BACKGROUND: HISTORY
Arua is one of the 80 districts of the Republic of Uganda. It is one of the 21 districts of the Northern Uganda Region; and one of the 7 districts of the West Nile Sub Region. Arua District was curved out of the then West Nile and Madi District which was founded in 1912 during the colonial period. In 1953 Madi District comprising of the current Moyo and Adjumani districts was granted a district status leaving West Nile as a District. In 1973 West Nile was given a provincial status but reverted back to a District in 1979 with Nebbi being curved into a District of its own. Arua District got its name from Arua town. In 1979 when the Ugandan president at the time Godfrey Binaisa declared that all districts/ provinces acquire their names from their regional capital so that is how Arua district inherited the name from Arua town. In 2001 Yumbe District was curved out of Aringa County of the then Arua. Koboko District was similarly curved out of Koboko County of the then Arua District. In 2006, a District comprising of the counties of Maracha and Terego was curved out of Arua though its political organs are not yet operational due failure to resolve on the location of the district headquarters. Arua District as of now comprises of the counties of Ayivu, Vurra, Madi-Okollo and Arua Municipality.
