{{Infobox settlement | name = Masindi District | settlement_type = [[Districts of Uganda|District]] | native_name = | image_skyline = | image_caption = | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = Masindi District in Uganda.svg | map_caption = District location in Uganda | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Uganda}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Uganda|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Western Region, Uganda|Western Uganda]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-region]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Bunyoro sub-region]] | seat_type = [[Capital city|Capital]] | seat = [[Masindi]] | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = 2584.6 | area_water_km2 = | population_as_of = 2012 Estimate | population_note = | population_total = 352400 | population_metro = | population_density_km2 = 136.3 | timezone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] | utc_offset = +3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|01|41|N|31|44|E|region:UG_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = | website = {{URL|http://www.masindi.go.ug}} | footnotes = }}
'''Masindi District''' is a [[Districts of Uganda|district]] in [[Western Region, Uganda|Western Uganda]]. Like many other [[Uganda]]n districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of [[Masindi]], the location of the district headquarters.
==Location== Masindi District is bordered by [[Nwoya District]] to the north, [[Kiryandongo District]] to the east, [[Nakasongola District]] and [[Nakaseke District]] to the southeast, [[Kyankwanzi District]] to the south, [[Hoima District]] to the southwest and [[Bulisa District]] to the northwest.<ref>[[Districts of Uganda|Uganda District Map]]</ref> [[Masindi]], the 'chief town' of the district is located approximately {{convert|220|km|mi}} west of [[Uganda]]'s capital [[Kampala]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Kampala%20()&toplace=Masindi%20(Masindi)&fromlat=0.3155556&tolat=1.6744444&fromlng=32.5655556&tolng=31.715|title=Road Distance Between Kampala And Masindi With Map|publisher=Globefeed.com|access-date=8 May 2014}}</ref> The coordinates of the district are: 01 41N, 31 44E.
Masindi District has over three county with eighteen sub county and Town council as listed below.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statistics |first=Uganda Bureau of |title=MASINDI - Census Data Dashboard |url=https://statistics.ubos.org/nphc/drilldown?subregion=43&district=409 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=NPHC 2024 Dashboard |language=en}}</ref>
=== Bujenje County ===
* Bikonzi * Budongo * Bulima Town Council * Bwijanga * Kabango Town Council * Nyantonzi
=== Buruli County ===
* Kijunubwa * Kijunubwa Town Council * Kimengo * Kiruli * Kyatiri Town Council * Labongo * Miirya * Pakanyi
=== Masindi Municipality ===
* Central Division * Karujubu Division * Kigulya Division * Nyangahya Division
==Overview== Masindi District comprises a total area of {{convert|9326|km2|mi2}}, of which {{convert|8087|km2|mi2}} (86.7%) is land, {{convert|2843|km2|mi2}} (30.5%) national wild reserve area, {{convert|1031|km2|mi2}} (11.1%) is national forest reserve and {{convert|799.6|km2|mi2}} is open water.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Foodnet.cgiar.org|url=http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/SCRIP/docs&databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi,%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|title=The Geography of Masindi District|access-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905194829/http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/scrip/docs%26databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi%2C%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> Approximately {{convert|196.3|km2|mi2}} (2.1%) of the district are permanent wetlands.
==Population== [[File:Masindi street.jpg|alt=Masindi street|thumb|'''Masindi street''']] The region of the country in which the district is located is comparatively dry, but is fertile enough to support a predominantly agriculturalist population. Most of the district residents are both poor and rural. The district, as configured currently, had population of about 129,700 during the 1991 national population census. Eleven years later, during the national census of 2002, the population had increased to about 208,420. At that time, 50.1% of the population were males and 49.9% were females. The annual population growth rate in the district at that time was 5.1%.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Population Dynamics of Masindi District In 2002|url=http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/SCRIP/docs&databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi,%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|publisher=Foodnet.cgiar.org|access-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905194829/http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/scrip/docs%26databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi%2C%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> During 2012, the mid-year population of the district was estimated at approximately 352,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uganda-admin.php?adm2id=025|title=Estimated Population of Masindi District In 1991, 2002 & 2012|publisher=Citypopulation.de| access-date=8 May 2014}}</ref> population of Masindi district was estimated 291,113 in 2014 and 342,635 in the year of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uganda: Administrative Division (Subregions and Districts) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
Masindi District has a diverse ethnic composition of 55 tribes, with the dominant tribes, the [[Banyoro]] and the [[Bagungu]], forming about 59.9% of the population. The [[Alur people|Alur]], the [[Alur people|Jonam]] and the [[Aringa people|Aringa]] form 5.3%. The [[Baruli]] form 4.5%. People from [[Rwanda]], [[Kenya]], [[South Sudan]] and the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] have also settled permanently in the district. The average household size is about 4.86 persons, lower than the regional average of 5.2. The population is predominantly rural, with only 5.43% of the residents living in urban areas.<ref>{{cite web|title=The People of Masindi District|url=http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/SCRIP/docs&databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi,%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|publisher=Foodnet.cgiar.org|access-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905194829/http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/scrip/docs%26databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi%2C%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>
==Economic activities== Agriculture is the main economic activity in the district. Crops grown include: {{columns-list|colwidth=15em| * [[Millet]] * [[Sorghum]] * [[Sunflower]] * [[Sesame|Simsim]] * [[Sweet potato]]es * [[Irish potato]]es * [[Cassava]] * [[Maize]] * [[Cotton]] * [[Coffee]] * [[Tobacco]] * [[Cabbage]] * [[Tomato]]es * [[Onion]]s * [[Soybean]]s * [[Peas]] * [[Bananas]] }}
Fishing is practiced in the rivers and on [[Lake Albert (Africa)|Lake Albert]]. [[Fish farming]] is an important economic activity with over 250 ponds in the district. Bee keeping for honey production is an increasing practice in the district. Tourism is also increasing with a steady stream of visitors to [[Murchison Falls National Park]].
73.1% of the population in the district are engaged in [[smallholding|smallholder]] agricultural activities. About 6.2% of the total farmland is under large scale commercial farming. The district is the leading producer of maize in the region. In Uganda, only [[Iganga District]] and [[Kapchorwa District]] produce more maize than Masindi District.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic Activities In Masindi District|url=http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/SCRIP/docs&databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi,%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|publisher=Foodnet.cgiar.org|access-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905194829/http://www.foodnet.cgiar.org/scrip/docs%26databases/scrip_II_outputs2001/pdfs/Masindi%2C%20Kabarole%20and%20Hoima%20district%20summary.pdf|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>
==Points of interest== The following points of interest are found in Masindi District:
* [[Murchison Falls National Park]] - More than 50% of the park is located in Masindi District, south of the [[Victoria Nile]] * [[Murchison Falls]] - On the Victoria Nile, are also located in Masindi District, inside the national park. * * Budongo Forest Reserve - About {{convert|40|km|mi}}, by road, west of Masindi on the Masindi-Butiaba Road * [[Omukama of Bunyoro|Omukama's Palace]] - One of the palaces of the [[Omukama of Bunyoro]]
==See also== * [[Masindi]] * [[Bunyoro|Bunyoro Kingdom]] * [[Bunyoro sub-region]] * [[Murchison Falls National Park]] * [[Murchison Falls]] * [[Western Region, Uganda]] * [[Parliament of Uganda]] * [[Districts of Uganda]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{Masindi District}} {{Districts of Uganda}}
[[Category:Masindi District| ]] [[Category:Bunyoro sub-region]] [[Category:Districts of Uganda]] [[Category:Western Region, Uganda]] [[Category:Lake Albert (Africa)]]