Overview
Kasese district was formed in 1974 under the Provincial Administration of Rwenzori district that was curved out of Kabarole District.
Kasese District Local Government is located in Western Uganda, bordering Bunyangabu District in the East, Kitagwenda in the South East by Lake George, Rubirizi District in the South, the West by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bundibugyo District in the North. It can be accessed from Kampala via Fort-Portal entering the District at Rugendabara, Rwimi or Kampala via Mbarara -Bushenyi -Ishaka entering at Katunguru Bridge on Kazinga Channel.
The District stands as one of the largest with 27 Sub-Counties, 14 Town Councils, 1 Municipality with 3 Divisions. it has two vast Counties of Bukonzo and Busongora with 5 Constituencies Vis Busongora County North, Busongora County South, Kasese Municipality, Bukonzo County East, and Bukounzo County West. It lies between latitudes 0o 12’S and 0o 26’N; longitudes 29o 42’E and 30o 18’E.
The District has 6 Members of Parliament with a District Council comprising of 77 District Councillors.
Kasese is a multi-ethnic district with many people of different ethnic backgrounds. The main languages and ethnic groups that dominate the area are the Bakonzo , Basongora , Banyabindi , batooro and Banyankole -Bakiga respectively.
There is also common usage of English, Swahili and Luganda languages.
The district has a number of tourism developments with a variety of tourism products ranging from mining tourism , nature based tourism , cultural to community tourism. However there is still room for investment.
Like most districts in Uganda, Kasese district is predominantly agricultural, relying on farming for employment and income. The people keep livestock including cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
The district is with two operational mining operations currently mining sulphur, copper and cobalt at Kilembe. There are a number of industries in the district, which have greatly contributed to the availability of employment to the population.
Although Lake Katwe Salt Project has taken long without bearing fruits, it has significantly contributed to the welfare of the local people involved in mining. Agricultural production is high owing to the rich soils and reliable rainfall. But lack of proper information about markets denies farmers the opportunity to sell their produce profitably.
However , the presence of tarmac roads linking Kasese to other districts like Kabarole and Bushenyi, enables the district to transport its produce to other parts of the country.
Most of the produce from Kasese gets markets in urban centres in the western and central regions of Uganda. Passion fruits for example are one of the main crops from Kasese sold in most urban areas throughout the country. Kasese’s position along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo encourages border trade.
Land tenure in the district is mostly customary and freehold and there is a high potential for agricultural mechanization.
