Kamwenge District
| Kamwenge District | |
|---|---|
| District | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 00°11′N 30°27′E / 0.183°N 30.450°E | |
| Country |
 Uganda |
| Region | Western Uganda |
| Sub-region | Toro sub-region |
| Capital | Kamwenge |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,304 km2 (890 sq mi) |
| • Land | 2,239.9 km2 (864.8 sq mi) |
| • Water | 64.1 km2 (24.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2010 Estimate) | |
| • Total | 363,200 |
| • Density | 162.2/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Website | Homepage |
Kamwenge District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kamwenge, where the district headquarters are located. Kamwenge District is part of the Kingdom of Toro, one of the ancient traditional monarchies in Uganda. The kingdom is coterminous with Toro sub-region, home to an estimated 1 million inhabitants in 2002, according to the national population and housing census conducted that year. The districts that constitute the sub-region are:
- Kabarole District
- Kamwenge District
- Kyegegwa District
- Kyenjojo District
Location
Kamwenge District is bordered by Kyenjojo District to the north, Kyegegwa District and Kiruhura District to the northeast, Ibanda District to the east and southeast, Rubirizi District to the southwest, Kasese District to the west and Kabarole District to the northwest.[1] Kamwenge, the district headquarters lies approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi), by road, west of Uganda's capital, Kampala.[2] The coordinates of the district are:00 11N, 30 27E.
Overview
The district covers an area of approximately 2,304 square kilometres (890 sq mi). Of this, 64.1 square kilometres (24.7 sq mi) (2.6%) is covered by open water. It is predominantly a rural district with some of the worst poverty levels in the country. The district does not have a hospital.
Kamwenge is made up of two (2) counties and one (1) Municipal Council:
- Kitagwenda County
- Kibaale County
- Kamwenge Town Council
The district is endowed with numerous wetlands, tropical forests in the Kashoha/Kitomi region, and Kibaale National Park, which it shares with Kibale District and Kyenjojo District. In Bwizi subcounty, there are pockets of highland tropical forest on the mountain ranges. There are numerous aquatic systems in the district including:
- Parts of Lake George
- River Mpanga
- River Rushango
- Rwenshama Falls, in Kyambura Game Reserve
- Parts of Katonga Wildlife Reserve
- Parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Population
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Kamwenge District at about 295,300, of whom 51.5% were female and 48.5% were female.[3] The annual population growth rate of the district was approximately 3%. It is estimated that in 2010, the population of the district was approximately 363,200. See table below:
| Kamwenge District Population Trends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The predominant ethnic group in the district are Batoro. However, there are a sizable number of Bakiga who have settled in the district. The languages spoken include:
Economic activitiesAgriculture is the mainstay of the district economy. Crops raised include:
In the Kitagwenda area of the district, there is fishing, some of it for commercial purposes. External linksSee alsoReferencesCoordinates: 00°11′N 30°27′E / 0.183°N 30.450°E
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