Lira, Uganda
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Lira is a city in the Northern Region of
Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...
. 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. Following this elevation, Lira City became a separate administrative entity distinct from Lira District.


History

Lira was one of the last towns in Uganda held by loyalists of
Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 30 May 192816 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until Uganda–Tanzania War, his overthrow in 1979. He ruled as a Military dictatorship, ...
during the
Uganda–Tanzania War The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War (Kiswahili: ''Vita vya Kagera'') and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Ugand ...
(1978–1979). A force consisting of the
Tanzania People's Defence Force The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) () is the military force of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was established in September 1964, following a mutiny by the former colonial military force, the Tanganyika Rifles. From its inception, ...
's 201st Brigade and the
Uganda National Liberation Front The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of military dictator Idi Amin. The UNLF had an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). UNLA fought alo ...
's
Kikosi Maalum Kikosi Maalum (meaning "Special Force" in Swahili), also known as the Special Battalion or the grand coalition, was a militia of Ugandan exiles formed in Tanzania to fight against the regime of Idi Amin. The unit was founded by and loyal to former ...
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.


Location

Lira is approximately , by road, southeast of Gulu, the largest city in the Northern Region of Uganda, along the highway between
Gulu Gulu is a city in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The coordinates of the city of Gulu are 2°46'54.0"N 32°17'57.0"E. The city's distance from Kampala, Uganda's capital and large ...
and
Mbale Mbale is a city in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region. Location Mbale is approximately northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on ...
. This is approximately northwest of
Soroti Soroti is a city in Eastern Region, Uganda, Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main city, commercial, and administrative center in Soroti District, one of the nine administrative districts in the Teso sub-region. Soroti city was immediately app ...
, the nearest city to the south. Lira City is located approximately , by road, north of the city of
Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...
, the capital and largest city in the country. The coordinates of Lira City are 2°14'50.0"N 32°54'00.0"E (Latitude:02.2472; Longitude:32.9000). The city lies at an average elevation of , above sea level.


Population

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. The 2014 census put the population at 99,059. 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. File:Weather in Lira City.jpg, Lira City File:A morning in Lira City Lira District.jpg, Lira City Lira District


Economy

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

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

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

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

Lira is served by a
railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
of the
Uganda Railways The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is the parastatal railway of Uganda. It was formed after the breakup of the East African Railways Corporation (EARC) in 1977 when it took over the Ugandan part of the East African railways. URC's system ...
network. The city is also served by a public civilian airport, Lira Airport, administered by the
Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is the government agency responsible for licensing, monitoring, and regulating civil aviation matters in the country. It is administered by the Uganda Ministry of Works and Transport. Location The au ...
.


Power line

An 132 kilovolt electricity line from the
Karuma Power Station The Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station is an operational 600 MW hydroelectric power station in Uganda. It is the largest power-generating installation in the country. Location The power station is located on the Victoria Nile, at the forme ...
is under construction to a substation in Lira, under the supervision of Intec Gopa International Energy Consultants GmbH of Germany.


Points of interest

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 Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is a private University affiliated with the Roman Catholicism in Uganda, Roman Catholic Church in Uganda. The University is owned by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Bishops of Uganda. It is licensed by the ...
, a private university, whose main campus is located in Nkozi,
Mpigi District Mpigi District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'main town', Mpigi. Location Mpigi District is bordered by Wakiso District to the north and east, Kalangala District to the south, Kalungu ...
* All Saints University, a private university affiliated with the
Church of Uganda The Church of Uganda (C/U) is a member province of the Anglican Communion. Currently, there are 37 dioceses that make up the Church of Uganda, each headed by a bishop. Each diocese is divided into archdeaconries, each headed by a senior priest k ...
* 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 * Secondary schools include the following public schools: Lango College, Comboni College, Dr. Obote College, St. Katherine Girls School. * Lira Town College, a secondary school *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 regional referral hospital, a government facility


Notable people

* David Oyite Ojok, former major general, liberator and UNLA Chief of Staff *
Dusman Sabuni Dusman Abassi Sabuni (died 2000) was a Ugandan military officer and rebel militant leader. He is known for serving as one of the first leaders of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist rebel group based in western Uganda and eastern De ...
, military officer and rebel leader *
Milton Obote Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan politician who served as the second prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and the second president of Uganda from 1966 to 1971 and later from 1980 to 1985. A Lango, ...
, 2nd President of Uganda * John Akii Bua, athlete


See also

*
Lango people The Lango are a Nilotic peoples, Nilotic ethnic group. They live in north-central Uganda, in a region that covers the area formerly known as the Lango sub-region, Lango District until 1974, when it was split into the districts of Apac District ...
* Lira University


References


Works cited

*


External links


Quick facts on Lira Town and Uganda
{{coord, 02, 14, 50, N, 32, 54, 00, E, type:city, display=title * Populated places in Northern Region, Uganda Cities in the Great Rift Valley Lango sub-region