Rakai District is located in the South Western region of Uganda, west of Lake Victoria, lying between longitude 310E, 32oE and latitude 0oS. Its southern boundaries are part of the international boundary between Uganda and Tanzania. It is bordered by Masaka District in the East, Kalangala District in the South-East and Mbarara District in the West and Lyantonde in the North. The District Headquarters are at Rakai Town, which is a tarmac road distance of about 190km from Kampala, the national capital. Rakai District has a total area of 4,124 km2.
The geographical location as well as the physical characteristics of Rakai District give it a peripheral status especially the counties of Kooki and Kakuuto. It occasionally leads to influx of refugees together with their animals, which makes the District exposed to the spread of diseases. There are also incidences where population from Tanzania encroach on the services of the District especially water, schools under UPE and health facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the international boundary provides an opportunity for cross border trade as well as comparison of notes and learning that can enhance development.
Rakai District is comprised of three counties – Kooki, Kakuuto and Kyotera; the counties are composed of 18 sub-counties and 3 town councils. The District is the higher local authority, while the 18 sub-counties are the Lower Local Governments (LLGs). The District Council is the highest political authority comprised of 35 members, headed by the Chairman LC V, while the Speaker presides over the Council meetings. The Council has an Executive arm comprised of five members headed by the Chairman LC V.
The Chief Administrative Officer heads the administrative and technical wing of the District. A Technical Planning Committee (TPC), comprised of Heads of Departments and Sections coordinates the activities and functions of the District. The service Departments in the district include: Health, Works and Technical Services, Production and Marketing, Education, Statutory Bodies, Gender and Community Services, Finance, Planning, Internal Audit, Management Support Services and Natural Resources
Table 1: Summary of Administrative and Political Units in Rakai District
Administrative Unit |
Number in District |
Counties (LC. IV) |
3 |
Sub-counties (LC.III Rural) |
18 |
Town Councils (L.C.III Urban) |
3 |
Town Boards |
2 |
Parishes/Wards (LC.II) |
103 |
Villages (LC.I) |
738 |
Source – Planning Unit Rakai District
The District, Town Councils and Sub-Counties are local governments while the rest (counties, parishes and villages) are administrative units. The county, though an administrative unit, provides an effective entry point for supporting the Lower Local Governments (LLGs). The District has strategically allocated Assistant Chief Administrative Officers (ACAOs), Education, Water, and Health Officers at County level where they are supposed to offer hands-on support to the LLGs. Rakai District has 3 town councils i.e. Rakai, Kyotera and Kalisizo which however still face physical planning challenges.
About 96% of the population is rural, a situation which reflects the basically agricultural nature of the district economy. In this rural environment, settlement pattern vary, depending on a number of factors such as climate, vegetation, water supply, terrain, soil fertility, disease agents etc. Kakuuto County is the least densely populated with about 60 people per sq km. The low population in Kakuuto can be attributed in part to the fact that the low-lying areas bordering the Lake (the Sango Bay, which seasonally floods making it un-conducive to permanent settlement, covers much of the County and the acute shortage of water. Kooki and Kyotera are the most densely populated Counties in the District with a density of 102 and 141 people per square kilometres, respectively.
Table 2: Rakai district population trend for the 1980-2002
Period |
Population Size |
1980 |
274,558 |
1991 |
383,501 |
2002 |
404,326 |
Source: 2002 Uganda Population & Housing Census
The population growth rate of 1.8 percent of Rakai district is still high. Such a high population growth rate has a major implication on the demand for social services especially water and places a huge burden on the already limited budget of the Water Sector.