex Balimwikungu
The areas was best described as a sleepy market town, synonymous with a rural settlement. However, things have since changed. Kasangati is now a township.
Located about 15km on the Kampala-Gayaza Road, in Nangabo sub-county, Wakiso District, Kasangati also serves as the headquarters for Kyadondo County, the most central of Buganda Kingdom’s 18 counties. Mengo, Kampala, Lubiri, Kasubi tombs and Banda are all in Kyadondo, as are Ntinda, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Muyenga, Gayaza, Kiwenda, Kawempe, Nateete, Kagoma, Namulonge and Kyambogo.
Kasangati still lags behind in terms of growth, but it stands to be put to test when it hosts the 18th coronation anniversary of the Kabaka, to be held at the Saza grounds.
Simple and derelict structures are a common sight. Even landmark places like Kasangati Police Station, Kasangati Prison and the Kasangati Magistrates’ courts, are disheveled.
Steven Kawalya, a resident, says: “Kasangati had a high concentration of shrines and witchcraft was a main source of income.â€
Kawalya, who has lived here for over 10 years, says the changes are evident. “It has all changed. I bought a 70ffx100ft plot of land at 2.5m in 2001. Today the same size of land costs about sh15m.â€
Formerly deemed a close-knit Buganda lineage town, Kasangati is now multi-lingual and a melting pot for diverse cultures. Many of the current land owners are not Baganda.
Developers like Jomayi Property Consultants have established the Nangabo Estate. Canaan Sites Ltd also has the Gayaza-Kira Royal Estates.
Rent for a three-bedroom self-contained house complete with a perimeter fence costs about sh250,000 to sh300,000 per month but there are rental units which cost between sh15,000 to sh100,000 per month.
The recently-upgraded Kampala-Zirobwe highway, which passes through Kasangati, has boosted the business activity in the township.
“We recently got the first ATM machine in Kasangati when Equity Bank opened here,†says John Wakabi, 35, a tipper driver.
Steven Malwadde, a resident, says: “It is very lively at night. Gone are the days when we would wait for the likes of Fred Sebatta to perform at the Saza Grounds.Today we have entertainment centres. Some even have sauna and massage parlours.â€
Places like Kasangati Resort Centre are fast carving out as ideal for rest and relaxation.
Nearby is Afronica club, which is a favourite hang-out spot for most youth. Afronica’s health club, famous for its sauna and steam-bath is a hit in the area and savvy residents have since turned it into a status symbol of sorts.
Transport to and from Kasangati is affordable. It costs about sh1,500 from the Old and New taxi parks. The taxis ply well close to midnight and resume at 4:00am.
The heavy traffic jam around Kalerwe has lessened following the upgrade of the road. It takes between 15-30 minutes to make it to Kampala city from Kasangati.
The popular Gayaza High School proudly stands-out a few kilometres from Kasangati. There are other schools like Kidde Primary School, Wampewo Ntakke, and Nile College School.
And just to show how developed Kasangati has become, I typed this story from an Internet Café, the very first in the area late at night; I was not even worried about night dancers.
The areas was best described as a sleepy market town, synonymous with a rural settlement. However, things have since changed. Kasangati is now a township.
Located about 15km on the Kampala-Gayaza Road, in Nangabo sub-county, Wakiso District, Kasangati also serves as the headquarters for Kyadondo County, the most central of Buganda Kingdom’s 18 counties. Mengo, Kampala, Lubiri, Kasubi tombs and Banda are all in Kyadondo, as are Ntinda, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Muyenga, Gayaza, Kiwenda, Kawempe, Nateete, Kagoma, Namulonge and Kyambogo.
Kasangati still lags behind in terms of growth, but it stands to be put to test when it hosts the 18th coronation anniversary of the Kabaka, to be held at the Saza grounds.
Simple and derelict structures are a common sight. Even landmark places like Kasangati Police Station, Kasangati Prison and the Kasangati Magistrates’ courts, are disheveled.
Steven Kawalya, a resident, says: “Kasangati had a high concentration of shrines and witchcraft was a main source of income.â€
Kawalya, who has lived here for over 10 years, says the changes are evident. “It has all changed. I bought a 70ffx100ft plot of land at 2.5m in 2001. Today the same size of land costs about sh15m.â€
Formerly deemed a close-knit Buganda lineage town, Kasangati is now multi-lingual and a melting pot for diverse cultures. Many of the current land owners are not Baganda.
Developers like Jomayi Property Consultants have established the Nangabo Estate. Canaan Sites Ltd also has the Gayaza-Kira Royal Estates.
Rent for a three-bedroom self-contained house complete with a perimeter fence costs about sh250,000 to sh300,000 per month but there are rental units which cost between sh15,000 to sh100,000 per month.
The recently-upgraded Kampala-Zirobwe highway, which passes through Kasangati, has boosted the business activity in the township.
“We recently got the first ATM machine in Kasangati when Equity Bank opened here,†says John Wakabi, 35, a tipper driver.
Steven Malwadde, a resident, says: “It is very lively at night. Gone are the days when we would wait for the likes of Fred Sebatta to perform at the Saza Grounds.Today we have entertainment centres. Some even have sauna and massage parlours.â€
Places like Kasangati Resort Centre are fast carving out as ideal for rest and relaxation.
Nearby is Afronica club, which is a favourite hang-out spot for most youth. Afronica’s health club, famous for its sauna and steam-bath is a hit in the area and savvy residents have since turned it into a status symbol of sorts.
Transport to and from Kasangati is affordable. It costs about sh1,500 from the Old and New taxi parks. The taxis ply well close to midnight and resume at 4:00am.
The heavy traffic jam around Kalerwe has lessened following the upgrade of the road. It takes between 15-30 minutes to make it to Kampala city from Kasangati.
The popular Gayaza High School proudly stands-out a few kilometres from Kasangati. There are other schools like Kidde Primary School, Wampewo Ntakke, and Nile College School.
And just to show how developed Kasangati has become, I typed this story from an Internet Café, the very first in the area late at night; I was not even worried about night dancers.