Mbarara is the second largest city in Uganda. With a population of close to 200,000 people, it has grown to surpass Jinja which was in the earlier years an industrial town in Uganda.The city has a number of universities, main one being Mbarara University of Science and Technology MUST, Mbarara Referral hospital among others. It has not formally attained city status but it's lined up for this award as well as Entebbe, Gulu, Mbale and Jinja.Investment opportunities are available in the dairy sector, Infrastructure, Hotel industry, Education sector, ICT and Transport sector. Mbarara is 290 km from Kampala in a south westerly direction.