Kapchorwa District

Kapchorwa district is among the districts which make up the safari circuit of eastern Uganda. Kapchorwa district has a lot of attractions that you will love to see, despite the fact that it is in the shadow of mbale district. Kapchorwa is located in the eastern region of the pearl of Africa, found within the sub-sebeyi region. You can reach kapchorwa town in about 65km north of Mbale town by road. Kapchorwa town is the main city of kapchorwa, it is where the administrative offices are located, the banks, and it is also the business hub for the whole kapchorwa. Kapchorwa district is still the glory that shines on Uganda for the Ugandan men Olympics marathon gold medalist, Stephen kiprotich, who won in 2012 world Olympics in London.

Kapchorwa is a real rural area of Uganda and the population is estimated to be over 104580, with a population growth rate of about 4.5%. The people of kapchorwa district are trying hard to live with their families by practicing subsistence agriculture, and they grow crops such as; millet, potatoes, beans, simsim, sunflower, cotton, coffee, wheat, tomatoes, passion fruits, onions and cabbages among others. The livestock kept by the peoples of the kapchorwa includes, cows, goats, and chicken among others.

Kapchorwa is boarded by a number of districts in the sub-sebeyi region within the eastern region of Uganda. Kapchorwa district is bounded by kween district in the northeastern side and the east, sironko district to its south, and bulambuli district which engulfs kapchorwa districts’ northern west and the western side. From Kampala capital city you can reach kapchorwa district headquarters, in kapchorwa town, in about 295 kilometers, north east from the capital of Uganda, Kampala. Kapchorwa town and district is dominated by the people called the kalenjin people of north eastern Uganda. The other tribes of kapchorwa include sabiny, pokoto and the nandi of western Kenya.

The people in kapchorwa have practiced cattle keeping on a subsistence level during the 1960’s, however, the cattle raids by the karamajong people of northern Uganda, made the people of kapchorwa to try other means of getting food and a little income to support their families, such as small farming and poultry. Despite, the new means the people of kapchorwa have come up to live with their raiders and to support their families, the district is still poverty stricken and parents reach an extent of selling their children in order to help them find a better way of living from the hunger stricken homes.

Support services and public services

Kapchorwa district has support services such as banks; however, mobile money might be the dominant money agent in the whole district. The banks in kapchorwa town include, stanbic bank, equity banks among others. The district has a number of primary schools, and secondary schools some of which are government owned and others privately owned. The whole district has, about, 111 primary schools, of which, 38 are government owned, and others are community owned, or privately owned. There are some secondary schools, about 22 schools and 1 tertiary institute, plus a teacher’s training center. Health wise, kapchorwa has some first aid places and dispensaries where you can go in case of any health emergency. Kapchorwa district has about 13 government owned dispensaries, 2 private owned dispensaries and 3 clinics.

Transport of kapchorwa district

Being a rural area and one of the remotest parts of the country, Uganda, the road network in kapchorwa district is so wacked with marrum roads, foot trails connecting villages among other. There is only one better road in kapchorwa district; it is the one which connects mbale district and sironko district to kampchorwa town. However, the east African compensation fund from Kenya, is taking on tarmacking of some roads in sironko district and kapchorwa district among others. Kapchorwa town is much safe and you can freely ride your cycle through the town freely, the night life in kapchorwa town is not all the same like Kampala city night life and Jinja city life, however, there will be some of those small pubs where you can go with your friends and enjoy a few bottles of the local alcohol and the local breweries among others.

Attractions in Kapchorwa district

Kapkway exploration center is one of the attractions in kapchorwa district; this has several trekking trails which go around mountain Elgon. The kapkway exploration center allows everybody to enjoy mountain climbing in Uganda, since it is easy to walk. The trails for hiking include sasa trail, sipi trail and ppiswa trail. If you would love to trek to the peak, it will take you about 5 to 6 days in eastern Uganda, kapchorwa district. The trails are good nature walks experiences in Uganda, the nature walks at kapkway exploration center, allow you so enjoy different species of flora, and incredible fauna of mountain Elgon national park, caves, gorges and beautiful water falls from the springs on mountain Elgon.

Sipi falls is another attraction in kipchorwa district, the sipi falls has a series of water falls; 3 waterfalls series. Sipi falls is located in sipi sub-county of kapchorwa district. A visit to sipi falls offer you the best time to relax with the cool climate around the area and the fresh air of the countryside in eastern Uganda. At Sipi falls, you can enjoy abseiling along the side of the main sipi falls, of about 100m. You can also enjoy climbing on 14 bolted sports routes back to the top of the falls. There is nothing to worry about; there are a number of accommodation facilities around sipi falls such as backpackers and lodges plus incredible campsite, for all who wish to stay in the area for more days. The other activities you can enjoy at sipi falls include, hiking, cycling around the area, photography, and community walks among others.

Teryet is another interesting place to visit in kapchorwa district. Teryet is a beautiful place raised on a higher altitude, surrounded with beautiful rocks, streams and the vegetation which will blow your mind away. Teryet offer you a chance of a clear view of mountain Elgon forests and the other surrounding of sebei regions of eastern Uganda. Teryet is where the river that feeds kapchorwa originates, river Atari.

Accommodation options in kapchorwa district

Mbale hotel,
Sipi river lodge,
Lacam lodge,
Masha hotel,
Noahs ark hotel,
Sipi falls resort,
Crow nest rest camp,
Kapwata guest house,
Rose last chance and
Suam guest house among others.