| Lira District | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| District location in Uganda | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Region | Northern Uganda |
| Sub-region | Lango sub-region |
| Capital | Lira |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,326 km2 (512 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,286 km2 (496.5 sq mi) |
| • Water | 40 km2 (15.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,080 m (3,543 ft) |
| Population (2010 Estimate) | |
| • Total | 386,100 |
| • Density | 300/km2 (777/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Website | Homepage |
Lira District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Lira.
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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 District to the southwest and Kole District to the west.[1] The main main municipal, administrative and commercial center in the district, Lira, is located 110 kilometres (68 mi), by road, southeast of Gulu, the largest city in Northern Uganda.[2] The coordinates of the district are: 02 20N, 33 06E (Latitude:02.3333; Longitude:33.1000).
Long untouched by the Lord's Resistance Army 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 parishes with 2,247 villages. 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.
Lira District is part of Lango sub-region, which consists of the following districts: Alebtong District, 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.
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:
| Lira District Population Trends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The majority of the population are ethnic Langi and the predominant language spoken is Lwo. Economic activityLira District has a diversified economy including:
External linksSee alsoReferences
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