# Arua

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For other uses, see [Arua (disambiguation)](/source/Arua_(disambiguation)).

Place in Northern Region, Uganda

Arua Ojiodri Main Street in Arua Motto: Peace, Justice & Prudence Arua Location in Uganda Coordinates: 3°02′07″N 30°54′39″E / 3.03528°N 30.91083°E / 3.03528; 30.91083 Country Uganda Region Northern Region Sub-region West Nile sub-region District Arua District Government • Mayor Charles Asiki Population (2024 Census) • Total 384,656[1] Area code 0476 Website www.arua.go.ug

**Arua** is a city and commercial centre within the [Arua District](/source/Arua_District) in the [Northern Region](/source/Northern_Region%2C_Uganda) of [Uganda](/source/Uganda).[2][3]

## Location

Arua is approximately 475 kilometres (295 mi) north-west of [Kampala](/source/Kampala), the capital and largest city of Uganda,[4] Arua is about 228 kilometres (142 mi), by road, west of [Gulu](/source/Gulu), the largest city in Uganda's Northern Region.[5] The geographical coordinates of the city of Arua are 03°02'07.0"N, 30°54'39.0"E (Latitude:3.035278; Longitude:30.910833).[6] Arua sits at an average elevation of 1,310 metres (4,298 ft) above sea level.[7] Arua is closely bordered to the [Democratic Republic of Congo](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo) in the west and [South Sudan](/source/South_Sudan) in the north, which makes it a strategic location for business between Uganda and her two neighbors to the west and north.[8]

Due to its strategic location, Arua is also part of the refugee program of hosting up to 20% of the refugees entering Uganda annually.[9]

## Overview

View of Arua Hill

A road in Arua

Arua is an important base for [non-governmental organizations](/source/Non-governmental_organization) working in the [West Nile sub-region](/source/West_Nile_sub-region) or serving [Western Equatoria](/source/Western_Equatoria) in South Sudan and the northeastern [Democratic Republic of the Congo](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo). It became an important commercial supply centre and transport route when the [Juba - Yei - Morobo - Kaya Road](/source/Juba_-_Yei_-_Morobo_-_Kaya_Road) opened, enabling supplies to come into [Juba](/source/Juba) from the south on the [Kaya](/source/Kaya%2C_South_Sudan) Highway instead of through [Khartoum](/source/Khartoum) from the north.[7]

## Transport

A branch of the [Uganda Railways](/source/Uganda_Railways) was to be extended to Arua sometime after 1964,[10] but there has been no passenger rail service in Uganda for many years.[11]

The [Vurra–Arua–Koboko–Oraba Road](/source/Vurra%E2%80%93Arua%E2%80%93Koboko%E2%80%93Oraba_Road) passes through town, in a south–north direction.[12] Arua is connected to the other towns in West Nile by road which include: Nebbi, Pakwach, Paidha, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Obongi, Adjumani and other smaller towns. There is regular road transport between Arua and Kampala, Gulu, Masindi and Hoima

The city is served by [Arua Airport](/source/Arua_Airport), which has scheduled air service.[13] Arua airport has been the second busiest in Uganda after Entebbe. It was due to be upgraded to an international airport.

## Population

**Boda, car and bicycle moving on Arua Main Street**

The 1969 national census enumerated the population of Arua Town at 10,837. In 1991, the census enumerated 22,217 people in the town. In 2002, the population had increased to 43,929. The August 2014 national census and household survey enumerated the population of Arua Town Council at 61,962. In 2020, the [Uganda Bureau of Statistics](/source/Uganda_Bureau_of_Statistics) (UBOS) estimated the mid-year population to be 72,400. UBOS calculated that the population of Arua Municipality grew at an average rate of 2.7 percent annually, between 2014 and 2020.[1]

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1969 10,837 — 1991 22,217 +105.0% 2002 43,929 +97.7% 2014 61,962 +41.1% 2020 72,400 +16.8% source:[1]

## Climate

Arua has a [tropical savanna climate](/source/Tropical_savanna_climate) ([Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *Aw*).

Climate data for Arua (1961–1990) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 34.4 (93.9) 36.1 (97.0) 37.8 (100.0) 35.6 (96.1) 33.3 (91.9) 30.6 (87.1) 30.0 (86.0) 31.1 (88.0) 30.6 (87.1) 32.4 (90.3) 33.3 (91.9) 33.6 (92.5) 37.8 (100.0) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.5 (86.9) 31.1 (88.0) 30.2 (86.4) 28.8 (83.8) 27.9 (82.2) 27.1 (80.8) 26.1 (79.0) 26.3 (79.3) 27.2 (81.0) 27.9 (82.2) 28.4 (83.1) 29.1 (84.4) 28.4 (83.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.4 (63.3) 18.0 (64.4) 18.3 (64.9) 18.0 (64.4) 17.5 (63.5) 16.9 (62.4) 16.4 (61.5) 16.3 (61.3) 16.5 (61.7) 16.9 (62.4) 17.2 (63.0) 17.0 (62.6) 17.2 (63.0) Record low °C (°F) 12.8 (55.0) 11.1 (52.0) 13.9 (57.0) 13.9 (57.0) 14.4 (57.9) 13.2 (55.8) 11.7 (53.1) 11.1 (52.0) 12.2 (54.0) 14.1 (57.4) 14.4 (57.9) 12.8 (55.0) 11.1 (52.0) Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.5 (0.69) 36.6 (1.44) 90.7 (3.57) 120.4 (4.74) 127.6 (5.02) 146.4 (5.76) 154.5 (6.08) 216.9 (8.54) 173.0 (6.81) 209.5 (8.25) 125.1 (4.93) 29.8 (1.17) 1,448 (57.01) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 1.4 3.0 7.0 9.0 8.7 8.5 11.3 12.6 11.5 13.8 9.7 3.1 99.6 Average relative humidity (%) (at 14:00) 38 36 44 56 60 63 67 66 62 60 53 46 54 Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[14] Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity)[15]

## Activities

### Administrative activities

The following administrations are seated in Arua:

- Offices of the Arua Town Council

- Headquarters of Arua District

- Headquarters of the [Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Arua) and the [Church of Uganda](/source/Church_of_Uganda)'s Madi and West Nile Diocese

### Other business and educational activities

Arua Public Library

- Arua Campus of the [Makerere University Business School](/source/Makerere_University_Business_School)

- [Uganda Christian University Arua Campus](/source/Uganda_Christian_University) in Ringili at St. Paul's Theological College

- Arua Campus of Bugema University

- [Muni University](/source/Muni_University), the sixth [public university](/source/Public_university) established by the [government of Uganda](/source/Government_of_Uganda)

- Kuluva School of Nursing and Midwifery

- [Islamic University in Uganda](/source/Islamic_University_in_Uganda)

- [PostBank Uganda](/source/PostBank_Uganda)

- [National Social Security Fund](/source/National_Social_Security_Fund_(Uganda))

- Arua Central Market

- Arua Currency Center, a currency storage and processing facility, owned and operated by the [Bank of Uganda](/source/Bank_of_Uganda), Uganda's [central bank](/source/Central_bank).[16]

- [Arua Hospital](/source/Arua_Hospital), a 128-bed public, regional referral hospital administered by the [Uganda Ministry of Health](/source/Uganda_Ministry_of_Health)

- Ragem Beach

- United Media Consultants And Trainers(UMCAT) School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

[17]

### Media

BTN TV and Nile FM studios in Anyafio Village, Arua Hill Division where they began

Free-to-air analog broadcasts, which originated from Kampala, included WBS TV (which is currently closed), [UBC TV](https://ubctvnetwork.com), and [NTV](https://ntv.co.ug). In early 2014, [MBC 2](/source/MBC_2_(Middle_East)) was aired in Arua as a test broadcast to pave way for Vision Group's Urban TV before the 2015 countrywide digital migration.[18] BTN was the first local TV station since 2003. Westnile TV later emerged as the only functional TV Station on ground in Arua while Host TV, an Online TV Station also pioneered in Arua aiding digital transformation.

Voice of Life 100.9 FM, a [Church of Uganda](/source/Church_of_Uganda)-founded radio station, pioneered FM broadcasting in Arua since 1997.[19] Arua One (88.7 FM), Nile FM (94.1) and Radio Pacis (90.9 plus 94.5 FM) also joined them before others flooded in later including Access (96.3 FM) and Host Radio, an online Web Radio operated by Host Hub Innovations.

## Education

There are several Government and private schools in Arua.

## See also

- [Arua City Tower](/source/Arua_City_Tower)

- [List of cities and towns in Uganda](/source/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Uganda)

- [List of radio stations in Uganda](/source/List_of_radio_stations_in_Africa#.C2.A0Uganda)

- [Lado Enclave](/source/Lado_Enclave)

- [Railway stations in Uganda](/source/Railway_stations_in_Uganda)

- [Uganda](/source/Uganda)

- [West Nile sub-region](/source/West_Nile_sub-region)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PopR_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PopR_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PopR_1-2) Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). ["The population of all Ugandan cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants according to census results and latest official projections"](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/cities/) (Citypopulation.de Quoting [Uganda Bureau of Statistics](/source/Uganda_Bureau_of_Statistics)). *Citypopulation.de*. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1R_2-0)** Ampurire, Paul (22 May 2019). ["Cabinet Approves Phased Creation Of Nine New Cities Beginning 2020"](https://www.softpower.ug/cabinet-approves-phased-creation-of-9-new-cities-beginning-2020/). Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2R_3-0)** Uganda Radio Network (21 May 2019). ["Cabinet approves creation of nine cities"](https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Cabinet-Museveni-Butime-Gulu-Mbale-Entebbe-nine-cities/688334-5124276-tvet8w/). *[Daily Monitor](/source/Daily_Monitor) Quoting [Uganda Radio Network](/source/Uganda_Radio_Network)*. Kampala. Retrieved 22 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Road Distance Between Kampala, Uganda And Arua, Uganda"](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kampala/Arua/@1.6696311,30.4916189,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x177dbc0f9d74b39b:0x4538903dd96b6fec!2m2!1d32.5825197!2d0.3475964!1m5!1m1!1s0x176e6265a178c769:0xaa1e18867d91929c!2m2!1d30.907304!2d3.0303299!3e0) (Map). *[Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)*. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Road Distance Between Gulu, Uganda And Arua, Uganda"](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gulu/Arua/@2.7407677,31.0372314,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1771a65c0fc42a27:0xce6ef3d1c3d80e06!2m2!1d32.2880726!2d2.7724038!1m5!1m1!1s0x176e6265a178c769:0xaa1e18867d91929c!2m2!1d30.907304!2d3.0303299!3e0) (Map). *[Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)*. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Location of the City of Arua, Uganda"](https://www.google.com/maps/place/3%C2%B002'07.0%22N+30%C2%B054'39.0%22E/@3.0352832,30.90865,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d3.0352778!4d30.9108333) (Map). *[Google Maps](/source/Google_Maps)*. Retrieved 5 June 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-8R_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-8R_7-1) The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019). ["Profile of Arua, Uganda"](https://www.britannica.com/place/Arua). Chicago: [Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica). Retrieved 5 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Namakula, Juliette (2020-07-07). ["Muni University hosts launch of Arua city"](https://www.education.co.ug/2020/07/07/arua-city-launched-at-muni-university/). *Education News Uganda*. Retrieved 2020-07-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ENU EDITOR (2020-05-04). ["In Uganda, a refugee camp becomes a city"](https://www.education.co.ug/2020/05/04/in-uganda-a-refugee-camp-becomes-a-city/). *Education News Uganda*. Retrieved 2020-07-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Nairobi Railway Museum"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100126134859/http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/Kenya/nrm.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/Kenya/nrm.html) on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Uganda Travel Advice and Advisories (Government of Canada)"](https://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=304000). Retrieved 25 January 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** USHMU (11 May 2012). ["Use The Road for Making Wealth – President Urges West Nile People"](http://www.statehouse.go.ug/media/news/2012/05/11/use-road-making-wealth-%E2%80%93-president-urges-west-nile-people). Uganda State House Media Unit (USHMU). Retrieved 1 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Eagle Air schedule](http://www.eagleair-ug.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=26) Retrieved 4 April 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WMO_14-0)** ["World Weather Information Service – Arua"](https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1936). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 1 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DWD_15-0)** ["Klimatafel von Arua / Uganda"](https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_636020_kt.pdf) (PDF). *Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world* (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 1 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** BOU. ["Currency Centers: Arua Currency Center"](https://www.bou.or.ug/bou/currency/arua_cc.html). [Bank of Uganda](/source/Bank_of_Uganda). Retrieved 2 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["About The School"](https://umcatuganda.ac.ug/about-us-2/). *www.umcatuganda.ac.ug*. Retrieved 25 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Staff Writer (28 March 2014). ["Urban TV's Faith Ariho Promoted?"](https://www.bigeye.ug/urban-tvs-faith-ariho-promoted). Bigeye.ug. Retrieved 2 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Voice of Life - Arua"](http://diguna.de/en/where-we-work/uganda/).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Arua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arua).

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for ***[Arua](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Arua#Q500111)***.

- [Website of Arua District](https://web.archive.org/web/20060304083532/http://www.arua.go.ug/)

- [New Cities Raise Great Expectations In Investments, Revenue](https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/New-cities-raise-great-expectations-investments-revenue/688334-5127596-jr3o5t/index.html) As of 23 May 2019.

Authority control databases International VIAF National Israel

v t e Arua District Capital: Arua Counties and sub-counties Ayivu County Madi-Okollo County Terego County Vurra County Towns and villages Arua Bondo Kuluva Okollo Ombaci Rhino Camp Vurra Banking Absa Bank Uganda Limited Bank of Africa Uganda Limited Centenary Bank DFCU Bank Diamond Trust Bank Housing Finance Bank KCB Bank Uganda Limited Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited PostBank Uganda Pride Microfinance Limited FINCA Uganda Limited Economy Arua Foam Mattresses Limited Toyota Uganda Limited Westnile Distilling Company Limited Energy Lira–Gulu–Nebbi–Arua High Voltage Power Line Ituka Solar Power Station Paidha–Nebbi–Bondo–Arua Power Line Notable landmarks Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua Emmanuel Cathedral, Mvara Ombaci Earth Satellite Station Education Arua Campus of IUIU Muni University Nile University of Uganda UCU Arua Campus St. Joseph’s College Ombaci Mvara Secondary School Transport Arua Airport Vurra–Arua–Koboko–Oraba Road Pakwach–Arua Road Arua–Rhino Camp Road Health Arua Regional Referral Hospital Arua Regional Cancer Centre Kuluva Hospital Notable people Jason Avutia (Agofe) Charles Asiki Christine Bako Abia Dorcas Inzikuru Gabriel Ajedra Aridru James Nyakuni Martin Drito Kassiano Wadri Peter Debele Shaphan Andeku Simon Ejua Kania Obiga

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