Lira, 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 (2014 Census)
• Total	99,059^[1]

Lira is a city in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial centre of Lira District.^[3]

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History

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

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

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.

Lira City
Lira City Lira District

Transport

Lira is served by a railway station of the Uganda Railways network.^[11] The city is also served by a public civilian airport, Lira Airport, administered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda.

Power line

An 80 kilometres (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.^[12]

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, 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^[13]
Secondary schools include the following public schools: Lango College, Comboni College, Dr. Obote College, St. Katherine Girls School.
Lira Town College, a secondary school^[14]
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, military officer and rebel leader
Milton Obote, 2nd President of Uganda

References

^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ Draku, Franklin (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Elevates 15 Municipalities To Cities". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
^ Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, pp. 37, 39.
^ Google (19 January 2021). "Distance Between Gulu, Uganda And Lira, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ Google (19 January 2021). "Distance Between Lira, Uganda And Soroti, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ Google (19 January 2021). "Distance Between Kampala City Centre, Kampala, Uganda And Lira City Centre, Lira, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ Google (19 January 2021). "Location of Lira City, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ Floodmap (2018). "Elevation of Lira, Uganda". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^ 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.
^ Cissy Makumbi, Cissy (28 October 2013). "Museveni Opens Gulu Railway Line". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
^ Odyek, John (13 August 2015). "UETCL Signs €5.2 Million (USh20.5 Billion) Deal With German Company". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
^ Schlein, Lisa (14 December 2014). "Ugandan Entrepreneur Creates Education Opportunity for Girls". Washington, DC: Voice of America. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
^ 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

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

External links

Quick facts on Lira Town and Uganda

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