The place that serves us matooke, nsenene

Location
Masaka is located in central Uganda, situated about 37km from the equator towards the south with an average altitude of 1150m above sea level. Its main town is Masaka. It is bordered by Bukomansimbi District to the northwest, Kalungu District to the north, Kalangala District to the east, Rakai District to the south, Rakai and Lwengo District to the west.

Masaka is endowed with a good vegetation cover and a number of water bodies, wetlands and forests. About 16 per cent is open water, 6.4 per cent is wetlands and 34.822 hectares is forest cover according to the records at the district.

Population
The district has a population of 251,600 settled in Masaka Municipality and some five sub-counties - Kabonera, Kyannamukaaka, Kyesiiga, Buwunga, and Mukungwe.

Economic activities
The major economic activity in Masaka is farming. Crop agriculture involves coffee, bananas, maize, beans, and while animal husbandry includes cattle keeping, poultry and piggery. There is a bit of metal fabrication in Masaka Town and the town is expanding quite busy with various commercial activities.

Along the shores of Lake Victoria fishing is the main economic activity. In the months of May and November until recently Masaka was known to be the source of grasshoppers.

The people who move and shake Masaka
Edward Ssekandi
Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi is the Vice President and MP for Bukoto Central in Masaka. He is a long-serving lawyer and served as the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda from 2001 until 2011. His constituents know him as a man who listens and is generous.

Florence Namayanja
She is the Bukoto East MP. The DP member has been named iron lady for criticising government over poor service delivery.

Mathias Mpuuga
He is the MP for Masaka Municipality. He is the national coordinator for 4GC, a pressure group that has led several protests.

Frieda Kase Mubanda
She is the Masaka Woman MP. She is known for her opposition to domestic violence. Mubanda wants all women to engage in income generating projects.

Joseph Kalungi
He is the district chairman. He has always encouraged people to unite and work hard. He is also a Christian who encourages spiritual growth.
Chris Owori Odoi
He is the RDC. He has been mobilising people to work hard in groups for development regardless of their religion or political affiliations.

Walter Iriama
He is the Chief Administrative Officer. He is new in the district but he has already proven to be very keen on effective service delivery among district employees.

Rt Rev John Baptist Kaggwa
He is the bishop of Masaka Diocese (Catholic). He is behind all the development projects of the church such as giving farmers Friesian cows.

Rev Godfrey Makumbi
He is the Bishop of West Buganda Diocese (Anglican). He encourages Anglican leaders to be accountable to their followers and work hard.

Sheikh Huzairu Kiruta
He was a long serving District Kadhi of Masaka. He stepped aside in 2012 and is now doing private business.

Charles Kiyimba
He is the traditional leader of Masaka region (Pokino of Buddu) under Buganda Kingdom. He encourages the youths to love Buganda and to work hard.

Babirye Kabanda
She is the head teacher of Blessed Sacrament SS, Kimaanya where she has given bursaries to vulnerable students. She enjoys special recognition in Buganda Kingdom.

Matthias Nsubuga
He is the Bukoto South MP whose daughter recently got married to Kabaka Mutebi’s younger brother, Prince David Wasajja.

Stecia Mayanja
She is a musician, hails from Masaka and she has established a Children’s Foundation in Uganda to rehabilitate children from broken families.

Deo Kiwanuka
He is a retired industrial mechanical technician and a small scale model farmer who initiated the idea of breeding grasshoppers in Masaka.

Josephine Kizza
She is the director of St Jude Rural Training Centre at Kabonera Sub-county. She has started an agro-ecology college to train people in integrated organic farming.

Hajat Sarah Kiyimba
She is the proprietor of Hotel Brovad, one of the most prominent hotels in Masaka Town and she has provided employment to both female and male youths.

Betty Namagembe
She is the District Education Officer. She started the District Education Improvement Plan that has helped to improve academic performance in schools.

Tom Bukenya
He has been the District Fisheries Officer for the last 14 years. He is known for fighting bribery in the fisheries sector and he has initiated improved methods of drying fish.

Lubega Lukande
He is the former chairman of the District Service Commission and he has been participating in the screening of ghost workers in the district.

Paul Kiyemba
He is the District NAADS Coordinator.

Hajj Musa Mpungu
He is Masaka SS headteacher.

Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere
He is the former Katikkiro (prime minister) of Buganda.

Rose Nakyegwe
Sheis the District Environment Officer who has fought land degradation and often evicted cultivators who encroach on wetlands and forest reserves.

Robina Ssentongo
She is the director of Kitovu Mobile Home Care organisation that has helped the orphaned children and provided HIV counselling and palliative care to people living with HIV.

Brig Gen. Joseph Ssemwanga
He is the commander of Kasijjagirwa Armoured Brigade in Masaka and he has encouraged soldiers to be friendly to civilians.

Noah Sserunjogi
He is the police spokesperson in Southern region. He is cooperative with the media and he has promoted community policing.

Dixon Sengonzi
He is the chairman of Uganda Red Cross Society in Masaka. He is a campaigner for human rights and this has won him support from youth.

Willy Agirembabazi
He is the Human Rights Commission Officer in charge of Southern region.

Prossy Mutumba
She is the District Production Officer whose role has helped farmers to increase their harvests.

Hajj Jamil Ssentongo
He is a very generous man, and is known to make cash donations to old friends.

Benardine Nammanda
She is the in-charge of the mental department at Masaka hospital. She has worked there for 37 years.

Methodius Kasujja
He is the chairman of Masaka Microfinance Development Cooperative Trust LTD.

Mariam Tusiime
She is a councillor in Masaka Municipality, prominent for her tough stand in the fight against corruption.

Hajj Jamil Ssempijja
He is the distributor of Pepsi products and Airtel in Masaka region. He is generous to vulnerable people like unemployed youth.

Hajj Nul Njuki
He is the councillor representing Butego in Masaka Municipality and has an interest in business.

Alintuma Nsambu
He is the former ICT minister remembered for the computers he gave out to schools across the country. He was the MP for Bukoto East for two terms.

Drake Guloba
He is the proprietor of Drakes’ Pub, a popular night spot in Masaka Town. His bar hosts both civilians and members of the Forces.

Fred Kabango
He is the District Agricultural Officer and he has trained both banana and coffee farmers how to fight banana bacterial wilt and coffee twig borer.

Dr Stuart Musisi
He is the District Health Officer. He is known for being active in monitoring health services, which has helped people have access to drugs and medical care for the last 19 years.

Kaboine Ndyahika
He is the District Commercial Officer and he has helped people to create income-generating projects and also encouraged them to save.

Dr Florence Tugumisirize
She is the Director of Masaka Referral Hospital. She encourages health workers to treat patients with care.

Dr Lawrence Mayega
He is the District Veterinary Officer and he has given several people skills in animal breeding and handling of dairy products.

George Kiberu
He is the Chairman of Masaka Taxi Drivers and Owners Association.

Godfrey Kayemba
He is the mayor of Masaka municipality. The FDC diehard is known to fight land grabbing.

Eliaza Mugisha
He is the administrator of Masaka Referral Hospital.

Gwavu Kiwanuka
He is the Deputy town clerk of Masaka Municipality. He was once illegally sacked but the High Court reinstated him.

Jamil Miwanda
He is the district vice chairman.

Joseph Kimbowa
He is the town clerk of Masaka Municipality.

Ogwal Kasule
He is the Southern Regional Traffic Officer who has fought reckless driving and overloading on Masaka Road.
Paul Migadde
He is the LC3 chairman for Kyanamukaka Sub-county and has taught fishermen how to save their money for better economy.

John Johns Yakuze
He is a veteran journalist

Dr Maura Lynch
She is an Irish missionary doctor who started doing fistula repair surgical operations at Kitovu Hospital in 1993. She is a consultant surgeon and is in charge of the fistula unit at the hospital.

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