Kasese District

Kasese District
District
Kyambura Gorge in Kasese
District location in Uganda
Coordinates:00°11′N30°05′E
Country	Uganda
Region	Western Uganda
Sub-region	Rwenzururu sub-region
Capital	Kasese
Area
• Total	2,724 km2(1,052 sq mi)
• Land	1,187 km2(458 sq mi)
Population (2012 Estimate)
• Total	747,800
Time zone	UTC+3(EAT)
Website	www.kasese.go.ug

Kasese Districtis adistrictinWestern Uganda.Like most otherUgandandistricts, it is named after its chief town and district headquarters, the town ofKasese.

History

See also:2022 Kasese District landslides

In September 2022, the district was hit by deadly landslides.

Location

Kasese District is located along theequator.It is bordered byKabarole Districtto the north,Kamwenge DistrictandKitagwenda Districtto the east,Rubirizi Districtto the south, and theDemocratic Republic of the Congoto the west. The district headquarters atKaseseare located approximately 359 kilometres (223 mi), by road, west ofKampala,Uganda's capital and largest city.

Geography

The district has a total land area of 2,724 square kilometres (1,052 sq mi), of which 885 square kilometres (342 sq mi) is reserved forQueen Elizabeth National Parkand 652 square kilometres (252 sq mi) forRwenzori Mountains National Park,leaving 1,187 square kilometres (458 sq mi) for human habitation and economic utilization. Kasese District is part of theRwenzururu Kingdom,which is coterminal with theRwenzururu sub-region,home to an estimated 810,400 inhabitants as f 2022, according to the national census conducted that year.The sub region consists ofBundibugyo District,Ntoroko District,and Kasese District.

Population

In 1991, the district population was estimated at 343,600. The 2002 national census put the population of the district at approximately 523,000. It is estimated that in 2014, the population of the district was approximately 694,987.

Ethnicities

Kasese is a multi-ethnic district with many people of different ethnic backgrounds. The main languages and ethnic groups that dominate the area areBakonzoandBasongoraBanyabindi, Batooro and Banyankole Bakiga], the languages of theBakonzoand theBatooropeople respectively. However, there are other ethnic groups in the district who include theBanyankole,theBasongoratheBakigaand theBaganda.There is also common usage ofEnglishandSwahili.

Economic activities

Women drying coffee

Kasese district is mainly agricultural with over 85 percent of the people being peasant farmers who depend on subsistence farming for their livelihood. It has two rainy seasons that come between March and May, and August and November. Temperatures normally range between 23 °C and 30 °C. Crops grown include:

• Millet
• Cassava
• Maize
• Sorghum
• Groundnuts
• Beans
• Irish Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Matooke
• Passion fruit
• Tomatoes
• Cabbage
• Cotton
• Oranges
• Coffee
• Chili peppers
• Mangoes
• Pineapples
• Pears
• Apples
• Sugar cane

Most of the agricultural produce is either sold locally or transported for sale inKampalaand to other cities and towns inUganda.Fish farming is slowly taking root in the district and demand for the fish is high both locally and in neighboring countries. Livestock kept in the district includes:Cattle,goats,pigsandpoultry.Fishing also occurs onLake Georgeand on smaller crater lakes in the district. There are two main landing sites on the shores of Lake George,MahyoroandKayinja.

The district's main border crossing isMpondwe,where some 25,000 people cross to and from theDemocratic Republic of Congoevery day.

See also

• Kasese
• Rwenzururu sub-region

External links

• Kasese District Information Portal
• The Evolution of Ugandan Districts
• Tourism Attractions of Kasese District