Jinja, Uganda

Jinja is in Jinja District, Busoga sub-region, in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is approximately {{convert|81|km|0}} east of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.{{cite web |title=Road Distance Between Kampala And Jinja With Map |publisher=Globefeed.com | url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Kampala%2C%20Central%20Region%2C%20Uganda&toplace=Jinja%2C%20Eastern%20Region%2C%20Uganda%2C&dt1=ChIJm7N0nQ-8fRcR7G9r2T2QOEU&dt2=ChIJRx85LIZ7fhcRSp9qlQ_pDzA |access-date=23 February 2014}}

It sits along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, near the source of the White Nile,{{cite web |date=13 January 2014 |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/627661/Lake-Victoria |title=Profile of Lake Victoria, East Africa | access-date=23 February 2015 | publisher=Britinnica.com }} at an average elevation of {{convert|1204|m|0}} above sea level.{{cite web| url=http://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=233114 | title=Elevation of Jinja, Uganda |publisher=Floodmap.net | author=Floodmap |date=2019 |access-date=22 May 2019}}

The city was founded in 1901 by British settlers.Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Jinja-Uganda Jinja], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019 It was planned under colonial rule in 1948 by Ernst May, German architect and urban planner. May also designed the urban planning scheme for Kampala, creating what he called "neighbourhood units". Estates were built for the ruling elite in many parts outside the centre city. This led to the area's 'slum clearance' which displaced more than 1,000 residents in the 1950s.{{cite journal|last=Byerley|first=Andrew|date=2013-10-01|title=Displacements in the name of (re)development: the contested rise and contested demise of colonial 'African' housing estates in Kampala and Jinja|journal=Planning Perspectives|volume=28|issue=4|pages=547–570|doi=10.1080/02665433.2013.774537|bibcode=2013PlPer..28..547B |s2cid=144439029 |issn=0266-5433}}

In 1954, the construction of the Owen Falls Dam submerged the Ripon Falls. Most of the "Flat Rocks" that gave the area its name disappeared under water as well. Both the Baganda on the western side and the Busoga on the eastern side of the Nile called the area "the stones"{{Cite book | title= You have been allocated Uganda | first=Alan | last=Forward| publisher=Poyntington Publishing Co; First Ed Edition (9 October 1999) Chapter 18}} which is "ejjinja" in both languages. The name "Jinja" derives from this. A description of what the area looked like can be found in the notes of John Hanning Speke, the first European to lay eyes on the source of the Nile:

File:Source of the Nile Bridge Jinja Oct 2019.jpgThough beautiful, the scene was not exactly what I expected, for the broad surface of the lake was shut out from view by a spur of hill, and the falls, about twelve feet deep and four to five hundred feet broad, were broken by rocks; still it was a sight that attracted one to it for hours. The roar of the waters, the thousands of passenger fish leaping at the falls with all their might, the fishermen coming out in boats, and taking post on all the rocks with rod and hook, hippopotami and crocodiles lying sleepily on the water, the ferry at work above the falls, and cattle driven down to drink at the margin of the lake, made in all, with the pretty nature of the country—small grassy-topped hills, with trees in the intervening valleys and on the lower slopes—as interesting a picture as one could wish to see."{{cite web | title=Great African Travellers, From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley, The Project Gutenberg EBook of Great African Travellers | access-date=23 February 2015 | date=2007 | first=W. H. G. | last=Kingston| publisher=Gutenberg.org | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/21391/21391-h/21391-h.htm}}

Jinja was one of the Ugandan cities affected by the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–1979. After the Fall of Kampala to the coalition of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), Ugandan President Idi Amin initially fled to Jinja, where he attempted to regroup the remnants of the Uganda Army (UA).{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=155}}{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|pp=36–37}} According to journalist Nelson Bwire Kapo, Amin even proclaimed Jinja the new capital of Uganda,{{cite web| url = https://nilepost.co.ug/2019/04/14/amin-escapes-from-kampala-on-day-of-overthrow-captures-power-again-from-soroti/| title = Amin escapes from Kampala on day of overthrow, 'captures' power again from Soroti| last = Kapo| first = Nelson Bwire| date = 14 April 2019| website = Nile Post| access-date = 5 March 2020}} though he soon retreated to Arua, and from there went into exile.{{cite web| url = http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/How-Amin-escaped-Kampala/689844-3193498-6w8fhl/index.html| title = How Amin escaped from Kampala| last = Mugabe| first = Faustin| date = 8 May 2016| website = Daily Monitor| access-date = 19 March 2019}}

Elements of the local Uganda Army garrison, notably the Eagle Colonel Gaddafi Battalion, remained in the city, reportedly engaging in drunken behavior, harassment, and killings of civilians. However, most soldiers eventually deserted and left Jinja.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=159}} On 22 April 1979, the TPDF and their UNLA allies assaulted Jinja, occupying the city after encountering little resistance. The remaining UA troops mostly fled,{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|pp=158–160}} and Jinja's civilian residents greeted the TPDF-UNLA force with cheers. The operation was accompanied by some looting in the city.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=160}} Following the end of hostilities, Tanzanian officers reportedly used Jinja as a hub to transport stolen goods from Uganda to Mwanza, including cars, tons of coffee, large amounts of gasoline, and war materiel.{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-39868713.html |title="So was hätte Idi Amin nicht geduldet" |trans-title="Idi Amin would have never allowed something like this" |first=Erich |last=Wiedemann |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |date=5 November 1979 |access-date=19 March 2019 }}

The national census of 2002 estimated Jinja's population to be 71,213 of which 36,325 were males and 34,888 were females. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 82,800. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population at 89,700.{{cite web|title=Estimated Population of Jinja In 2002, 2010 & 2011 |access-date=23 February 2015 |date=2011 |url=http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) |last=UBOS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707231502/http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2014}} In 2014, the national population census put the population at 72,931{{cite web | url=http://citypopulation.de/Uganda-Cities.html | title=The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants | date=27 August 2014 | access-date=23 February 2015 | last=UBOS | publisher=Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS)}} However, the Municipality Authority contested the recent census of 2014, saying it under-counted Jinja's population.{{cite web | url=http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/jinja-municipality-contests-ubos-population-statistics | title=Jinja Municipality Contests UBOS Population Statistics | first= Aldon G | last=Walukamba | access-date=17 August 2015 | date=16 March 2015 | publisher=Uganda Radio Network}} According to the 2014 national population census data, Jinja is the largest metropolitan area in the Jinja District and the 14th-largest metropolis in the country.

The majority of the population are of Bantu origin. Lusoga is the main local language. Jinja has a large population of inhabitants who are defined as "working urban poor". The average annual household income is estimated at US $100.{{cite web | date=2000 | url=http://www.visiting-uganda.com/places/jinja.html | last=VUC | publisher=Visiting-Uganda.com (VUC) | title=Visiting Uganda: Jinja}}

Jinja has the second largest economy in Uganda.{{cite web | url=http://www.jinja.eu/home/item/15-economy-jinja | title=Economy of Jinja | access-date=17 August 2015 | date=29 May 2010 | first=Florian | last=Wagner | publisher=Jinja.eu | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712064812/http://www.jinja.eu/home/item/15-economy-jinja | archive-date=12 July 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | date=17 August 2015 | url=http://www.visiting-uganda.com/places/jinja.html | title=Jinja | access-date=17 August 2015 | publisher=Visiting-Uganda.com (VUC) | last=VUC}} In the past, factories chose Jinja as their base because of the nearby electric power station at the Owen Falls Dam.{{cite web|title=Owen Falls Dam: Powering Uganda For Five Decades |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/628782-owen-falls-dam--powering-uganda-for-five-decades.html |date=3 February 2012 |last=Kasita |access-date=23 February 2015 |first=Ibrahim |newspaper=New Vision |location=Kampala |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217021707/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/628782-owen-falls-dam--powering-uganda-for-five-decades.html |archive-date=17 February 2015}} Since the early 2000s, the economy of Jinja has picked up steadily.{{cite web | title=The return of Jinja, town on the Nile | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/The+return+of+Jinja++town+on+the+Nile+/-/2560/1252420/-/format/xhtml/view/printVersion/-/7thudsz/-/index.html | last=TEA | access-date=16 August 2015 | date=16 August 2015 | newspaper=The EastAfrican (TEA) | location=Nairobi | archive-date=21 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721115813/http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/The+return+of+Jinja++town+on+the+Nile+/-/2560/1252420/-/format/xhtml/view/printVersion/-/7thudsz/-/index.html | url-status=dead }} The main economic activities take place in the central business district.

A new market for fresh produce was completed during the fourth quarter of 2014. The facility can accommodate up to 4,500 vendors and cost US$13.7 million to construct, with a loan from the African Development Bank from 2011 until 2014.{{cite web | first=Samuel | access-date=24 February 2015 | last=Nabwiiso | url=http://www.busiweek.com/index1.php?Ctp=2&pI=1651&pLv=3&srI=68&spI=107&cI=10 | title=$13 Million Jinja Market Close to Completion | date=10 August 2014 | location=Kampala | newspaper=East African Business Week | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195428/http://www.busiweek.com/index1.php?Ctp=2&pI=1651&pLv=3&srI=68&spI=107&cI=10 | archive-date=23 September 2015 | url-status=usurped}}

The biggest local employer is the Kakira Sugar Works (KSW), a member of the Madhvani Group of companies. KSW is one of the largest sugar factories in East Africa, employing over 7,500. The factory burns bagasse byproducts from sugar manufacturing to generate 50 megawatts of electricity for internal use and sale to the national grid.{{cite web | url=http://www.kakirasugar.com/content/about-us | date=2010 | title=About Kakira Sugar Works: Kakira Sugar Works Employs Over 7,500 People | access-date=23 February 2015 | publisher=Kakira Sugar Works (KSW) | last=KSW | archive-date=6 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306083319/http://www.kakirasugar.com/content/about-us | url-status=dead }} Sugar cane cutting median wages are about UGX:1,000 per day.

File:Jinja PICT0177.JPG

The headquarters of Nile Breweries Limited are in Njeru, in Buyikwe district in central Uganda, near the Source of the Nile, from which the brewery has been drawing its water since 1956. Building of the brewery commenced in 1952 and was completed four years later. Bottles of Nile Beer, renamed Nile Special Lager, the company's flagship brand, were first consumed in 1956. In 2001, Nile Breweries Limited was fully acquired by South African Breweries.{{cite web | newspaper=New Vision | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/646464-nile-breweries-limited-expands-foot-print-to-western-uganda.html|title=Nile Breweries Limited Expands foot print to Western Uganda | access-date=17 August 2015 |date=24 August 2013 |last=New Vision Supplement |location=Kampala}}

MM Integrated Steel Uganda Limited is one of the leading manufacturers of steel in the region. It has completed a $47 million (Shs122 billion) plant to produce 50,000 tonnes of steel products a year and directly employs 1,800 people.{{cite web | url=http://www.littlegatepublishing.com/2013/10/mm-integrated-steel-mills-uganda-ltd | title=MM Integrated Steel Mills (Uganda) Limited: Steel The Best | publisher=Littlegatepublishing.com | access-date=17 August 2015 | date=14 October 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2016}} The company has projected to invest US$600 million through 2018.{{cite web |newspaper=Daily Monitor |date=16 March 2015 |access-date=21 April 2016 |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Commodities/Jinja-acquires-Shs120b-steel-plant-to-boost-local-industry/-/688610/1721198/-/av34g0z/-/index.html |title=Jinja acquires Shs120b steel plant to boost local industry |last=Bwire |first=Stephen |location=Kampala |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234837/http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Commodities/Jinja-acquires-Shs120b-steel-plant-to-boost-local-industry/-/688610/1721198/-/av34g0z/-/index.html |url-status=dead }}

Bidco International Oil Refining Company maintains a palm oil factory in the city. The palm oil fruits come from Bidco's {{convert|6500|ha|acres}} plantation on Bugala Island in the Ssese Islands Archipelago, Kalangala District, in Lake Victoria. The factory in the islands crushes the fruit, and the crude palm oil is transported to Jinja for refining into edible oil and other products.{{cite web | url=http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/voice/tags/uganda/oil | title=A Successful Public/Private Partnership: Vegetable Oil Production in Uganda | access-date=23 February 2015 | date=2005 | last=IFAD | author-link=IFAD | publisher=Ruralpovertyportal.org}}

Kiira Motors Corporation, also known as the Kiira EV Project, a locally based startup car company, expects to set up the first car manufacturing facility in Uganda, based in Jinja.{{cite web | url=http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/introducing-the-made-in-uganda-electric-car/45115 | title=Introducing the 'Made in Uganda' Electric Car | publisher=Howwemadeitinafrica.com | first=Dinfin | last=Mulupi | date=25 November 2014 | access-date=17 August 2015}} The Kiira EV Project received {{convert|100|acre|ha|disp=flip}} of land at the Jinja Industrial and Business Park. Production is expected to start in 2018. The government of Uganda will provide funding to the initial production and setting up of a factory for the project.{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/657485-uganda-to-start-producing-cars-in-2018.html | title=Uganda to Start Producing Cars In 2018 | access-date=17 August 2015 | date=13 July 2014 | first=John | last=Agaba | newspaper=New Vision | location=Kampala}}{{cite web | access-date=17 August 2015 | date=12 July 2014 | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Govt-to-fund-Kiira-car-production/-/688334/2380580/-/2j270t/-/index.html | title=Government to Fund Kiira Car Production | newspaper=Daily Monitor | last=Kafeero | first=Stephen | location=Kampala}}

Jinja city's strategic location at the source of River Nile with numerous power generating plants makes it ideal for industrialisation.

File:Source of the Nile 1.jpg

Jinja city is considered to be the tourism hub of Africa with numerous adventure activities for tourists such as, kayaking, watching games, traditional dances, sailing, native fights and tag of wars, horse riding, experience night life, bike riding, village walks, visit the museum, water rafting, visit Busoga Kingdom palace, camping, visiting the beaches, hiking mountains, fishing, food tasting, tubing the Nile, bungee jumping, sun bathing, trekking, swimming, water skiing, visiting forests, windsurfing, cabling, canoeing, cycling, tour sugarcane plantations and factories, visit Jinja city Port Pier, visit the source of river Nile, visit Makwanzi, Busowoko and Itanda waterfalls.

File:Busowoko Falls in Jinja District, Uganda, East Africa.jpg

The tourism sector of Jinja city is booming with numerous hotels, guesthouses, resorts, pavilions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, night dance clubs, theatres, golf courses, illuminations, amusement centres, zoos, bathing pools, sliding centres, casinos, cinemas, recreational centres, with many more opening up in the city.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

The city also has several educational establishments including the following:

• Eastern Campus of Makerere University
• Jinja Campus of the Makerere University Business School
• Jinja Campus of Busoga University
• Jinja Campus of Kampala University
• Nsaka University{{cite web|access-date=17 August 2015|url=http://www.unche.or.ug/institutions/private-universities/page/3|title=Uganda National Council for Higher Education: Private Universities|last=UNCHE|publisher=Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE)|date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621064601/http://www.unche.or.ug/institutions/private-universities/page/3|archive-date=21 June 2015|url-status=dead}}
• National Forensic Sciences University, Uganda{{cite news|title=India's NFSU opens first overseas campus in Uganda, EAM Jaishankar describes it as 'significant milestone' in bilateral ties|url=https://www.ptinews.com/news/international/indias-nfsu-opens-first-overseas-campus-in-uganda-eam-jaishankar-describes-it-as-significant-milestone-in-bilateral-ties/549350.html|work=Press Trust of India|date=12 April 2023|access-date=12 April 2023|language=en}}

File:Civil Service College Uganda.png

• Uganda Senior Command and Staff College{{Cite web|url=http://www.unche.or.ug/institutions/public-tertiary-institutions/senior-command-and-staff-college-kimaka-jinja.html|title=Senior Command and Staff College, Kimaka -Jinja :Uganda National Council of Higher Education|website=www.unche.or.ug|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-06}}
• Uganda Junior Staff College{{Cite web|url=http://www.unche.or.ug/institutions/public-tertiary-institutions/junior-staff-college-jinja.html|title=Junior Staff College –Jinja :Uganda National Council of Higher Education|website=www.unche.or.ug|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-06}}
• National Defence College, Uganda{{cite web|title=UPDF To Establish National Defence College |newspaper=New Vision |date=12 September 2018 |access-date=22 May 2019 | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1485571/updf-establish-national-defence-college |author=Vision| location=Kampala}}

• Busoga College
• Jinja College
• Wanyange Girls Secondary School
• Kiira College Butiki

• Galaxy International School-Jinja Campus{{cite web |url=http://gisu.ac.ug/jinja/ |title=Welcome to Galaxy International School Uganda |access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626115732/http://gisu.ac.ug/jinja/ |archive-date=26 June 2015}}
• Jinja Christian School{{cite web |title=Jinja Christian School |url=http://www.jinjachristianschool.ug/ |website=www.jinjachristianschool.ug |access-date=23 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816045256/http://www.jinjachristianschool.ug/ |archive-date=16 August 2018}}
• Jinja Montessori Pre School{{cite web |url=http://theeye.co.ug/directory/listings/jinja-montessori-pre-school |title= Jinja Montessori Pre School|access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719064740/http://theeye.co.ug/directory/listings/jinja-montessori-pre-school |archive-date=19 July 2014}}
• Kiira International School{{cite web|url=https://www.kiirajuniorprep.com/|title=Kiira Junior Prep - International Community School - Jinja Uganda|website=Kiira Junior Prep - International Community School - Jinja Uganda}}
• Kiira Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://thygesskoleprojekt.dk/Default.asp?SektionId=2&SideId=39|title=Thyges skoleprojekt i Uganda, Thyge, Thygesskoleprojekt, Jinja Uganda, Kiira Primary School|last=Knowledge|first=ELSTROM Network|website=thygesskoleprojekt.dk|access-date=2017-07-06}}
• Maggwa Crescent Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://live-uganda2.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/19/465_magwa_primary_school.html|title=Magwa Primary School - Magwa Crescent Avemar Arcade Shopping Mall, P.O.Box 1113, Jinja, Uganda|website=live-uganda2.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com|access-date=2017-07-06}}
• Riverside Academy{{Cite web|url=http://www.yellow.ug/company/4144/riverside-academy|title=Riverside Academy|website=Yellow.ug|date=4 February 2016 |access-date=2017-07-06}}
• Shilo Nile Star Nursery and Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://shilonilestar-school.webs.com/contact|title=Shilo Nile Star Nursery and Primary Day and Boarding School. Jinja, Njeru.Uganda|website=Shilo Nile Star Nursery and Primary Day and Boarding School. Jinja, Njeru.Uganda|access-date=2017-07-06}}{{Cite news|url=http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/News/Headmaster--teachers-fired-for-failing-classroom-tests/-/691252/2147376/-/format/xhtml/-/n5k3lw/-/index.html|title=Headmaster, teachers fired for failing classroom tests|last=App|first=Daily Monitor|access-date=2017-07-06|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132214/http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/News/Headmaster--teachers-fired-for-failing-classroom-tests/-/691252/2147376/-/format/xhtml/-/n5k3lw/-/index.html|url-status=dead}}
• Spire Road Primary School{{Cite web|url=http://www.kigongo.com/listings/spire-road-primary-schoolspire-roadjinja-mc/|title=Spire Road Primary School, SPIRE ROAD, Jinja M/C- Kigongo|website=www.kigongo.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-07-06|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124354/http://www.kigongo.com/listings/spire-road-primary-schoolspire-roadjinja-mc/|url-status=dead}}
• Victoria Nile Primary School{{cite web |url=http://jinjaedtrust.com/victoria-nile-primary-school |title=Victoria Nile Primary School |access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626115934/http://jinjaedtrust.com/victoria-nile-primary-school |archive-date=26 June 2015}}
• Vic View Primary School
• Naranbhai Road Primary School

The Qaddafi Barracks, an institution of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), are in Jinja. They are the location of the Uganda Junior Staff College,{{cite web | last=Kiirya | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201007150039.html | title=Uganda: Army Can't Stay Out of Politics - Defence Minister | date=14 July 2010 | access-date=23 February 2015 | first=Donald | newspaper=New Vision |location=Kampala}} one of the about a dozen military schools in Uganda.{{cite web|newspaper=New Vision | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1250415/army-start-maritime-operations |title=Army To Start Maritime Operations |date=9 February 2009 |access-date=22 May 2019 |

author=Raymond Baguma |location=Kampala}} The town is also the site of the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College, another UPDF institution, located in the Kimaka neighbourhood about {{convert|3|mi|0}} north of Jinja's central business district.{{cite web|title=Jeje Odongo cautions Kimaka graduands against HIV |newspaper=New Vision | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1231746/jeje-odongo-cautions-kimaka-graduands-hiv |date=29 November 2009 | access-date=22 May 2019 |author=Doreen Musingo | location=Kampala}}

In 1993, construction began on a second power station at the source of the White Nile; an extension of the original Nalubaale Power Station. The extension was completed in 2003, named the Kiira Power Station, and is capable of producing 200 megawatts of hydroelectric power at maximum utilization.{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-10/eskom-seeks-to-more-than-double-ugandan-power-plants-it-manages | date=11 April 2014 | access-date=23 February 2015 | publisher=Bloomberg News | first=Fred | last=Ojambo | title=Eskom Seeks To More Than Double Ugandan Power Plants It Runs}}

File:Uganda railways assessment 2010-12.jpg

File:A man walks along a road parallel to the train bridge in Jinja town, Uganda.jpg

Jinja is a major station on the Uganda Railway and is a port for Lake Victoria ferries.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

Jinja Airport, a small civilian and military airport,{{cite web|access-date=23 February 2015

|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Markets/CAA-unveils-master-plan-to-create-four-new/-/688606/2606554/-/udf63yz/-/index.html

|title=CAA Unveils Master Plan to Create Four New International Airports|first=Paul|last=Tajuba|date=30 January 2015

|newspaper=Daily Monitor (Kampala)}} is located at Kimaka, about {{convert|4|km|mi}} north of Jinja's central business district.

A bridge, known as the Source of the Nile Bridge, was built across the Nile, connecting the town of Njeru to Jinja. Construction started in 2013{{cite web| url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1302570/construction-jinja-bridge-commences-december |title=Construction of New Jinja Bridge Commences December |date=15 June 2012 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=New Vision |author=Francis Kagolo | location=Kampala}} and the completed structure was commissioned on 17 October 2018.{{cite web|date=17 October 2018 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=East Africa Business Week |url=https://www.busiweek.com/president-museveni-commissions-125-million-new-nile-bridge/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503041738/https://www.busiweek.com/president-museveni-commissions-125-million-new-nile-bridge/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 May 2019 |title=President Museveni Commissions $125 Million New Nile Bridge |author=EABW Staff |location=Kampala}}{{cite web |date=18 October 2018 |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Uganda-opens-iconic-bridge-across-River-Nile/434746-4810332-7whdoqz/index.html |title=Uganda opens iconic bridge across River Nile |newspaper=The EastAfrican Quoting Agencies |author=BBC & Daily Monitor |access-date=22 May 2019 |location=Nairobi}}

The Kampala–Jinja Highway connects Jinja with the capital.

Jinja is commonly regarded as "the adventure capital of East Africa" due to the very many activities in town that one could engage in, especially for tourists.{{cite web| url=https://kabiza.com/kabiza-wilderness-safaris/best-honeymoon-safaris-in-uganda-the-pearl-of-africa/ |title=Best Honeymoon Safaris in Uganda the Pearl of Africa |publisher=Kabiza Wilderness Safaris |author=Kaziba Safaris |date=12 January 2019 |

access-date=22 May 2019 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}{{Better source needed|reason=Citation is a tourism company website arranging tours in the area and may not be entirely objective.|date=November 2023}}

Local attractions include white-water rafting, the "Source of the Nile", and bungee jumping. About {{convert|5|mi|km}} north of Jinja is the Bujagali Power Station. The hydroelectric facility is providing 250 megawatts of electric power.{{cite web|url=http://www.alstom.com/Global/Power/Resources/Documents/Brochures/bujagali-uganda-kaplan-hydro-plant-advertorial.pdf |title=Bujagali: Powering Uganda From The Nile |publisher=International Water Power & Dam Construction |date=March 2013 |access-date=5 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022073124/http://www.alstom.com/Global/Power/Resources/Documents/Brochures/bujagali-uganda-kaplan-hydro-plant-advertorial.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2013 }}

File:The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) hotel projects in Jinja City.jpg

Since 2015, the city has hosted the Nyege Nyege Festival, at Discovery Beach in the suburb of Njeru in Buyikwe district approximately 20 minutes from the Jinja Central Business District.

{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

== Places of worship ==

File:Jinjia Temple.jpg (Hinduism) Temple in Jinja.]]

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples : Roman Catholic Diocese of Jinja (Catholic Church), Church of Uganda (Anglican Communion), Presbyterian Church in Uganda (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Baptist Union of Uganda (Baptist World Alliance), Assemblies of God.J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 2920 There are also Muslim mosques.

Jinja has two major football teams Bul FC and Gaddafi FC, both of whom play in the Ugandan Super League.

• Irene Mulyagonja (born 1963), lawyer and judge
• Saba Saba (born 1977), hip hop artist
• Tarique Ghaffur (born 1958), police officer
• Zari Hassan (born 1980), socialite, musician and businesswoman
• Mayur Madhvani

Jinja hosts the regional offices of the Uganda Red Cross Society, a humanitarian organization.{{Cite web |url=http://ug.viadeo.com/en/profile/uganda-redcross-society.jinja-branch |title=Uganda Redcross Society Jinja Branch - Uganda | Viadeo |access-date=29 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232120/http://ug.viadeo.com/en/profile/uganda-redcross-society.jinja-branch |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

On 1 July 2020, the government of Uganda awarded city status to about one half-a-dozen municipalities. Jinja was one of those localities. As part of the qualifications to become a city, Jinja expanded to include the former Jinja Municipality, Bugembe Town Council, Mafubira sub-county and Budondo sub-county. The estimated population of the new city, as of October 2020, is about 300,000.{{cite web| url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/politics/2020/10/ug-decides-2021-kyemba-nominated-for-jinja-city-woman-mp-pledges-to-make-jinja-city-great.html |title=Uganda Decides 2021: Kyemba nominated for Jinja city Woman MP, pledges to make Jinja city great |publisher=PML Daily |date=15 October 2020 |author=Daniel Kazungu |access-date=19 October 2020 |place=Kampala}}

In October 2020, the city mayor, Titus Kisambira, signed a memorandum of understanding, as an initial step in the establishment of sister cityhood with the city of Shenyang, in Liaoning Province, in China.{{cite web|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1530452/jinja-signs-cooperation-agreement-chinese-city |title=Jinja signs cooperation agreement with Chinese city |newspaper=New Vision |date=27 October 2020 |author=Mary Karugaba |access-date=28 October 2020 | location=Kampala}}

{{portal|Uganda}}

• Jinja Hospital
• Jinja Airport
• Kiira Power Station
• List of birds in Jinja
• Nalubaale Power Station
• Bujagali Power Station
• Madhvani Group
• Njeru
• List of cities and towns in Uganda

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1. {{note|Great_African_Travellers}} Great African Travellers, From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley, The Project Gutenberg EBook of Great African Travellers, by W.H.G. Kingston (2007) (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/21391/21391-h/21391-h.htm).

{{refend}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book| last1 = Avirgan| first1 = Tony| last2 = Honey| first2 = Martha| title = War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin| location= Dar es Salaam|publisher = Tanzania Publishing House| date = 1983| isbn = 978-9976-1-0056-3}}
• {{cite book |last1 = Cooper |first1 = Tom |last2 = Fontanellaz |first2 = Adrien |title= Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994 |date= 2015 |publisher= Helion & Company Limited |location= Solihull |isbn= 978-1-910294-55-0 }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Jinja}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080122111606/http://www.gandaancestry.com/dictionary/dictionary.php Online Luganda Dictionary]

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{{Jinja District}}

Category:Jinja District

Category:Busoga

Category:Populated places in Eastern Region, Uganda

Category:Populated places on Lake Victoria

Category:Cities in the Great Rift Valley

Category:Populated places on the Nile

Category:Palm oil production in Uganda

Category:Ports and harbours of Uganda