Jinja and the Source of the Nile

Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.
Location

Jinja lies in southeastern Uganda, approximately 54 miles (87 km), by road, east of Kampala. The town is located on the shores of Lake Victoria, near to the source of the Nile River. Jinja is the largest metropolitan area in Jinja District, and is considered the capital of the Kingdom of Busoga.

Nearby towns and villages include Njeru (1.9 nmi/3.5 km; 2.2 mi), Buwenda (2.8 nmi/5.2 km; 3.2 mi),Kimaka (2.8 nmi/5.2 km; 3.2 mi), Mpumudde (2.6 nmi/4.8 km; 3.0 mi), Masese (2.3 nmi/4.3 km; 2.6 mi), Walukuba (2.4 nmi/4.4 km; 2.8 mi) and Bugungu (1.5 nmi/2.8 km; 1.7 mi)
History

Before 1906, Jinja was a fishing village that benefited from being located on long-distance trade routes. The origin of the name "Jinja" comes from the language of the two peoples (the Bagandaand the Basoga) that lived on either side of the River Nile in the area. In both languages "Jinja" means "Rock". In most of Africa, rivers like the Nile hindered migration, this explains the ethnic boundaries along the Nile as one moves north from the river's source on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.