Gulu

Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The coordinates of Gulu Municipality are: 2°46'54.0"N 32°17'57.0"E. The distance from Gulu to Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city, is approximately 340 kilometres (210 mi) by road. The town is served by Gulu Airport and a railway line.

History

During British colonial rule in the 18th and 19th centuries, northern Uganda was less developed than the rest of the country. The people were conscripted into the army and the police, as a source for the security. Many were sent to fight in the First World War and in the Second World War.

Uganda gained independence in 1962, but this did not improve the situation for the people in the north.

Several rebel groups were formed by the end of 1986. However, these rebel groups were ex soldiers, i.e., the UNLA from the government prior to Museveni. By 1987 most of these rebels had joined Museveni's force. Then came another rebel group led by Alice "Lakwena" Auma from 1988 to 1989. The Lord's Resistance Army sprang up in the 1990s after Alice Lakwena left Uganda and went to Kenya. The LRA became increasing violent in Gulu and the surrounding communities. The UPDF government army has equally been accused of brutality against the civilian population.

Gulu (disambiguation)

Gulu may refer to:

Gulu District

Gulu District is a district in the Northern Region of Uganda. The town of Gulu, which means "pot" in the Acholi language (a reference to Gulu's location in the depression of a prehistoric floodplain), is the site of the district headquarters and is its chief commercial centre.

Location

Gulu District is bordered by Lamwo District to the north, Pader District to the east, Oyam District to the south, Nwoya District to the southwest, and Amuru District to the west. The district headquarters in the town of Gulu are approximately 340 kilometres (210 mi), by road, north of Uganda's capital city, Kampala. The coordinates of the district are 02 45N, 32 00E.

Overview

As of May 2011, the district was one of the seven districts that constituted the Acholi sub-region, the historical homeland of the Acholi ethnic group, known to local people (in the postcolonial context) as Acholiland.

The district is composed of Aswa County, Omoro County, and the Gulu Municipal Council.

The economic activity of 90 per cent of the population in the district is subsistence or slightly supersubsistence agriculture.