Bukwo District

Bukwo District
District
District location in Uganda
Coordinates:01°16′N34°44′E
Country	Uganda
Region	Eastern Uganda
Sub-division	Sebei sub-region
Capital	Bukwo
Area
• Land	524.9 km2(202.7 sq mi)
Population (2012 Estimate)
• Total	73,400
• Density	139.8/km2(362/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3(EAT)
Website	www.bukwo.go.ug

Bukwo Districtis adistrictin theEastern RegionofUganda.The town ofBukwois its main political, administrative, and commercial center and the site of the district headquarters.

Location

Bukwo District is bordered byAmudat Districtto the north,Kenyato the east and south, andKween Districtto the west and northwest. The town of Bukwo is approximately 83 kilometres (52 mi), by road, northeast ofMbalethe nearest large cityon the slopes ofMount Elgon.The coordinates of the district are 01 16N, 34 44E.

Overview

The district was created on 1 July 2005. Before then, Bukwo District was part ofKapchorwa District.It was created out ofKongasis county.

The district has many well-educated people, but many have left to find greater prosperity in the neighbouring country of Kenya.

Many of the district's roads are inaccessible or impassable. There is a widespread lack of electricity and telecommunication services throughout the district. The various Ugandan governments have not developed this part of the country, starting with the colonial governments in the early part of the 20th century, through theObote I,Idi Amin,Obote II, andNational Resistance Movementregimes.

Many of the inhabitants of Bukwo District live in abject poverty. The district is also plagued by persistent insecurity due to cattle raids and cattle rustling by ethnic groups fromKaramojalocated in northeastern Uganda and theTurkanaandPokotpeoples from neighbouring Kenya. These challenges date to the 1950s and 1960s.

Most of the people from the northern part of the district have been internally displaced by cattle rustlers and have since not been resettled back in their original land. Some of these people opted to purchase land from areas that appeared secure while others who could not afford to purchase new land continue to exist as squatters on well-wishers' land.

Population

In 1991, the national population census estimated the district population at 30,700. The national census in 2002 estimated the population at 49,000, with an annual population growth rate of 4.2 percent. In 2012, the population was estimated at 73,400.

In 2014 thepopulation projectionof 2020 an estimate of 119.100

Peoples living in Bukwo District are thesebei/Kalenjinvery friendly people speakingKupsabiny language.

Sub-Counties

Bukwo Town Council (Bukwo Market)

• Bukwo Town Council
• Bukwo Sub-County
• Tulel Sub-County
• Suam Sub-County
• Senendet Sub-County
• Riwo Town council
• Riwo Sub-County
• Brim subcounty
• Kortek Sub-County
• Kaptererwo Sub-County
• Kamet Sub-County
• Amanang subcounty
• Kabei Sub-County
• Lwongon Sub-County
• Mutushet Sub-County
• Chesower Sub-County
• Chepkwasta Sub-County
• Kapsarur Sub-County

All these are sub-counties that make up Bukwo District inKongasis County.

Notable People

• Joshua Cheptegei10,000m 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Jacob Kiplimo5,000m runner
• Peruth Chemutai3,000m SC 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Moses Ndiema Kipsiro5000m Distance Runner.

Economic Activities

Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Bukwo District. Crops grown include the following:

• Millet
• Potatoes
• Beans
• Apples
• Coffee
• Wheat
• Tomatoes
• Cabbage
• Passion fruit
• Onions
• Maize

Animal husbandry is practiced; the livestock domesticated are mainly cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys, hogs and chicken.

See also

• Districts of Uganda
• Sebei
• Kalenjin
• Kupsabiny
• Eastern Region Uganda

External links

• Bukwo District Gets First Borehole Worth Sh26 Million