| Arua | |
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Arua
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Region | Northern Uganda |
| Sub-region | West Nile sub-region |
| District | Arua District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Charles Asiki |
| Population (2011 Estimate) | |
| • Total | 59,400 |
Arua is a town in Arua District, Northern Uganda. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.
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Arua is located approximately 430 kilometres (270 mi), by road, northwest of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, and the largest city in that country.[1] This location lies approximately 190 kilometres (120 mi), by road, west of Gulu, the largest city in Northern Uganda.[2] The coordinates of the town are:03 01 48N, 30 54 36E (Latitude:3.0300; Longitude:30.9100).
Arua was the capital of the former West Nile Province. However, with the breakup of the province in the 1970s into Arua, Nebbi and Moyo districts, Arua town became the capital of Arua District. Arua town was initially slotted as the proposed capital of Lado Enclave. A distinction should however be made between Arua and Arua District.
The dominant tribe in Arua District are the Lugbara, who are divided up into the different dialects of Vurra who come from Vurra county, Ayivu who are from Ayivu county, Madi who are from Madi-Okollo County. The Madi from Madi-Okollo have a variant dialect from those in Moyo District and Adjumani District.
Arua is an important base for NGOs working in the West Nile sub-region or serving Western Equatoria in Southern Sudan or northeastern Congo DRC. It has become increasingly important as a commercial supply centre and transport route[3] as the Yei–Juba road has opened up and supplies come into Juba from the south rather than through Khartoum.
Coach lines link Arua to Kampala. Among them :
Arua Airport is the second-busiest airport in Uganda behind Entebbe International Airport
A branch of the Ugandan Railways was extended to Arua sometime after 1964[4] but there has been no passenger rail service in Uganda for many years[5]. Freight transport by rail to Arua is also unknown of nowadays.
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Arua town at 43,929. In 2008, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the population of the town to be 53,600.[6] In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of the town at 59,400.[7]
The following administrations are seated in Arua :
Branches of the following financial institutions are present in Arua :
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