ABOUT JINJA CITY

Location of Jinja town

Jinja was established in 1907.

Jinja town is located in the south of Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria and source of the longest River in the world, River Nile, 6,650 Kilometers, from Jinja at the source of the Nile, through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean.  Jinja is one of largest city and commercial area in Uganda.

History of Jinja Town

In the early 1900s, Jinja started as a fishing village due to the long-distance trade routes. The name “Jinja” means “Rock”.

Owen Falls Dam was built in 1954, but it was later renamed Nalubaale Power Station, the Ripon Falls were submerged. Most of the ‘Flat Rocks’ that gave the area its name disappeared under water as well.

Growing sugar canes, Cotton and railway access all enabled Jinja growth. By 1906 a street pattern had been laid out, and Indian traders moved in starting around 1910. The Indians were Catholic Christians and English-speaking, and originated in the former Portuguese colony of Goa on the west coast of India.

Economic activities

Well establishing farming activities due fertile soils, abundant water sources, and reliable rainfall this explains sugar cane estates and tea estates. Which has boosted mushrooming sugar cane and tea factories like the Kakira Sugar Works, a member of the Madhvani Group of companies. Other industries are metal processing, leather and paper processing, grain milling, sugar, some organic fruits, and coffee growing for export, and brewing for local sale.

Nile Breweries Limited in Njeru, Jinja, at the Source of the Nile, from which the brewery has been drawing its water for the past fifty years. Building of the brewery commenced in 1952 but was only completed four years later. Bottles of Nile Beer (now Nile Special Lager and still the company’s flagship brand.

Bidco has oil refinery factory in Jinja city. The palm oil fruits come from Bidco’s 6,500 hectares (16,000 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.

Other Major factories in Jinja city.

1. Nile Surgicot Ltd.
2. Nile Aluminium Ltd.
3. Nile Derivatives Ltd.
4. Nile Plywood Limited
5. White Nile Dairy Limited.
6. Nile Agro Industries Ltd.
7. Mayuge Sugar Ind Ltd.
8. G.M. Sugar Ind Ltd.
9. Pramukh Steel Ltd.
10. Pramukh Polybag Ltd.
11. Royal Techno Projects Ltd.
12. Nile Agroprocessors Limited
13. Engano Grain Millers Limited
14. Kengrow Industries Limited
15. Sky Fat Limited
16. Jinja Leather Tannery Limited.

Tourism Activities in Jinja Town.

1. The source of the Nile.
2. Bujagali Lake (former Bujagali Falls)
3. Itanda falls.
4. Lake Victoria Beaches
5. Islands in Lake Victoria found in Lake Victoria including Samuka, Lwabitookel, Ndaiga and Lwabitooke.
6. Industries: Numerous industries found in Jinja attract excursionists, especially school tours including textile, beer, Sugar, steel rolling, grain milling and fish industries.
7. Agriculture: Like Tea and Sugar estates are currently exploited as a tourist attractions.

Other Tourism Activities

1. White Water Rafting in Jinja
2. Jet Boat up the Rapids of the Nile
3. Kayaking the River Nile
4. Sunset Cruise
5. Horseback Riding Safaris along the Nile