Quick answerLira is a city in Uganda, with 245,132 people inside the city limits in 2024. It is best known for the Lango culture, the Lira Main Market and the Akii-Bua Stadium. Its official languages are English and Swahili, and its currency is the Ugandan shilling.
Lira is one of the largest cities in Uganda, with 245,132 people in the 2024 census. It stands in the north of the country and is the commercial centre of the Lango sub-region, trading in sunflower, cotton and grain.
Key facts
| Country | Uganda |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 245,132 (2024) |
| Elevation | 1063 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Kampala |
| Language | English, Swahili |
| Currency | Ugandan shilling (UGX, USh) |
| Coordinates | 2.247° N, 32.9° E |
Overview
Lira is one of the largest cities in Uganda, in the north of the country. It had 245,132 people in the 2024 census and stands at 1,063 metres above sea level, about 340 kilometres north of Kampala.
Lira was founded in 1919 as a trading post and grew as the commercial centre of the Lango sub-region, trading sunflower, cotton, simsim and grain from the surrounding farms. It became a city in 2020, when Uganda created a set of new cities across the country.
Today Lira is one of the main market towns of northern Uganda, with a large main market, a university and the Akii-Bua Stadium, named after John Akii-Bua, Uganda's first Olympic gold medallist. The city is also the seat of the Won Nyaci, the cultural leader of the Lango people.
What Lira is known for
- Lango culture
- Lira Main Market
- Akii-Bua Stadium
- Sunflower and cotton trade
Landmarks
- Lira Main Market
- St. Augustine Church
- Lango Cultural Centre
- Akii-Bua Stadium
- Lira University
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lira?
About 245,000 people live in Lira (245,132 in the 2024 census), making it one of the largest cities in northern Uganda and the main city of the Lango sub-region. Lira became a city in 2020, when Uganda created a set of new cities across the country.
What is Lira famous for?
Lira is famous as the commercial centre of the Lango sub-region in northern Uganda, trading in sunflower, cotton, simsim and grain from the surrounding farms. It is known for its main market, for Lango culture and for the Akii-Bua Stadium, named after the Olympic champion.
Where is Lira located?
Lira is in northern Uganda, about 340 kilometres north of Kampala on the road to Gulu and South Sudan. It stands at 1,063 metres above sea level and is the main town of the Lango people. Its coordinates are 2.25° N, 32.90° E, in the Lango sub-region.
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Keep exploring
- Uganda — the country Lira is in
- Kampala — another city in Uganda
- Jinja — another city in Uganda
- Mbarara — another city in Uganda
- All cities in Uganda
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.