Why it looks like this

Kampala began as the hill capital of the Buganda kingdom: the Kabaka's palace on Mengo hill, and the British fort on Old Kampala hill beside it. Like Rome, the city counts seven original hills, and their summits went to power and faith — Namirembe and Rubaga cathedrals, the Kibuli and Old Kampala mosques, Makerere's university hill.

The valleys between the hills were swamps, so roads followed the ridges and contours instead of any grid; the modern city has spread over many more hills, but the map still reads as circles of streets wrapped around summits.