Lira District
Encyclopedia
Lira District is a district
in Northern Uganda
. Like many other Uganda
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Lira
.
to the north, Otuke District
to the northeast, Alebtong District
to the east, Dokolo District
to the southeast, Apac District
to the southwest and Kole District
to the west. The main main municipal, administrative and commercial center in the district, Lira
, is located 110 kilometres (68.4 mi), by road, southeast of Gulu
, the largest city in Northern Uganda. The coordinates of the district are: 02 20N, 33 06E (Latitude:02.3333; Longitude:33.1000).
insurgency that ravaged Kitgum District
and Pader District
to the north, the increased violence of 2002 resulted in massive population displacement
within the district. However, as of June 2009, the security situation in the district is relatively peaceful.
Until 2005, Lira district comprised six counties; Erute, Dokolo, Kyoga, Otuke, Moroto and Lira Municipality
. These were further subdivided into 28 sub-counties. Of the 28 sub-counties, four are Municipal Divisions. There are a total of 192 parish
es with 2,247 village
s. With the creation of Dokolo District
in 2005, and the creation of Otuke District
in 2010, Lira District today consists of four (4) counties:
In 2006 and 2007, Lira District experienced a massive return of IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons). Over 310,000 of the estimated 350,000 left camps to return to home villages in a period of fourteen (14) months.
, Amolatar District
, Apac District
, Dokolo District
, Lira District
, Kole District
, Otuke District
and Oyam District
. The sub-region is coterminus with the now defunct Lango District. Lango sub-region was home to an estimated 1.5 million Langi in 2002, according to the national census conducted at that time.
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Lira District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||290,600
|-
|2003||299,300
|-
|2004||308,300
|-
|2005||317,500
|-
|2006||327,100
|-
|2007||336,900
|-
|2008||347,000
|-
|2009||357,400
|-
|2010||368,100
|-
|}
The majority of the population are ethnic Langi and the predominant language spoken is Lwo
.
Districts of Uganda
Uganda is divided into 111 districts and one city across four administrative regions. Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns....
in Northern Uganda
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Like many other Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Lira
Lira, Uganda
Lira is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Lira District. Lira was the main metropolitan center of the now defunct Lango District ....
.
Location
Lira District is bordered by Pader DistrictPader District
Pader District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after Pader, the chief municipal, administrative and commercial town in the district, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the north, Otuke District
Otuke District
Otuke District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Otuke, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the northeast, Alebtong District
Alebtong District
Alebtong District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief' town, Alebtong, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the east, Dokolo District
Dokolo District
Dokolo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Dokolo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the southeast, Apac District
Apac District
Apac District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Apac, where the district headquarters are located...
to the southwest and Kole District
Kole District
Kole District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kole, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the west. The main main municipal, administrative and commercial center in the district, Lira
Lira, Uganda
Lira is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Lira District. Lira was the main metropolitan center of the now defunct Lango District ....
, is located 110 kilometres (68.4 mi), by road, southeast of Gulu
Gulu
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
, the largest city in Northern Uganda. The coordinates of the district are: 02 20N, 33 06E (Latitude:02.3333; Longitude:33.1000).
Overview
Long untouched by the Lord's Resistance ArmyLord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
insurgency that ravaged Kitgum District
Kitgum District
Kitgum District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Kitgum, where the district headquarters is located.-Location:...
and Pader District
Pader District
Pader District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after Pader, the chief municipal, administrative and commercial town in the district, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the north, the increased violence of 2002 resulted in massive population displacement
Forced migration
Forced migration refers to the coerced movement of a person or persons away from their home or home region...
within the district. However, as of June 2009, the security situation in the district is relatively peaceful.
Until 2005, Lira district comprised six counties; Erute, Dokolo, Kyoga, Otuke, Moroto and Lira Municipality
Lira, Uganda
Lira is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Lira District. Lira was the main metropolitan center of the now defunct Lango District ....
. These were further subdivided into 28 sub-counties. Of the 28 sub-counties, four are Municipal Divisions. There are a total of 192 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es with 2,247 village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s. With the creation of Dokolo District
Dokolo District
Dokolo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Dokolo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
in 2005, and the creation of Otuke District
Otuke District
Otuke District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Otuke, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
in 2010, Lira District today consists of four (4) counties:
- Erute North County
- Erute South County
- Moroto County
- Lira Town CouncilLira, UgandaLira is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Lira District. Lira was the main metropolitan center of the now defunct Lango District ....
In 2006 and 2007, Lira District experienced a massive return of IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons). Over 310,000 of the estimated 350,000 left camps to return to home villages in a period of fourteen (14) months.
Lango sub-region
Lira District is part of Lango sub-region, which consists of the following districts: Alebtong DistrictAlebtong District
Alebtong District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief' town, Alebtong, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Amolatar District
Amolatar District
Amolatar District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amolatar, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Apac District
Apac District
Apac District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Apac, where the district headquarters are located...
, Dokolo District
Dokolo District
Dokolo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Dokolo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Lira District
Lira District
Lira District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Lira.-Location:Lira District is bordered by Pader District to the north, Otuke District to the northeast, Alebtong District to the east, Dokolo District to the southeast, Apac...
, Kole District
Kole District
Kole District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kole, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Otuke District
Otuke District
Otuke District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Otuke, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Oyam District
Oyam District
Oyam District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Oyam, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
. The sub-region is coterminus with the now defunct Lango District. Lango sub-region was home to an estimated 1.5 million Langi in 2002, according to the national census conducted at that time.
Population
The national population census of 2002 estimated the population of the district, as constituted in 2010, at 290,600, with an annual population growth rate of 3%. Given those statistics, it is estimated that the population of Lira District in 2010, was about 368,100. See table below:{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Lira District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||290,600
|-
|2003||299,300
|-
|2004||308,300
|-
|2005||317,500
|-
|2006||327,100
|-
|2007||336,900
|-
|2008||347,000
|-
|2009||357,400
|-
|2010||368,100
|-
|}
The majority of the population are ethnic Langi and the predominant language spoken is Lwo
Lango language (Uganda)
Lango is a Western Nilotic language of the Luo branch, spoken by the Langi people in Uganda. It is mostly spoken in Lango sub-region, in the Northern Region. Spoken by approximately 1.8 million speakers, it makes up for about five percent of the population of Uganda...
.
Economic activity
Lira District has a diversified economy including:- Grain MillingMill (grinding)A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
- Wholesale and retail merchandising
- Hotel and restaurant business
- Brick making
- PotteryPotteryPottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
- Building tile manufacture
- CarpentryCarpentryA carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
- LoggingLoggingLogging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Embroidery
- Crop processing and marketing
- Mechanical repairs and metal fabrication
- Printing services
- Bookshop business
- Construction
- Boda-bodaBoda-bodaBoda-boda also known as a Poda-Poda in some parts of Africa is a bicycle taxi, originally in East Africa . The bicycle rider can also be called boda-boda...
business (bicycle and motorcycle) - Retail pharmaceutical businesses
See also
- LiraLira, UgandaLira is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Lira District. Lira was the main metropolitan center of the now defunct Lango District ....
- Lango sub-region
- Northern Region, UgandaNorthern Region, UgandaNorthern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
- Districts of UgandaDistricts of UgandaUganda is divided into 111 districts and one city across four administrative regions. Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns....