Lira, Uganda

Place in Northern Region of Uganda, Uganda

Lira

Lira

Location in Uganda

Coordinates: 02°14′50″N 32°54′00″E﻿ / ﻿2.24722°N 32.90000°E﻿ / 2.24722; 32.90000
Country|  Uganda
Region| Northern Region of Uganda
Sub-region| Lango sub-region
District| Lira District
Founded| 1919
Town Council| 1962
Municipality| 1985
City| 2020
Government

• Mayor| Sam Atul[2]
Elevation

| 3,488 ft (1,063 m)
Population

(2024 Census)

• Total

| 245,132[1]

Lira is a city in the Northern Region of Uganda. It serves as the main urban center of the Lango sub-region. On July 1, 2020, Lira was officially elevated to city status as part of Uganda's government plan to create new cities across the country.[3] Following this elevation, Lira City became a separate administrative entity distinct from Lira District.

Lira main market.jpg

## History

[edit]

Lira was one of the last towns in Uganda held by loyalists of Idi Amin during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–1979). A force consisting of the Tanzania People's Defence Force's 201st Brigade and the Uganda National Liberation Front's Kikosi Maalum attacked Lira on 15 May 1979, ousting the Amin loyalists after a short battle. The clash at Lira was the last important battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War, as the remnants of Amin's army completely disintegrated thereafter.[4]

## Location

[edit]

Lira is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi), by road, southeast of Gulu, the largest city in the Northern Region of Uganda, along the highway between Gulu and Mbale.[5] This is approximately 124 kilometres (77 mi) northwest of Soroti, the nearest city to the south.[6]

Lira City is located approximately 337 kilometres (209 mi), by road, north of the city of Kampala, the capital and largest city in the country.[7] The coordinates of Lira City are 2°14'50.0"N 32°54'00.0"E (Latitude:02.2472; Longitude:32.9000).[8] The city lies at an average elevation of 1,063 metres (3,488 ft), above sea level.[9]

## Population

[edit]

The 2002 national census estimated the population of Lira at 80,900. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 105,100. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 108,600.[10] The 2014 census put the population at 99,059.[1] The Night Population of Lira City Population is projected (Midyear 2020) from the 2014 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) is 249,900. The day population is projected at 500,000. In 2024, the national census put the population of Lira at 245,132.[11]

* Lira City

* Lira City Lira District

## Economy

[edit]

A man selling jackfruit along the road in Lira, Uganda

Lira City serves as the primary business hub in Northern Uganda and has been baptized as the "Commercial and Industrial City" of the region. The economy is characterized by a diverse mix of industrial, commercial, and agricultural activities.

### Industrial Sector

[edit]

The city hosts several significant industries, including:

* Mukwano Industries \- a major manufacturer of consumer goods including cooking oil, soaps, and other household products
* Meru Millers \- a large-scale grain processing facility that mills maize and other cereals
* Various other manufacturing and processing plants that contribute to the local economy

### Commercial Sector

[edit]

The city's economy is predominantly based on commerce, serving as a central market and distribution point for agricultural products from the surrounding rural areas. Major economic activities include:

* Trade in agricultural products (grains, legumes, and other produce)
* Retail and wholesale commerce
* Service industry
* Transportation and logistics

The city hosts several markets, including the Main Market (Lira Central Market), which is one of the largest in Northern Uganda, attracting traders and customers from across the region.

### Agriculture

[edit]

Agriculture remains an important economic driver, with the city functioning as a collection and distribution center for agricultural products from the fertile surrounding regions of the Lango sub-region.

## Transport

[edit]

Lira is served by a railway station of the Uganda Railways network.[12] The city is also served by a public civilian airport, Lira Airport, administered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda.

## Power line

[edit]

An 80-kilometre (50 mi) 132-kilovolt electricity line from the Karuma Power Station is under construction to a substation in Lira, under the supervision of Intec Gopa International Energy Consultants GmbH of Germany.[13]

## Points of interest

[edit]

The following additional points of interest lie within the town limits or close to the edges of the city:

* Offices of Lira City Council
* Lira Main Market
* Ngetta Rock
* Mount Meru Millers
* Mukwano Industries Lira factory
* Lira University, a public university in Uganda
* Lira Campus of Uganda Martyrs University, a private university, whose main campus is located in Nkozi, Mpigi District
* All Saints University, a private university affiliated with the Church of Uganda
* A branch of the National Social Security Fund
* Ministry of Water and Environment Upper Nile region branch
* Lira Integrated School, a mixed, residential, nursery, primary and secondary school[14]
* Secondary schools include the following public schools: Lango College, Comboni College, Dr. Obote College, St. Katherine Girls School.
* Lira Town College, a secondary school[15]
* Accommodation facilities include Good news hotel, Lira Hotel, Pacific Grand Hotel, Pauline Hotel and several others.
* A golf course next to Lira Central Primary School
* Lira Public Library front viewLira regional referral hospital, a government facility

## Notable people

[edit]

* David Oyite Ojok, former major general, liberator and UNLA Chief of Staff
* Dusman Sabuni, military officer and rebel leader
* Milton Obote, 2nd President of Uganda
* John Akii Bua, athlete

## See also

[edit]

* Lango people
* Lira University

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b UBOS (27 August 2014). "The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Retrieved 21 February 2015.
2. ^ Denis Ogwal (July 20, 2017). "Lira Municipal Development Forum Elects New Executive". New Vision. Retrieved June 9, 2018. "...among the development programs that the committee is mandated to monitor is the implementation of Uganda Support Municipal Infrastructural Development (USMID) program."
3. ^ "Lira is now a City: What are the leaders, residents saying? | tndNews". tndnewsuganda.com. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
4. ^ Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, pp. 37, 39.
5. ^ "Distance Between Gulu, Uganda And Lira, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
6. ^ "Distance Between Lira, Uganda And Soroti, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
7. ^ "Distance Between Kampala City Centre, Kampala, Uganda And Lira City Centre, Lira, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
8. ^ "Location of Lira City, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
9. ^ Floodmap (2018). "Elevation of Lira, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
10. ^ UBOS. "Estimated Population of Lira In 2002, 2010 And 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
11. ^ "Lira City (Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
12. ^ Cissy Makumbi, Cissy (28 October 2013). "Museveni Opens Gulu Railway Line". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
13. ^ Odyek, John (13 August 2015). "UETCL Signs €5.2 Million (USh20.5 Billion) Deal With German Company". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
14. ^ Schlein, Lisa (14 December 2014). "Ugandan Entrepreneur Creates Education Opportunity for Girls". Washington, DC: Voice of America. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
15. ^ Angoda Emmanuel. "School Report Cards System: What Works In Lira Town College & Northern Uganda". Lira, Uganda: AngodaEmma.Wordpress.com. Retrieved 23 May 2019.

### Works cited

[edit]

* Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2015). Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994. Solihull: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-910294-55-0.

## External links

[edit]

* Quick facts on Lira Town and Uganda

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

* v
* t
* e

Lira District

Capital: Lira

Counties and
sub-counties|

Otuke County

Towns and
villages|

* Lira
* Barlonyo
* Boroboro

Economy|

* Absa Bank Uganda Limited
* Bank of Africa Uganda Limited
* Centenary Bank
* DFCU Bank
* Equity Bank Uganda Limited
* KCB Bank Uganda Limited
* PostBank Uganda
* Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
* Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited
* Pride Microfinance Limited
* FINCA Uganda Limited

Industry|

* Kamtech Logistics Uganda Limited

Transport|

* Lira Airport
* Soroti–Dokolo–Lira Road
* Rwekunye–Apac–Aduku–Lira–Kitgum–Musingo Road
* Lira–Kamdini–Karuma Road

Energy|

* Adekokwok Hydroelectric Power Station
* Lira–Gulu–Agago High Voltage Power Line
* Lira–Gulu–Nebbi–Arua High Voltage Power Line
* Tororo–Opuyo–Lira High Voltage Power Line
* Karuma–Lira High Voltage Power Line

Notable
landmarks|

* Roman Catholic Diocese of Lira

Health|

* Lira Regional Referral Hospital
* Lira University Hospital

Education|

* Dr. Obote College Boroboro
* All Saints University
* Lira University

Notable people|

* Jane Ruth Aceng
* Omara Atubo
* Joy Atim

02°14′50″N 32°54′00″E﻿ / ﻿2.24722°N 32.90000°E﻿ / 2.24722; 32.90000
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