The word came from Luganda languagee ntebe which means 'seat' / 'chair'. Entebbe was a cultural site for Mamba clan and it was called entebbe za Mugula and is now the location of the official office and residence of the President of Uganda, as it was for British governors before independence. Entebbe was the former seat of power in the country now replaced by Kampala.
Location
Entebbe sits on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. The town is situated in Wakiso District, approximately south of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The municipality is located on a peninsula into Lake Victoria, covering a total area of, out of which is water. The coordinates of Entebbe are:0°03'00.0"N, 32°27'36.0"E. Neighborhoods within Entebbe Municipality include Bugonga, Katabi, Nakiwogo, Nsamizi, Kitooro, Lunnyo and Lugonjo.
Population
During the 2002 national census, Entebbe's population was estimated at about 55,100 people. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimated the population of the town at 76,500. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of Entebbe at approximately 79,700. On 27 August 2014, the national population census put Entebbe's population at 69,958.
History
"Entebbe", in the local Luganda language, means a "seat" and was probably named that because it was the place where a Baganda chief sat to adjudicate legal cases. It first became a British colonial administrative and commercial centre in 1893 when Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial Commissioner, used it as a base. Port Bell went on to become Kampala's harbour. Although no ships dock there now, there is still a jetty, which was used by Lake Victoria ferries. Entebbe International Airport, the main international airport of Uganda, has been the site of some well known events, making it famous in Europe and abroad. It was from this airport that Queen Elizabeth II departed Africa to return to England in 1952 when she learned of her father's death and that she had become Queen. Entebbe airport was the scene of a hostage situation and a rescue operation ending on 4 July 1976, when soldiers from the Sayeret Matkal, Paratroopers Brigade and Golani Brigade units of the Israeli army freed over 100 hostages following a hijacking by a group of Palestinian and German militia. The city of Entebbe also hosted final resolution talks to end the M23 rebellion.
Entebbe is the location of the The Centre also serves as the national zoo. The entrance to the Centre is located near the jetty. Foreign visitors have noted the seeming incongruity of wild monkeys sitting in the trees over the Centre's paths.
Uganda Reptiles Village , this is a small zoo featuring reptiles such as pythons, monitor lizards, chameleons, and cobras. . Any tourist visiting Uganda should not miss out this place
State House, the official residence of the President of Uganda, is located in Entebbe.
Entebbe is also home to the historical site in Kigungu where the first catholic missionaries Brother Amans and Father Mon Maple Lourdel landed to establish the catholic faith in Uganda.
Entebbe is home of the oldest golf course in East Africa called Entebbe Golf Club, which was established in 1900. Entebbe Golf Club is surrounded by the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre,, on its south side.
Other points of interest within the city limits or close to its edges include the offices of Entebbe City Council and several branches of foreign and indigenous commercial banks. The supermarket chain, Shoprite, maintains a branch in Entebbe. In 2014, the American fast-food chain KFC opened a franchise in the town.
Geography
Climate
Entebbe experiences tropical rainforest climate according to the Köppen climate classification as the city has no real dry season throughout the year. The driest season is January with precipitation total, while the wettest season is April with precipitation total. The temperature is moderated by the altitude. The hottest month is February with average temperature, while the coolest month is July with average temperature.
