Lango sub-region is a region in Uganda that was initially covering only two districts (Lira formed in 1974 with its sister Apac) [1] but later divided of many districts and one city covering an area of 15,570.7km consisting of the districts of:
Lango sub-region is a region in Uganda that was initially covering only two districts (Lira formed in 1974 with its sister Apac) [1] but later divided of many districts and one city covering an area of 15,570.7km consisting of the districts of:
It covers the area previously known as Lango District until 1974, when it was split into the districts of Apac and Lira, and subsequently into several other districts. The sub-region is home mainly to the Lango ethnic group. Lango sub-region is home to Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, a former president that led Uganda to independence in 1962, whose ancestral home and monument acts as a national heritage site managed by Uganda Tourism Board. [3]
At the 2002 national census, it had a population of about 1.5 million people. As of July 2018, its population was an estimated 2.3 million, about 5.75% of the estimated 40 million Ugandans at the time. [4]
Lango sub-region is headed by a paramount chief, also known as "Won Nyaci" and is elected by a council of elders from different clans in Lango. The newly elected chief is Odongo Okune who took office even before the death of Yosam Odur Ibii, former Lango chief. [5] [6]
Lango lies in north-central Uganda, about 230 km by road north of Kampala. [7] The area includes wetlands and lakes associated with the Lake Kyoga basin, including Lake Kwania in parts of Dokolo District.
Uganda Investment Authority describes Lango as comprising nine districts: Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Kwania, Lira, Otuke, Oyam. [7]
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics reported a 2014 to 2024 average annual growth rate of 2.3% for Lango sub-region. [8]
Lango sub-region has a population of around 5,372,431 persons during the 2024 national census with total households population of 2,522,856 and 575,559 number of households indicating 9.33 persons per household which is absolutely abnormal. [9]
Retracing back to the 2014 national population census, this region was having population of 2,061,694 with females constituting to about 50% and above per each district mean while Lira District took the lead with 408,043. More about population of 2014 is summarized in the table below. [10]
| DISTRICT | FEMALES | MALES | TOTAL | % FEMALE | % MALE |
| APAC | 187,631 | 180,995 | 368,626 | 50.90009929 | 49.0999 |
| LIRA | 211,380 | 196,663 | 408,043 | 51.80336386 | 48.19664 |
| AMOLATAR | 74,152 | 73,014 | 147,166 | 50.38663822 | 49.61336 |
| DOKOLO | 93,617 | 89,476 | 183,093 | 51.13084607 | 48.86915 |
| OYAM | 196,523 | 187,121 | 383,644 | 51.22535476 | 48.77465 |
| ALEBTONG | 116,552 | 110,989 | 227,541 | 51.22241706 | 48.77758 |
| KOLE | 122,163 | 117,164 | 239,327 | 51.04438697 | 48.95561 |
| OTUKE | 53,067 | 51,187 | 104,254 | 50.90164406 | 49.09836 |
| HIGHLY POPULATED | 211,380 | 196,663 | 408,043 | 51.80336386 | 49.613362 |
| LOWLY POPULATED | 53,067 | 51,187 | 104,254 | 50.38663822 | 48.196636 |
Lango’s economy is strongly linked to crop farming and livestock production, within annual cropping and cattle-farming systems common across Northern Uganda. [7] Trade and services play a major role in urban centres such as Lira and Apac. [7]
The main local language is Lango, also known as Leb Lango, a Western Nilotic language with ISO 639-3 code “laj”. [11] [12]
Central government has cited upgrades to key roads in Lango, including the Kamdini to Lira corridor, as part of wider infrastructure work in Northern Uganda. [13]