Arua
Encyclopedia
Arua is a town in Arua District
, Northern Uganda
. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee
population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.
, the capital city of Uganda
, and the largest city in that country. This location lies approximately 190 kilometres (118.1 mi), by road, west of Gulu
, the largest city in Northern Uganda. The coordinates of the town are:03 01 48N, 30 54 36E (Latitude:3.0300; Longitude:30.9100).
, Nebbi
and Moyo
districts, Arua town became the capital of Arua District. Arua town was initially slotted as the proposed capital of Lado Enclave
. A distinction should however be made between Arua and Arua District
.
The dominant tribe in Arua District are the Lugbara
, who are divided up into the different dialects of Vurra who come from Vurra county, Ayivu who are from Ayivu county, Madi who are from Madi-Okollo County. The Madi from Madi-Okollo have a variant dialect from those in Moyo District
and Adjumani District
.
Arua is an important base for NGOs working in the West Nile sub-region
or serving Western Equatoria in Southern Sudan or northeastern Congo DRC
. It has become increasingly important as a commercial supply centre and transport route as the Yei–Juba
road has opened up and supplies come into Juba from the south rather than through Khartoum
.
Arua Airport
is the second-busiest airport in Uganda behind Entebbe International Airport
A branch of the Ugandan Railways was extended to Arua sometime after 1964 but there has been no passenger rail service in Uganda for many years. Freight transport by rail to Arua is also unknown of nowadays.
The following administrations are seated in Arua :
Other buiness and educational activities:
Financial institutions
Branches of the following financial institutions are present in Arua :
Arua District
Arua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, Northern Uganda
Northern Region, Uganda
Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.
Location
Arua is located approximately 430 kilometres (267.2 mi), by road, northwest of KampalaKampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, the capital city of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and the largest city in that country. This location lies approximately 190 kilometres (118.1 mi), by road, west of Gulu
Gulu
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
, the largest city in Northern Uganda. The coordinates of the town are:03 01 48N, 30 54 36E (Latitude:3.0300; Longitude:30.9100).
Overview
Arua was the capital of the former West Nile Province. However, with the breakup of the province in the 1970s into AruaArua District
Arua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, Nebbi
Nebbi District
Nebbi District is a district in Northern Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, commercial and administrative centre, Nebbi, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
and Moyo
Moyo District
Moyo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Moyo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
districts, Arua town became the capital of Arua District. Arua town was initially slotted as the proposed capital of Lado Enclave
Lado Enclave
The Lado Enclave was an exclave of the Congo Free State that existed from 1894 until 1910, situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile in what is now South Sudan and northwest Uganda.-History:...
. A distinction should however be made between Arua and Arua District
Arua District
Arua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
.
The dominant tribe in Arua District are the Lugbara
Lugbara
The Lugbara are an ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda and in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, who are divided up into the different dialects of Vurra who come from Vurra county, Ayivu who are from Ayivu county, Madi who are from Madi-Okollo County. The Madi from Madi-Okollo have a variant dialect from those in Moyo District
Moyo District
Moyo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Moyo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Adjumani District
Adjumani District
Adjumani District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Adjumani, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
.
Arua is an important base for NGOs working in the West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region is a region in north-western Uganda that consists of the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe...
or serving Western Equatoria in Southern Sudan or northeastern Congo DRC
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. It has become increasingly important as a commercial supply centre and transport route as the Yei–Juba
Juba
- Locations :* Juba, the capital of South Sudan* Juba, Estonia, a village in Võru Parish, Võru County, Estonia- People :* Juba I of Numidia * Juba II of Numidia * Juba of Mauretania...
road has opened up and supplies come into Juba from the south rather than through Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
.
Transport
Coach lines link Arua to Kampala. Among them :- Gaa-Gaa
- Nile Coach
- Post Bus
- KKT bus
- California Bus
Arua Airport
Arua Airport
Arua Airport is a civilian airport in the town of Arua, Uganda. It is one of the forty-six airports in the country.-Location:The airport is located in the town of Arua, Arua District, West Nile Sub-Region, in Northern Uganda, close to the International borders with the Democratic Republic of the...
is the second-busiest airport in Uganda behind Entebbe International Airport
Entebbe International Airport
Entebbe International Airport is the principal international airport of Uganda.-Location:It is located near the town of Entebbe, on the shores of Lake Victoria, and about from the capital, Kampala...
A branch of the Ugandan Railways was extended to Arua sometime after 1964 but there has been no passenger rail service in Uganda for many years. Freight transport by rail to Arua is also unknown of nowadays.
Population
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Arua town at 43,929. In 2008, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), estimated the population of the town to be 53,600. In 2011, UBOS estimated the population of the town at 59,400.Activities
Administrative activitiesThe following administrations are seated in Arua :
- Headquarters of Arua District AdministrationArua DistrictArua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
- Offices of Arua Town Council
- Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua
Other buiness and educational activities:
- Arua Central Market
- The new "Arua Mall"
- Arua Regional Referral Hospital - 128 bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of HealthUganda Ministry of HealthThe Uganda Health Ministry, commonly known as the Uganda Ministry of Health, is a government department in Uganda. The ministry is headed by three cabinet members; one Minister of Health and two State Ministers of Health.-Location:...
. - West Nile Distilleries - maker of 7 Hills Vodka
- A campus of the Islamic University in UgandaIslamic University in UgandaThe Islamic University in Uganda is a multi-campus university for advanced study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The main campus of the university is located in Mbale, Uganda, about northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.-History:The idea to start IUIU was conceived at...
(IUIU) - Arua Foam Mattresses Limited
- A branch of Toyota Uganda Limited, a dealership in Toyota automobiles and YamahaYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
motorcycles. - Arua Currency Center - A currencyCurrencyIn economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
storage and processing facility, owned and operated by the Bank of UgandaBank of UgandaThe Bank of Uganda is the Central Bank of the Republic of Uganda. Established in 1966, by Act of Parliament, BOU is 100% owned by the Government of Uganda, but is not a government department.-Organization and Governance:...
, Uganda's Central BankCentral bankA central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is a public institution that usually issues the currency, regulates the money supply, and controls the interest rates in a country. Central banks often also oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries...
.
Financial institutions
Branches of the following financial institutions are present in Arua :
- Bank of AfricaBank of Africa (Uganda)Bank of Africa , whose complete name is Bank of Africa Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. The bank is a member of the Bank of Africa Group, a multinational, Pan African bank headquartered in Bamako, Mali, with presence in eleven African countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi,...
- Barclays BankBarclays Bank (Uganda)Barclays Bank Limited, commonly known as Barclays Bank , is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- Centenary BankCentenary BankCentenary Bank is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three licensed commercial banks in the country.-Overview:The bank is a mid-sized financial services provider in Uganda. It is primarily involved in the promotion of development through loans to rural farmers, processors of...
- Crane BankCrane BankCrane Bank is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the twenty-three commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:The bank is a mid-sized financial services provider in Uganda...
- Diamond Trust BankDiamond Trust Bank (Uganda) Limited-Overwiew:As of November 2011, the bank is a fast-growing, medium-sized, banking institution, providing commercial banking services to individuals and small-to-medium-sized corporate clients...
- Bank of AfricaBank of Africa (Uganda)Bank of Africa , whose complete name is Bank of Africa Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. The bank is a member of the Bank of Africa Group, a multinational, Pan African bank headquartered in Bamako, Mali, with presence in eleven African countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi,...
- Housing Finance BankHousing Finance BankHousing Finance Bank is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- Kenya Commercial Bank
- PostBank UgandaPostBank UgandaPostBank Uganda is a non-bank credit institution in Uganda. As of May 2010, PostBank Uganda was a small credit institution whose asset base was estimated at about US$39 million.-History:...
- Stanbic BankStanbic Bank (Uganda) LimitedStanbic Bank Limited is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- DFCU BankDFCU BankDFCU Bank, commonly known as DFCU, but whose full name is Development Finance Company of Uganda Bank Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda...
- Pride Microfinance LimitedPride Microfinance LimitedPride Microfinance Limited , is a Microfinance Deposit-taking Institution in Uganda.-Location:The headquarters of PML are located in Metropole House, on Entebbe Road, in the central business district of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
- National Social Security FundNational Social Security Fund (Uganda)The National Social Security Fund is a semi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda, who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme...
See also
- Lado EnclaveLado EnclaveThe Lado Enclave was an exclave of the Congo Free State that existed from 1894 until 1910, situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile in what is now South Sudan and northwest Uganda.-History:...
- LugbaraLugbaraThe Lugbara are an ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda and in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- Arua DistrictArua DistrictArua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
- Railway stations in UgandaRailway stations in Uganda- Maps :* * * * - Existing : Bungoma - last town in Kenya Malaba** Tororo - near Kenya border; junction for north line* Main Line* Iganga* Jinja - bridge over Victoria Nile* Iganga - washed away culvert * Busembatia...
- West Nile sub-regionWest Nile sub-regionWest Nile sub-region is a region in north-western Uganda that consists of the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe...
- Northern Region, UgandaNorthern Region, UgandaNorthern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...