Arua

Arua is a city and commercial centre within the Arua District in the Northern Region of Uganda.[2][3]

For other uses, see Arua (disambiguation).
Arua
Aruaa
Motto(s): 
Peace, Justice & Prudence
Arua is located in Uganda
Arua
Arua
Location in Uganda
Coordinates: 3°02′07″N 30°54′39″E
Country Uganda
RegionNorthern Region
Sub-regionWest Nile sub-region
DistrictArua District
Government
 • MayorCharles Asiki
Population
 (2014 Census)
 • Total61,962[1]
Area code0476
Websitewww.arua.go.ug

Location

Arua is approximately 475 kilometres (295 mi), by road, north-west of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda,[4] Arua is about 228 kilometres (142 mi), by road, west of Gulu, the largest city in Uganda's Northern Region.[5] The geographical coordinates of the city of Arua are 03°02'07.0"N, 30°54'39.0"E (Latitude:3.035278; Longitude:30.910833).[6] Arua sits at an average elevation of 1,310 metres (4,298 ft) above sea level.[7] Arua is closely bordered to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and South Sudan in the north which makes it a strategic location for business between Uganda and her two neighbors to the west and north.[8]

Due to its strategic location, Arua is also part of the Refugee program of hosting up to 20% of refugees entering into Uganda, annually.[9]

Overview
View of Arua Hill
A road in Arua

Arua is an important base for non-governmental organizations working in the West Nile sub-region or serving Western Equatoria in South Sudan and the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It became an important commercial supply centre and transport route when the Juba - Yei - Morobo - Kaya Road opened, enabling supplies to come into Juba from the south on the Kaya Highway instead of through Khartoum from the north.[7]

Transport

A branch of the Uganda Railways was to be extended to Arua sometime after 1964,[10] but there has been no passenger rail service in Uganda for many years.[11]

The Vurra–Arua–Koboko–Oraba Road passes through town, in a south–north direction.[12] Arua is connected to the other towns in West Nile by road. These are: Nebbi, Pakwach, Paidha, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Obongi, Adjumani and other smaller towns. There is regular road transport between Arua and Kampala, Gulu, Masindi and Hoima

The city is served by Arua Airport, which has scheduled air service.[13] Arua airport has been the second busiest in Uganda after Entebbe. It was due to be upgraded to an international airport.

Population

The 1969 national census enumerated the population of Arua Town at 10,837. In 1991, the census enumerated 22,217 people in the town. In 2002, the population had increased to 43,929. The August 2014 national census and household survey enumerated the population of Arua Town Council at 61,962. In 2020, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the mid-year population to be 72,400. UBOS calculated that the population of Arua Municipality grew at an average rate of 2.7 percent annually, between 2014 and 2020.[1]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
196910,837—    
199122,217+105.0%
200243,929+97.7%
201461,962+41.1%
202072,400+16.8%
source:[1]

Climate

Arua has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw).

Climate data for Arua (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.4
(93.9)		 36.1
(97.0)		 37.8
(100.0)		 35.6
(96.1)		 33.3
(91.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 30.0
(86.0)		 31.1
(88.0)		 30.6
(87.1)		 32.4
(90.3)		 33.3
(91.9)		 33.6
(92.5)		 37.8
(100.0)
Average high °C (°F) 30.5
(86.9)		 31.1
(88.0)		 30.2
(86.4)		 28.8
(83.8)		 27.9
(82.2)		 27.1
(80.8)		 26.1
(79.0)		 26.3
(79.3)		 27.2
(81.0)		 27.9
(82.2)		 28.4
(83.1)		 29.1
(84.4)		 28.4
(83.1)
Average low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)		 18.0
(64.4)		 18.3
(64.9)		 18.0
(64.4)		 17.5
(63.5)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.4
(61.5)		 16.3
(61.3)		 16.5
(61.7)		 16.9
(62.4)		 17.2
(63.0)		 17.0
(62.6)		 17.2
(63.0)
Record low °C (°F) 12.8
(55.0)		 11.1
(52.0)		 13.9
(57.0)		 13.9
(57.0)		 14.4
(57.9)		 13.2
(55.8)		 11.7
(53.1)		 11.1
(52.0)		 12.2
(54.0)		 14.1
(57.4)		 14.4
(57.9)		 12.8
(55.0)		 11.1
(52.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.5
(0.69)		 36.6
(1.44)		 90.7
(3.57)		 120.4
(4.74)		 127.6
(5.02)		 146.4
(5.76)		 154.5
(6.08)		 216.9
(8.54)		 173.0
(6.81)		 209.5
(8.25)		 125.1
(4.93)		 29.8
(1.17)		 1,448
(57.01)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 1.4 3.0 7.0 9.0 8.7 8.5 11.3 12.6 11.5 13.8 9.7 3.1 99.6
Average relative humidity (%) (at 14:00) 38 36 44 56 60 63 67 66 62 60 53 46 54
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[14]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity)[15]

Activities

Administrative activities

The following administrations are seated in Arua:

Other business and educational activities
Arua Public Library

Media
BTN TV and Nile FM studios in Anyafio Village, Arua Hill Division

Analog broadcasts, which originate from Kampala, include WBS TV (which is currently closed), UBC TV, and NTV. In early 2014, MBC 2 was aired in Arua as a test broadcast to pave way for Vision Group's Urban TV.[17]

Voice of Life, a Church of Uganda-founded radio station, has pioneered FM broadcasting in Arua since 1997.[18]

See also

References
  1. Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). "The population of all Ugandan cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants according to census results and latest official projections" (Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics). Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. Ampurire, Paul (22 May 2019). "Cabinet Approves Phased Creation Of Nine New Cities Beginning 2020". Kampala: SoftPower Uganda. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  3. Uganda Radio Network (21 May 2019). "Cabinet approves creation of nine cities". Daily Monitor Quoting Uganda Radio Network. Kampala. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. Google (15 June 2021). "Road Distance Between Kampala, Uganda And Arua, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. Google (15 June 2021). "Road Distance Between Gulu, Uganda And Arua, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  6. Google (5 June 2019). "Location of the City of Arua, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  7. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019). "Profile of Arua, Uganda". Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  8. Namakula, Juliette (2020-07-07). "Muni University hosts launch of Arua city". Education News Uganda. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  9. ENU EDITOR (2020-05-04). "In Uganda, a refugee camp becomes a city". Education News Uganda. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  10. "Nairobi Railway Museum". Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  11. "Uganda Travel Advice and Advisories (Government of Canada)". Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  12. USHMU (11 May 2012). "Use The Road for Making Wealth – President Urges West Nile People". Uganda State House Media Unit (USHMU). Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  13. Eagle Air schedule Retrieved 4 April 2016
  14. "World Weather Information Service – Arua". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. "Klimatafel von Arua / Uganda" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  16. BOU. "Currency Centers: Arua Currency Center". Bank of Uganda. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  17. Staff Writer (28 March 2014). "Urban TV's Faith Ariho Promoted?". Bigeye.ug. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  18. Voice of Life - Arua
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