Pakwach

Pakwach
Pakwach is located in Uganda
Pakwach
Pakwach
Location in Uganda
Coordinates: 02°27′43″N 31°29′54″E / 2.46194°N 31.49833°E / 2.46194; 31.49833
Country Uganda
RegionNorthern Region of Uganda
Sub-regionWest Nile sub-region
DistrictPakwach District
Area
 • Total
8.96 sq mi (23.2 km2)
Elevation
2,044 ft (623 m)
Population
 (2020 Estimate)
 • Total
28,700
3 women walk along old railway tracks carrying spear grass to the market in Pakwach, Northern Uganda
Viewing eclipse through cellophane.

Pakwach is a town in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is the main commercial, political and administrative center of Pakwach District.[1] In the 19th century the town came under brief occupation by the Ottoman branch of the Khedivate of Egypt, as part of Hatt-ı Üstuva (Equatoria) Vilayet.

Geography

#WCUG2024
Famous bridge before entring Pakwach

Pakwach is in Pakwach District, West Nile sub-region. It is approximately 53 kilometres (33 mi) east of Nebbi, the nearest large town.[2] It is approximately 131 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of Arua, the largest city in the West Nile sub-region.[3]

This is along the western bank of the Albert Nile, approximately 121 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Gulu, the largest city in the Uganda's Northern Region.[4] The coordinates of Pakwach are 2°27'43.0"N, 31°29'54.0"E (Latitude:2.461944; Longitude:31.498333).[5]

Population

The 2002 national census estimated the population of the town at 17,625. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population of Pakwach at in 21,700, in 2010. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of at 22,300.[6] In 2014, the national population census put the population at 23,040.[7]

In 2015, UBOS estimated the population of Pakwach, Uganda at 23,700. In 2020 UBOS estimated the mid-year population of the town at 28,700 inhabitants, of whom 14,900 (51.9 percent) were females and 13,800 (48.1 percent) were males. UBOS calculated that the population of this town increased at an average annual rate of 3.6 percent, between 2015 and 2020.[8]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1969935—    
200217,625+1785.0%
201021,700+23.1%
201122,300+2.8%
201423,040+3.3%
201523,700+2.9%
202028,700+21.1%
source:[6][7][8]

2013 total solar eclipse

On 3 November 2013, Pakwach was the centre of Uganda's solar eclipse celebrations. Thousands of locals were joined by solar eclipse tourists and professional observers. The official celebration, which took place at a primary school 10 kilometers from the town of Pakwach, was attended by three kings (Rwothi), Uganda's President Museveni, and cabinet ministers.[9]

Points of interest

The following additional points of interest lie within or close to the town limits:[10] (a) the offices of Pakwach Town Council (b) the offices of Pakwach District local government (c) Pakwach central market (d) the northwestern corner of Murchison Falls National Park, a few kilometers east of Pakwach (e) the Karuma–Olwiyo–Pakwach–Nebbi–Arua Road passes through the middle of town in a general east to west direction and the proposed Pakwach Campus of Muni University, housing the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture[11] Uganda Christian University, with its man campus in Mukono, maintains a campus in Pakwach.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ PRO (2 July 2017). "The new Pakwach District has been operationalized". Radiopacis.org (PRO). Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Distance between Pakwach, Northern Region, Uganda and Nebbi, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Distance between Arua, Northern Region, Uganda and Pakwach, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Distance between Pakwach, Northern Region, Uganda and Gulu, Northern Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps.
  5. ^ "Location of Pakwach at Google Maps" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2012). "Estimated Population of Pakwach in 2002, 2010 & 2011" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 7 July 2014) on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Uganda Bureau of Statistics (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. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b Uganda Bureau of Statistics (14 June 2020). "The population development of Pakwach as well as related information and services". Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  9. ^ Steven Candia, and Benedict Okethwengu (4 November 2013). "Thousands view total solar eclipse in Pakwach". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  10. ^ Oleny, Solomon (28 October 2013). "Sites And Sounds of Uganda: more than the eclipse at Pakwach". New Vision (Kampala). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  11. ^ Ssenkabira, Al-Mahdi (24 February 2015). "Mixed reactions as West Nile gets first University". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  12. ^ Mobile Monitor (13 November 2013). "Know Your Hood: Pakwach, the home of the leopards". Daily Monitor Mobile. Kampala. Retrieved 5 August 2017.[dead link‍]


02°27′43″N 31°29′54″E / 2.46194°N 31.49833°E / 2.46194; 31.49833