# Gulu District, Northern Region – Counties, Population & Map > Source: https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/gulu/ District · Northern Region # Gulu District Gulu District is a district of Uganda in Northern Region. It had an estimated **359,814 people** in 2022 on 1,872 km² (about 192 per km²). Its main town is Gulu. It is divided into 2 counties. 110 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 453 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 359,814people (2022) - 1,872km² - 2counties - 453mapped services ## How many people live in Gulu District? Gulu District had an estimated **359,814 people** in 2022 — 3.8% of Northern Region, 39th of 135 districts. There are 1,051 women for every 1,000 men (below the Northern Region figure of 1,071). Spread over 1,872 km², that is about **192 people per km²**, 82nd of 135 districts. 44.4% of people are children under 15 and 2.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 17 years (it is 15 across Northern Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 87 children and older people. 0–4 ****60,287** 5–9 ****51,742** 10–14 ****47,789** 15–19 ****45,098** 20–24 ****37,471** 25–29 ****29,859** 30–34 ****23,685** 35–39 ****17,559** 40–44 ****12,335** 45–49 ****9,355** 50–54 ****7,312** 55–59 ****5,804** 60–64 ****4,168** 65–69 ****2,526** 70–74 ****1,851** 75–79 ****1,568** 80+ ****1,405** Source: [Uganda Bureau of Statistics via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-uga). ## Where is Gulu District? Gulu District lies in [Northern Region](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/), [Uganda](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/). It borders 4 other districts: [Amuru District](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/amuru/), [Lamwo District](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/lamwo/), [Omoro District](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/omoro/) and [Pader District](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/pader/). By area it is the 46th largest of 135 districts in Uganda. It covers 2.2% of [Northern Region](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/). The centre of Gulu District is about 301 km in a straight line from Kampala, the capital. The centre point is at 3.0186° N, 32.3885° E. Source: [Uganda Bureau of Statistics with support from WHO via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-uga). ## Things to see in and around Gulu District OpenStreetMap lists 6 named sights in Gulu District: 3 attractions; 2 memorials; 1 castle or fort. - Fort Patiko · castle or fort - Baker's Fort Patiko · attraction - Burcoro Mascure Monument · attraction - Lukodi Memorial Massacre · attraction - Lucille Teasdale-Corti · memorial - Piero Corti · memorial Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Gulu District - Time zoneUTC+3, no daylight saving · Africa/Kampala - CurrencyShilling (UGX) - Country calling code+256 - LanguagesEnglish, Ganda, Swahili, Arabic - Plug typesType G · 240 V - Driving sideLeft - Postcode format5 digits (#####) ### Nearest airports - Gulu Airport (ULU) · Gulu27 km - Arua Airport (RUA) · Arua164 km ### Nearest railway station Gulu (Layibi Division), about 31 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Jun (about 12.3 hours, sunrise around 06:41) and shortest in Dec (about 11.9 hours, sunrise around 06:47, sunset around 18:43). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Counties of Gulu District County Area km² Sub-counties Services [Aswa County](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/gulu/aswa/) 1,817 6 93 [Gulu Municipality County](https://wherepedia.org/uganda/northern/gulu/gulu-municipality/) 54 4 360 Source: [Uganda Bureau of Statistics with support from WHO via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-uga); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Largest towns in Gulu District - Gulu177,400 Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above. ## Landscape and landmarks of Gulu District Named natural and historic features inside Gulu District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 90 rivers and streams. - Aber - Abera - Abongonyara - Abucunye - Acayo - Acoo - Agago - Agugura - Agwaryugi - Agwo - Agwok - Ajola - Ajony - Akore - Alyek - Amalac - Aming - Amolo - Angwemadel - Aoka - Apiiyie - Aruya - Awac - Awer …and 66 more. ### Hills and mountains 9 hills. - Atoo · 1,185 m - Ladwong · 1,175 m - Kijur · 1,094 m - Pongdwong · 1,071 m - Ajuli · 1,047 m - Paromo · 1,044 m - Akara · 1,035 m - Abaka · 1,006 m - Labworomor · 1,003 m ### Forests and nature 5 forest reserves. - Abera Forest Reserve - Amuka Forest Reserve - Awic-Achwa-Putongo Forest Reserve - Lagute Forest Reserve - Lokodi Forest Reserve ### Getting around 1 airport. - Gulu Airport Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Gulu District and the best time to visit In Gulu District, the warmest month is Feb (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jul (24 °C). About 1,084 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (152 mm) and the driest Jan (13 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to January and June to July**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 27 13 Feb 29 13 Mar 29 51 Apr 27 120 May 25 137 Jun 24 97 Jul 24 102 Aug 24 135 Sep 25 138 Oct 25 152 Nov 25 80 Dec 26 46 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Gulu District Places mapped inside Gulu District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals43 - Banks15 - ATMs2 - Petrol pumps16 - Hotels115 - Schools186 - Colleges and universities14 - Pharmacies21 - Restaurants38 - Police stations1 - Dental clinics2 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Quick answers - Where is Gulu District?In Northern Region, Uganda - What is the population of Gulu District?359,814 (2022 estimate) - What is the median age in Gulu District?About 17 years (2022 estimate) - What is the population density of Gulu District?About 192 people per km² - What borders Gulu District?Amuru District, Lamwo District, Omoro District and Pader District - What is there to see in Gulu District?Baker's Fort Patiko, Burcoro Mascure Monument, Fort Patiko, Lucille Teasdale-Corti - What time zone is Gulu District in?UTC+3 - What currency is used in Gulu District?Shilling (UGX) - What language is spoken in Gulu District?English, Ganda, Swahili (main languages nationally) - What is the largest town in Gulu District?Gulu - What is the highest point in Gulu District?Atoo (1,185 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Gulu District?November to January and June to July - How many hospitals are in Gulu District?43 mapped - How many banks are in Gulu District?15 mapped - How many ATMs are in Gulu District?2 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Gulu District?16 mapped - What is the P-code of Gulu District?UG3074 (OCHA common operational dataset)