Masindi District
Encyclopedia
Masindi District is a district
in Western Uganda
. Like many other Uganda
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of Masindi
, the location of the district headquarters. 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.
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. Masindi
, the 'chief town' of the district is located approximately 214 kilometres (133 mi), by road, west of Uganda
's capital Kampala
. The coordinates of the district are: 01 41N, 31 44E.
Approximately 196.3 square kilometre (2.1%) of the district are wetlands.
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Masindi District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||208,420
|-
|2003||216,800
|-
|2004||225,400
|-
|2005||234,400
|-
|2006||243,800
|-
|2007||253,600
|-
|2008||263,700
|-
|2009||274,300
|-
|2010||285,200
|-
|}
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
, the Jonam
and the Aringa form 5.3%. The Baruli form 4.5%. People from Rwanda
, Kenya
, Southern 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.
Fishing is practiced in the rivers and on 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
(formerly Kabalega Falls National Park).
73.1% of the population in the district are engaged in 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.
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 Western Uganda
Western Region, Uganda
Western Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Like many other 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...
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town' of Masindi
Masindi
Masindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
, the location of the district headquarters. 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.
Location
Masindi District is bordered by Nwoya DistrictNwoya District
Nwoya District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most districts in Uganda, it is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Nwoya, the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
to the north, Kiryandongo District
Kiryandongo District
Kiryandongo District is a district in Western Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kiryandongo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the east, Nakasongola District
Nakasongola District
Nakasongola District is a district in Central Uganda. The district is named after its 'chief town' of Nakasongola.-Location:Nakasongola District is bordered by Apac District to the northwest, Amolatar District to the northeast, Kayunga District to the east, Luweero District to the south, Nakaseke...
and Nakaseke District
Nakaseke District
Nakaseke District is a district in Central Uganda. It is named after Nakaseke, the largest town in the district and the location of the district headquarters.-Location:...
to the southeast, Kyankwanzi District
Kyankwanzi District
Kyankwanzi District is a district in Central Uganda. The district is named after its 'chief town' of Kyankwanzi.-Location:Kyankwanzi District is bordered by Masindi District to the north, Nakaseke District to the east, Kiboga District to the southeast, Mubende District to the south, Kibaale...
to the south, Hoima District
Hoima District
Hoima District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its main municipal centre, Hoima.-Location:...
to the southwest and Bulisa District
Bulisa District
Buliisa District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most Ugandan districts, Buliisa District is named after its "main town" Buliisa, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
to the northwest. Masindi
Masindi
Masindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
, the 'chief town' of the district is located approximately 214 kilometres (133 mi), by road, west 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...
's capital Kampala
Kampala
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 coordinates of the district are: 01 41N, 31 44E.
Overview
Masindi District comprises a total area of 9326 square kilometre, of which 8087 square kilometre (86.7%) is land, 2843 square kilometre (30.5%) national wild reserve area, 1031 square kilometre (11.1%) is national forest reserve and 799.6 square kilometre is open water.Approximately 196.3 square kilometre (2.1%) of the district are wetlands.
Population
The district, as configured after July 2010, had population of 208,420, back in 2002, according to the national census conducted that year. 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%. It is estimated that in 2010, the population of the district was approximately 285,200. See table below:{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Masindi District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||208,420
|-
|2003||216,800
|-
|2004||225,400
|-
|2005||234,400
|-
|2006||243,800
|-
|2007||253,600
|-
|2008||263,700
|-
|2009||274,300
|-
|2010||285,200
|-
|}
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
Alur
Alur may refer to:*Alur people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.*Alur language, the language spoken by the Alur people*Alur, Afghanistan, a town in AfghanistanAlur may also refer to several Panchayat and villages in India,...
, the Jonam
Alur
Alur may refer to:*Alur people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.*Alur language, the language spoken by the Alur people*Alur, Afghanistan, a town in AfghanistanAlur may also refer to several Panchayat and villages in India,...
and the Aringa form 5.3%. The Baruli form 4.5%. People from Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, 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...
, 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...
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.
Economic activities
Agriculture is the main economic activity in the district. Crops grown include:Fishing is practiced in the rivers and on Lake Albert. Fish farming
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
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
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is a national park in Uganda. The park lies in north western Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. It is named for the Murchison Falls waterfall, itself named for a president of the Royal Geographical Society...
(formerly Kabalega Falls National Park).
73.1% of the population in the district are engaged in 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
Iganga District
Iganga District is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Iganga, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Kapchorwa District
Kapchorwa District
Kapchorwa District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after Kapchorwa, the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of the district, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
produce more maize than Masindi District.
Landmarks
The landmarks in Masindi District include:- Murchison Falls National ParkMurchison Falls National ParkMurchison Falls National Park is a national park in Uganda. The park lies in north western Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. It is named for the Murchison Falls waterfall, itself named for a president of the Royal Geographical Society...
- More than 50% of the park is located in Masindi District, south of the Victoria Nile - Murchison FallsMurchison FallsMurchison Falls, also known as Kabarega Falls, is a waterfall on the Nile. It breaks the Victoria Nile, which flows across northern Uganda from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and then to the north end of Lake Albert in the western branch of the East African Rift....
- On the Victoria Nile, are also located in Masindi District, inside the national park. - Butiaba PortButiabaButiaba, sometimes spelled as Butyaba, is a town in Western Uganda.-Location:Butiaba is situated on the eastern shores of Lake Albert, in Masindi District. It is located approximately , by road, west of the district headquarters at Masindi. This location is approximately , by road, northwest of...
- Located 54.5 kilometres (33.9 mi), by road, west of MasindiMasindiMasindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
, on the shores of Lake Albert. - Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, near Butiaba PortButiabaButiaba, sometimes spelled as Butyaba, is a town in Western Uganda.-Location:Butiaba is situated on the eastern shores of Lake Albert, in Masindi District. It is located approximately , by road, west of the district headquarters at Masindi. This location is approximately , by road, northwest of...
- Budongo Forest Reserve - About 40 kilometres (24.9 mi), by road, west of Masindi on the Masindi-Butiaba Road
- Omukama’s PalaceOmukama of BunyoroOmukama of Bunyoro is the title given to rulers of the central African kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara. The kingdom lasted as an independent state from the 16th to the 19th century. The Omukama of Bunyoro remains an important figure in Ugandan politics, especially among the Banyoro people of whom he...
- One of the palaces of the Omukama of BunyoroOmukama of BunyoroOmukama of Bunyoro is the title given to rulers of the central African kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara. The kingdom lasted as an independent state from the 16th to the 19th century. The Omukama of Bunyoro remains an important figure in Ugandan politics, especially among the Banyoro people of whom he...
See also
- MasindiMasindiMasindi is a town in Western Uganda, which lies on the road from Kampala to the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the 'chief town' of the Masindi District and the district headquarters are located there...
- Bunyoro KingdomBunyoroBunyoro is a kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in East Africa from the 16th to the 19th century. It is ruled by the Omukama of Bunyoro...
- Bunyoro sub-regionBunyoro sub-regionBunyoro sub-region is a region in Eastern Uganda that consists of the following districts:* Buliisa District* Hoima District* Kibaale District* Kiryandongo District* Masindi District...
- Murchison Falls National ParkMurchison Falls National ParkMurchison Falls National Park is a national park in Uganda. The park lies in north western Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. It is named for the Murchison Falls waterfall, itself named for a president of the Royal Geographical Society...
- Murchison FallsMurchison FallsMurchison Falls, also known as Kabarega Falls, is a waterfall on the Nile. It breaks the Victoria Nile, which flows across northern Uganda from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and then to the north end of Lake Albert in the western branch of the East African Rift....