Manafwa District
Encyclopedia
Manafwa District is a district
in the Eastern Uganda
. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Manafwa
, where the district headquarters are located.
to the north, the Republic of Kenya to the east and south, Tororo District
to the southwest and Mbale District
to the west. The district headquarters at Manafwa
are located approximately 26 kilometres (16.2 mi), by road, southeast of Mbale
, the largest city of in the sub-region. The coordinates of the district are: 00 54N, 34 20E.
, together with Sironko District
, before 1999. In 2006, the northern part of Manafwa District was carved off to form Bududa District
.
was peeled off to form a separate district, taking an estimated 146,000 inhabitants with it. In 2010 the estimated population of Manafwa District was approximately 153,000.
Close to the border with Kenya
in the east and close to the border with Tororo District
in the south. The main natural vegetation is savannah grassland.
In the center of the district. The natural vegetation is tropical rain forest.
To the west and north in the district. The natural vegetation is alpine mountain vegetation. A significant portion of this part of the district is part of Mount Elgon National Park
, a protected natural wildlife reserve.
The farm produce finds market within the district as well as in the city of Mbale
, about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) to the west of the district, on the western slopes of Mt. Elgon.
Districts of Uganda
Uganda is divided into 111 districts and one city across four administrative regions. Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns....
in the Eastern Uganda
Eastern Region, Uganda
Eastern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Manafwa
Manafwa
Manafwa is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the largest town in Manafwa District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, where the district headquarters are located.
Location
Manafwa District is bordered by Bududa DistrictBududa District
Bududa District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Bududa.-Location:Bududa District is bordered by Sironko District to the north, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Manafwa District to the south and Mbale District to the west...
to the north, the Republic of Kenya to the east and south, Tororo District
Tororo District
Tororo District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its "chief town", Tororo.-Location:Tororo District is bordered by Mbale District to the north, Manafwa District to the northeast, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Busia District to the south,...
to the southwest and Mbale District
Mbale District
Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also servess as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region.-Location:...
to the west. The district headquarters at Manafwa
Manafwa
Manafwa is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the largest town in Manafwa District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
are located approximately 26 kilometres (16.2 mi), by road, southeast of Mbale
Mbale
Mbale is a city in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municiplal, administrative and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, the largest city of in the sub-region. The coordinates of the district are: 00 54N, 34 20E.
Overview
The total surface area of the district is estimated at 451 square kilometre. The district was created in 1999 and was part of Mbale DistrictMbale District
Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also servess as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region.-Location:...
, together with Sironko District
Sironko District
Sironko District is a district in Eastern Uganda. The district was created in 2000 and had previously been part of Mbale District. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its main commercial town, Sironko.-Location:...
, before 1999. In 2006, the northern part of Manafwa District was carved off to form Bududa District
Bududa District
Bududa District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Bududa.-Location:Bududa District is bordered by Sironko District to the north, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Manafwa District to the south and Mbale District to the west...
.
Population
The national census of 2002 estimated the population of the district at about 264,000 inhabitants. In 2006, Bududa DistrictBududa District
Bududa District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Bududa.-Location:Bududa District is bordered by Sironko District to the north, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Manafwa District to the south and Mbale District to the west...
was peeled off to form a separate district, taking an estimated 146,000 inhabitants with it. In 2010 the estimated population of Manafwa District was approximately 153,000.
Geography
Manafwa District has three major climatic zones:- Lowland Manafwa
Close to the border with Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in the east and close to the border with Tororo District
Tororo District
Tororo District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its "chief town", Tororo.-Location:Tororo District is bordered by Mbale District to the north, Manafwa District to the northeast, the Republic of Kenya to the east, Busia District to the south,...
in the south. The main natural vegetation is savannah grassland.
- Upland Nanafwa
In the center of the district. The natural vegetation is tropical rain forest.
- Mountain Manafwa
To the west and north in the district. The natural vegetation is alpine mountain vegetation. A significant portion of this part of the district is part of Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park is a national park 140 km North East of Lake Victoria. The park covers an area of 1279 km² and is bisected by the border of Kenya and Uganda. The Ugandan part of the park covers 1110 km² while the Kenyan part covers 169 km²...
, a protected natural wildlife reserve.
Economic activity
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the district. The fertile volcanic soils and the abundant rainfall (average 1,500mm/year), ensure ample yields of both cash and food crops. Some of the crops grown include:- Arabica coffee
- CottonCottonCotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
- MaizeMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
- Beans
- Matooke
- Bananas
- Pineapples
- PotatoPotatoThe potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
s - MilletMilletThe millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
The farm produce finds market within the district as well as in the city of Mbale
Mbale
Mbale is a city in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municiplal, administrative and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) to the west of the district, on the western slopes of Mt. Elgon.