# Arua District > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arua_District > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arua_District.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arua_District > Source revision: 1350177017 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) District in Northern Uganda, Uganda Arua District District Motorcyclists in Arua Town District location in Uganda Coordinates: 03°00′N 31°10′E / 3.000°N 31.167°E / 3.000; 31.167 Country Uganda Region Northern Uganda Sub-region West Nile sub-region Capital Arua Area • Land 3,236.4 km2 (1,249.6 sq mi) Population (2012 Estimate) • Total 776,700 • Density 240/km2 (620/sq mi) Time zone UTC+3 (EAT) Website www.arua.go.ug Arua city at night **Arua District** is a [district](/source/Districts_of_Uganda) in the [Northern Region](/source/Northern_Region%2C_Uganda) of [Uganda](/source/Uganda). Like many Ugandan districts, it too shares its name with its administrative center of [Arua](/source/Arua). The name Arua is said to be derived from the Lugbara name for prison (Arujo) and prisoner (Aru), since the white settlers (Belgians and later British) had a detention center at Arua Hill. ## Location Arua District is bordered by [Yumbe District](/source/Yumbe_District) to the north, [Adjumani District](/source/Adjumani_District) to the northeast, [Amuru District](/source/Amuru_District) to the east, [Nebbi District](/source/Nebbi_District) to the southeast, [Zombo District](/source/Zombo_District) to the southwest, the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo) (DRC) to the west, and [Maracha District](/source/Maracha_District) to the northwest. The district headquarters at Arua are located about 425 kilometres (264 mi), by road, northwest of [Kampala](/source/Kampala), the capital and largest city of Uganda.[1] The coordinates of the district are:03 00N, 31 10E.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## History Arua District has historically served as an important administrative and commercial centre in the West Nile sub-region.The district was originally much larger and included present-day: - [Yumbe District](/source/Yumbe_District) - [Koboko District](/source/Koboko_District) - [Maracha District](/source/Maracha_District) - [Terego District](/source/Terego_District) - Madi-Okollo District ## Ethnicities The largest ethnic group in the district is the [Lugbara people](/source/Lugbara_people).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Overview Arua District got its name from Arua town. In the late 1970s, the Ugandan president at the time [Godfrey Binaisa](/source/Godfrey_Binaisa) declared that all districts/provinces acquire their names from their regional capital so that is how Arua district inherited the name from Arua town.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The district originally included [Aringa County](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aringa_County&action=edit&redlink=1), which was later split off to become [Yumbe District](/source/Yumbe_District). The district is the birthplace of former President [Idi Amin](/source/Idi_Amin). Arua District was a springboard for some units of the [Uganda People's Defense Force](/source/Uganda_People's_Defense_Force) who entered the DRC at the beginning of the [Second Congo War](/source/Second_Congo_War). Arua District is a peaceful district save for the disruption caused in the late 1990s by the [Lord's Resistance Army](/source/Lord's_Resistance_Army) rebels on the [Karuma](/source/Karuma)-[Pakwach](/source/Pakwach) road that provides the main road link into the district. In 2005, the northeastern part of the district was split off as the separate, new district of [Koboko District](/source/Koboko_District). Arua District has five counties after three of the original six counties were split off. Koboko was granted district status. Maracha was, in 2006, also granted district status (Maracha District). Initially, Terego County was also included in Maracha District (Maracha-Terego District). However, failing to agree on where the new district headquarters should be located, Terego County opted to remain part of the larger Arua District. Later, Terego and Madi-Okollo were each offered district statuses effective July 2020. The remaining counties in Arua District are: Vurra and Ayivu; where the Arua District headquarters are located. ## Population The 1991 national census estimated the population of the district at about 368,200. In 2002, the national census gave a population estimate of 559,100, with an annual growth rate of 4 percent. In 2012, the population of Arua District was estimated at 776,700.[2] ## Economic activities Located in a corner of the country that borders both [South Sudan](/source/South_Sudan) and the DRC, a significant amount of local economic activity is the result of cross-border trade. Agriculture is the backbone of Arua District's economy: ### Food and cash crops - [Groundnuts](/source/Peanut) - [Beans](/source/Beans) - [Maize](/source/Maize) - [Millet](/source/Millet) - [Simsim](/source/Sesame) - [Mangoes](/source/Mango) - [Avocado](/source/Avocado) - [Cassava](/source/Cassava) - [Matooke](/source/Matooke) - [Flowers](/source/Flowers) - [Tobacco](/source/Tobacco) ### Domesticated livestock and other fauna - [African goats](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_goat&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Boer goats](/source/Boer_goat) - [Hybrid goats](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hybrid_goat&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Broilers](/source/Chicken) - [Layers](/source/Chicken) - [Fish farming](/source/Fish_farming) - [Pigs](/source/Pig) - [Bee keeping](/source/Bee_keeping) Due to a high influx of refugees from South Sudan (estimated at 50,000 at one time), the natural environment in the district has been severely stressed, causing deforestation in some areas. The refugee population extensively engages in the growth of [tobacco](/source/Tobacco) to raise cash for survival putting severe pressure on land leaving the land bare due to deforestation In 2008 and 2009, [honey](/source/Honey) is steadily replacing tobacco as a leading income stream, with a ready international market. Piggery is also on the increase in the district. The district produces about 30 tons of fish from over 600 private fish farms and from the [River Nile](/source/River_Nile). The district has about 117,000 head of local [Zebu cattle](/source/Zebu_cattle). However the district milk output remains low. The biggest asset of the district is perhaps the continued prevalence of peace and security for the last 25 years and denunciation of rebellion which has attracted many developmental projects. Major achievements include infrastructural transformation such as the tarmacking of the Arua to Karuma Highway, the [West Nile Rural Electrification Project](/source/Nyagak_Power_Station) and numerous telephone communication networks that have been established in the region. During 2013, the tarmacking of the Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba Road began.[3] ## See also - [Arua Airport](/source/Arua_Airport) - [West Nile sub-region](/source/West_Nile_sub-region) - [Districts of Uganda](/source/Districts_of_Uganda) - [Lugbara cuisine](/source/Lugbara_cuisine) - [Ombaci](/source/Ombaci) - [Parliament of Uganda](/source/Parliament_of_Uganda) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Map Showing Kampala And Arua With Distance Marker"](http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Arua%20(Arua)%20&toplace=Kampala%20()%20&fromlat=3.0191667&tolat=0.3155556&fromlng=30.9308333&tolng=32.5655556). Globefeed.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Estimated Population of Arua District In 1991, 2002 and 2012"](http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uganda-admin.php?adm2id=002). Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 May 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Executive Summary: Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba Road"](http://www.unra.go.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92:executive-summary-vurra-arua-koboko-oraba-road&catid=50:downloads&Itemid=84). Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 8 May 2014. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Arua District, Uganda](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arua_District,_Uganda). - [Arua District Portal](https://web.archive.org/web/20090316082329/http://arua.go.ug/) v t e Districts of Uganda by region Central Buikwe Bukomansimbi Butambala Buvuma Gomba Kalangala Kalungu Kampala Kassanda Kayunga Kiboga Kyankwanzi Kyotera Luweero Lwengo Lyantonde Masaka Mityana Mpigi Mubende Mukono Nakaseke Nakasongola Rakai Sembabule Wakiso Eastern Amuria Budaka Bududa Bugiri Bugweri Bukedea Bukwo Bulambuli Busia Butaleja Butebo Buyende Iganga Jinja Kaberamaido Kalaki Kaliro Kamuli Kapchorwa Kapelebyong Katakwi Kibuku Kumi Kween Luuka Manafwa Mayuge Mbale Namayingo Namisindwa Namutumba Ngora Pallisa Serere Sironko Soroti Tororo Northern Abim Adjumani Agago Alebtong Amolatar Amudat Amuru Apac Arua Dokolo Gulu Kaabong Karenga Kitgum Koboko Kole Kotido Kwania Lamwo Lira Madi-Okollo Maracha Moroto Moyo Nabilatuk Nakapiripirit Napak Nebbi Nwoya Obongi Omoro Otuke Oyam Pader Pakwach Terego Yumbe Zombo Western Buhweju Buliisa Bundibugyo Bunyangabu Bushenyi Hoima Ibanda Isingiro Kabale Kabarole Kagadi Kakumiro Kamwenge Kanungu Kasese Kazo Kibaale Kikuube Kiruhura Kiryandongo Kisoro Kitagwenda Kyegegwa Kyenjojo Masindi Mbarara Mitooma Ntoroko Ntungamo Rubanda Rubirizi Rukiga Rukungiri Rwampara Sheema Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arua District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arua_District) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arua_District?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.