Mbale Population 2026

Mbale has a population of 111,300, making it the #20 biggest city in 🇺🇬 Uganda, located in Eastern Region. Roughly 0.2% of Uganda's population lives here. It is about 15× smaller than Kampala, the country's biggest city.

Location of Mbale (capital Kampala shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

111,300

Rank in Uganda

#20

Coordinates

1.08°N, 34.18°E

~1,125 m elevation · Africa/Kampala

Distance to capital (Kampala)

197 km

122 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Eastern Region

City	Population	Rank in Uganda
Jinja	93,061	#24
Kamuli	67,800	#31
Iganga	65,500	#33
Busia	64,900	#34
Soroti	60,900	#36
Kapchorwa	51,200	#41
Tororo	48,500	#45
Bugembe	45,600	#47

Cities near Mbale

Nakaloke33,700 people · ~8 km away
Manafwa16,000 people · ~18 km away
Budadiri19,200 people · ~18 km away
Sironko19,300 people · ~18 km away
Budaka29,100 people · ~29 km away
Butaleja24,000 people · ~31 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mbale?

Mbale has a population of 111,300 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #20 biggest city in Uganda.

What region is Mbale in?

Mbale is located in Eastern Region, Uganda.

Is Mbale the capital of Uganda?

No, the capital of Uganda is Kampala, about 197 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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