Equator in Uganda, Kayabwe. Kampala – Masaka Highway

The equator crossing in Uganda is a classic spot for pictures, souvenirs, and a perfect stopover for any safari to Western and southwestern Uganda.

Uganda is one of the countries in the world that is crossed by the equator – the imaginary line that cuts earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. While the Equator crosses through all of Uganda, the most Iconic spot for the equator crossing is in Kayabwe, just 70 kilometers from Kampala city.

At Kayabwe, the Equator line crosses the Kampala – Masaka highway making it an easy stop for some equator science experiences and experiments. It has become a popular stop for anyone going to visit the popular national parks of western Uganda.

Equator in Uganda

While Uganda has so many places to visit and take pictures, pictures taken at the equator line have an iconic feeling to them and they will become your favorites. For many visitors, being able to stand in 2 hemispheres and feel a bit lighter is a wonderful experience to add on top of their Uganda safari holiday.

Being crossed by the equator is the simple explanation for why Uganda has a warm equatorial climate with even days and nights and lush landscapes. The equator line can be crossed on your way to visit any of the national parks in southwestern Uganda, such as Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Impenetrable.

There are a number of craft shops and art galleries at this place on Masaka road. With products that have been locally made by individuals and organizations that are around the equator area.

Most of the tourists have found it an awesome place to get a souvenir to take back home and tell their people how they crossed the Equator in Uganda.

Water experiments at the equator

Did you know at the equator water drains straight down? This is because the movement and drainage of the water will differ from the Northern and the southern hemispheres at the Equator line, in the demonstration of the carioles effect.

With a movement that changes direction suddenly, something in motion to the left or right when moving on a rotating body like the earth. In some cases pressure weather cyclonical systems perform this, having a clockwise rotation in the north and a counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.

From a realistic perspective, you may not be able to see this as motion would not be seen with water in small amounts. Showmanship is used to simulate the effect.

While in the northern hemisphere, the water will drain down the hole in a clockwise direction. Water will drain in the counterclockwise direction in the southern hemisphere.

Lighter weight

It’s true, you will find out that you are 3% lighter at the equator line. Why? This comes about because weight is a force with which gravity acts on a mass.

Along the equator line, anyone’s weight will be less by 0.5% thus gravity is 0.5 % less at the Equator. This is inclined to the earth not being a perfect sphere. At the poles, it is flattened.

You will be a few tens of kilometers away from the actual center of the earth while standing at the equator unlike when standing at the poles. Gravity is therefore only slightly less at the equator because it falls off with distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: Where is the equator in Uganda?

The equator cuts through Uganda from west to east and crosses many districts. The equator point at Kayabwe is however the most popular because it crosses the Kampala-Masaka highway. The spot is extremely popular that is has become the iconic stop for photos, coffee, and souvenirs for most tourists who are using the road.

2:Which Ugandan districts are crossed by the equator?

The equator line crosses 12 Ugandan districts from the border with DR Congo in the west to Uganda’s border’s with Kenya in the east. There are however some few places where the equator monuments are built, with the popular one being the one in Kayabwe that crosses the popular Kampala-Masaka highway that connects western Uganda to Kampala.

Here are the districts crossed by the equator.

 Kasese  Kitagwenda  Ibanda
 Kazo  Sembabule  Bukomansimbi
 Mpigi  Butambala  Kalungu
 Mayuge  Buvuma  Namayingo

2: Which Lakes in Uganda are crossed by the equator?

In Uganda, the equator crosses 2 lakes and very many rivers. The 2 lakes which are crossed by the equator are Lake Victoria and Lake Edward.

Lake Edward is found in the western part of Uganda while Lake Victoria is found in Central and Eastern Uganda. Lake victoria is also Africa’s biggest lake and the source of the Nile.

3 : What other countries are crossed by the equator?

In the whole world, the equator crosses through a total of 13 countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. Here are the countries crossed by the equator.

 Ecuador  Columbia  Brazil  Sao Tome & Principe
 Gabon  Congo (Brazaville)  D.R. Congo  Kiribati
 Kenya  Somalia  Maldives  Indonesia