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Masaka is a city in the Buganda Region in Uganda, west of Lake Victoria. The city is the headquarters of Masaka District.
Masaka, being one of the most developed districts during the conflicts for power that occurred after Ugandan gained its independence, was a strategically important location during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–79), and was accordingly by Uganda Army troops. These soldiers terrorized the local civilians, prompting most to flee the town. On 23–24 February 1979, the Tanzania People's Defence Force and allied Ugandan rebels attacked the settlement, resulting in the Battle of Masaka. The town was bombarded with artillery, and fell to the Tanzanian-led forces after light resistance. The Tanzanians subsequently levelled much of the town to take revenge for atrocities committed by the Uganda Army during its previous invasion of northwestern Tanzania.
In course of the Ugandan Bush War, Masaka again suffered from fighting. The town was garrisoned by the Uganda National Liberation Army which served as Uganda's national army at the time. In late 1985, National Resistance Army rebels laid siege to the town. After heavy combat, Masaka's garrison surrendered on 10 December 1985.
In 2019 the Cabinet of Uganda, resolved to award Masaka, city status effective July 2023. In November of the same year, Cabinet revised the date of city status to 1 July 2020.
As of June 2021, the city of Masaka occupied a total area in excess of . Masaka City Council, with assistance from the Central Ugandan government and the World Bank is in the process of implementing major road and street improvements, as part of the Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program. The city has a working budget of USh73 billion (approx. US$21 million), in the 2020/2021 financial year.
In 2020, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of Masaka City at 116,600 people. The population agency calculated the population growth rate of the town to average 2.11 percent, between 2014 and 2020. The 2024 national census enumerated the people in Masaka City at 285,509.
The annual Uganda Marathon event takes place in June, the race route loops twice through the town and the funds generated support local employment and community development.
Other points of interest include (f) the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka (g) Lake Nabugabo, to the east of downtown Masaka. (h) Bukakkata, on the shores of Lake Victoria, about east of Masaka. (i) Masaka Regional Referral Hospital (j) Masaka Currency Center, a currency storage and processing facility owned and operated by the Bank of Uganda, Uganda's central bank. (k) A branch of the National Social Security Fund, (l) The Office of 24 Tech Time (U) Ltd, (m) The Head Office of Mikando Chicken online restaurant, (o) City View Complex, (p) St. Paul's Cathedral - Kako which is the Headquarters of West Buganda Diocese under the Church of Uganda and (q) Radio Buddu FM.
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