alt=Aruu falls located along Gulu Kitgum highway, in Pader district, northern Uganda.|thumb|Aruu falls located along Gulu Kitgum highway, in Pader district, northern Uganda.

alt=Building hut in Kitgum IDP camp, Uganda.|thumb|Building hut in Kitgum IDP camp, Uganda.|225x225px

Kitgum District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its major town of Kitgum, where the district headquarters is located. The district is part of the Acholi sub-region.

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History and remaining sections

History

The district has suffered much fatalities and social disruption resulting from the 20-year Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in the region during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The government moved tens of thousands of residents to internally displaced persons camps for their protection, where they were subject to raids by the rebels and also harsh conditions, including disease and food shortages.

Geography

Kitgum District is bordered by South Sudan to the north, and by the Ugandan districts of Lamwo to the northwest, Pader to the southwest, Agago to the south, and Kotido and Karenga to the east. It has a total land area of approximately 3,960 to 4,042 square kilometres.

Population

In 1991, the Ugandan national population census estimated the district population at about 104,600. According to the national census of 2002, Kitgum District had a population of about 167,000. The 2014 national census recorded a population of 204,012. The district has a relatively low population density and a young population, with nearly half under the age of 15.

Economy

Agriculture is the main economic activity in the district. Major crops grown include sorghum, millet, maize, cassava, beans, groundnuts, and sunflowers. Livestock keeping is also practiced, though on a smaller scale. The district is gradually recovering from the effects of the long civil war.

See also

  • Acholi people
  • Kitgum, Uganda
  • Northern Uganda

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Location

Kitgum District is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Kaabong District to the east, Kotido District to the southeast, Agago District to the south, Pader District to the southwest and Lamwo District to the northwest. Kitgum, the largest town in the district, lies northeast of Gulu, the largest city in the sub-region. It lies approximately north of Uganda's capital, Kampala.

Overview

The district is composed of one county: Chua County. In 2010, Lamwo County was separated from Kitgum District to form Lamwo District. Kitgum District is a constituent part of Acholiland, home to an estimated 1.1 million Acholi, according to the 2002 national census.

Population

In 1991, the Ugandan national population census estimated the district population at about 104,600. According to the national census of 2002, Kitgum District had a population of about 167,000, of whom 51.3% were females and 48.7% were males. The annual population growth rate of the district, between 2002 and 2012, was calculated at 4.1%. It is estimated that the population of the district in 2012, was approximately 247,800.

Economic activities

Agriculture is the main economic activity in the district. Crops grown include the following:

Graphite

The Orom-Cross Graphite Project is located approximately 6 km east (in a straight line) of the town of Orom and 75 km northeast of the town of Kitgum in northern Uganda. The nearest large settlement to the Project is the village of Orom, located in Chua East Country.

At a radius of 323 square kilometers, the Orom-Cross graphite project covers 10 villages in Orom East Sub County in Kitgum District.

Hepatitis epidemic

During late 2007 and early 2008, as many of the residents of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps started to return to their home areas following peace talks, an outbreak of Hepatitis E engulfed the community, and soon spread to the entire district. As of August 2008, a total of 8,157 cases had been identified; 62% were female, while 38% were male. The case fatality ratio was 1.52%. Seventy two percent (72%) of the fatalities were female. The epidemic has been traced to unsanitary sources of drinking water. By July 2009, the number of infected persons had increased to 10,243, of whom 162 died; a case fatality ratio of 1.58%.

Notable people

  • Matthew Lukwiya, physician
  • Janani Luwum, martyr. Anglican Archbishop of Uganda killed in 1977 during the conflict; born and buried in Mucwini village.
  • Sunday Omony, plus-size model born in Kitgum District.
  • Henry Oryem Okello, politician and lawyer

Sports

  • Acholi Queens FC

See also

  • Kitgum
  • Acholi sub-region
  • Acholi people
  • Lord's Resistance Army
  • Districts of Uganda

References

  • American Pastor Kicked Out of Kitgum District