Western Region, Uganda
Western | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 00°39′S 030°41′E / 0.650°S 30.683°E | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Region | Western |
| Regional capital | Mbarara |
| Area | |
• Total | 55,276.6 km2 (21,342.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,473 m (4,833 ft) |
| Population (2014 census)[2] | |
• Total | 8,874,862 |
• Estimate (2011) | 8,229,800 |
| • Density | 160.554/km2 (415.832/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| HDI (2019) | 0.524[3] low · 3rd |
The Western Region of Uganda is one of four regions in the country of Uganda.[1] As of Uganda's 2014 census, the Western region's population was 8,874,862.[2]
Subregions
As of 2010, the western Region contained four Political Subregions,
From North to South;
1- Bunyoro Sub-region
2- Rwenzori Sub-region aka Greater Tooro
3- Ankole Subregion and
4- Kigezi Subregion
Tribes in Western Uganda
- Bakonjo/Bamba. [4]
- Batooro.[5][6]
- Banyoro[7][8][9]
- Banyankore,Bahima,Bairu.[10][11]
- Bakiga.[12][13][14]
- Bafumbira.[15][16]
- Batwa. [17][18]
Districts
As of 2024, the Western Region, Uganda contained 3 cities and 34 districts:[2]
| District | Population (Census 1991) |
Population (Census 2002) |
Population (Census 2014) |
Map | Chief town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buhweju | 55,534 | 82,881 | 120,720 | 81 | Nsiika |
| Buliisa | 47,709 | 63,363 | 113,161 | 10 | Buliisa |
| Bundibugyo | 92,311 | 158,909 | 224,387 | 11 | Bundibugyo |
| Bushenyi | 160,982 | 205,671 | 234,440 | 12 | Bushenyi |
| Hoima | 197,851 | 343,618 | 572,986 | 18 | Hoima |
| Ibanda | 148,029 | 198,635 | 249,625 | 19 | Ibanda |
| Isingiro | 226,365 | 316,025 | 486,360 | 26 | Isingiro |
| Kabale | 417,218 | 458,318 | 528,231 | 23 | Kabale |
| Kabarole | 299,573 | 356,914 | 469,236 | 24 | Fort Portal |
| Kamwenge | 201,654 | 263,730 | 414,454 | 31 | Kamwenge |
| Kanungu | 160,708 | 204,732 | 252,144 | 32 | Kanungu |
| Kasese | 343,601 | 523,033 | 694,992 | 34 | Kasese |
| Kibaale | 220,261 | 405,882 | 785,088 | 37 | Kibaale |
| Kiruhura | 140,946 | 212,219 | 328,077 | 40 | Kiruhura |
| Kiryandongo | 83,405 | 187,707 | 266,197 | 92 | Kiryandongo |
| Kisoro | 186,681 | 220,312 | 281,705 | 41 | Kisoro |
| Kyegegwa | 63,547 | 110,925 | 281,637 | 96 | Kyegegwa |
| Kyenjojo | 182,026 | 266,246 | 422,204 | 46 | Kyenjojo |
| Masindi | 129,682 | 208,420 | 291,113 | 52 | Masindi |
| Mbarara | 267,457 | 361,477 | 472,629 | 55 | Mbarara |
| Mitooma | 134,251 | 160,802 | 183,444 | 102 | Mitooma |
| Ntoroko | 24,255 | 51,069 | 67,005 | 106 | Ntoroko |
| Ntungamo | 305,199 | 379,987 | 483,841 | 66 | Ntungamo |
| Rubirizi | 75,361 | 101,804 | 129,149 | 109 | Rubirizi |
| Rukungiri | 230,072 | 275,162 | 314,694 | 71 | Rukungiri |
| Sheema | 153,009 | 180,234 | 207,343 | 111 | Kibingo |
| Total[1][2] | 4,547,687 | 6,298,075 | 8,874,862 | - | Mbarara |
Geography

The Western Region borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and the Northern tip of Rwanda as well as Tanzania in the South.
It is home to the Banyakitara i.e Banyoro, Batooro, Babwisi, Songora people, Banyankore, Bakiga. And Bakonzo, Bamba, Bafumbira, e.t.c
Tourist attractions in Western Uganda
Western Uganda is home to a number of national parks and protected areas, including:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western Uganda, home to mountain gorillas and other primates like chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. The area is also home to forest elephants and bushpigs.[19] The park is located over three districts: Kanungu, Rubanda and Kisoro District.[20]
- Queen Elizabeth National Park is in western Uganda and is the second largest national park in the country and one of the oldest. The park is made up of wetlands, woodlands, savannah plains and forests. The park is located in Kasese District, with parts in Rubirizi, Kanungu, and Kamwengye districts. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[21]
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest national park located in south western Uganda, located in Kisoro District. It was founded in 1991. The park is also home to mountain gorillas, along with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is home to the golden monkey, also found in Volcanoes National Park. Mountains in the park include Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhavura which are part of the Virunga Range, which continues into Rwanda and the DRC.[22]
- Kibale Forest National Park is located in Kibaale District. The park is home to chimpanzees, with the largest number and diversity in East Africa.[23][24]
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park[25][26]
- Lake Mburo National Park[27][28]
- Lake Bunyonyi
- Semuliki National Park[29]
- Bigodi Sanctuary[30]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Uganda: Administrative units (source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics)". GeoHive. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Uganda: Administrative Division". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Bakonjo-Bamba People- Rwenzori National Park". 21 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Exploring the Rich Culture of the Batooro People". KITARA FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ gorillatrekking (17 May 2019). "Batooro and their culture - uganda cultural tours, uganda safaris". Gorilla Trekking Tours & Safaris. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Banyoro people". www.101lasttribes.com. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Banyoro Culture in Uganda: Traditions, History, and Lifestyle". Eastern Fleet Safaris. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Nyoro | History, Culture & Language | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Banyankole | PDF | Pastoralism | Uganda". Scribd. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Myuganda (3 July 2023). "Ankole culture: All you need to know | My Uganda". Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "The Bakiga". KITARA FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Bakiga Culture in Uganda: Traditions, Customs, and Heritage". Eastern Fleet Safaris. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Bakiga People - Culture | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park". 10 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Rufumbira niki | Rufumbira". www.rufumbiralang.org. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Bafumbira Culture in Uganda: Traditions, Customs & Heritage". Eastern Fleet Safaris. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Kokunda, Sylvia; Nahabwe, Haven; Nahamya, Jeremiah; Niwamanya, Samari; Mazirwe, Ronald; Gougsa, Samrawit; Kemigisha, Elizabeth; Redvers, Nicole (2023). "Batwa Indigenous Peoples forced eviction for "Conservation": A qualitative examination on community impacts". PLOS Global Public Health. 3 (8) e0002129. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0002129. ISSN 2767-3375. PMC 10431614. PMID 37585374.
- ^ "Examining the relocation of the Batwa Indigenous people from the forests and its influence on their Indigenous Education, Customs and Cultures". Kabale University. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Uganda". Bwindi. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Location: Where is Bwindi? | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park". 14 April 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth Entry Gates". Inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Mgahinga National Park | Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda". Mgahinga National Park. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Kibale Forest National Park Uganda Safaris". Kibale Forest National Park Uganda. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Kibale Forest". ugandawildlife.org. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Rwenzori Mountains National Park". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Park Guide & Rwenzori Mountains". Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Lake Mburo National Park". ugandawildlife.org. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Lake Mburo National Park". Lake Mburo National Park. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Attractions, Activities & Lodges". Semuliki Valley National Park Uganda. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Makanga, Samuel (8 October 2022). "Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary & Community Walking Tour Kibale Forest". Kibale Forest National Park Uganda. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
External links
