Mbale and Sironko Districts formerly constituted Bugisu District at Independence in 1962. In 1980, Bugisu district was renamed Mbale. The main language is Lumasaba.
LOCATION
It boarders the Districts of Sironko in the North, Tororo in the south west, Kumi in the north west, Pallisa in the west and the republic of Kenya I the east.
POPULATION
The district has over 720,925 people, 363,856 are female and 357,069 are
Male.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
There is Agriculture with main emphasis on food crops such as millet, potatoes, beans, Simsim and sunflower. Cash crops cotton and coffee, Vegetables such as Tomatoes, Onions and cabbage.
BANKS;
Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd, Centenary Bank, Bank of Baroda and Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Ltd.
EDUCATION SERVICES
The district has a total of 351 primary schools with 303 government, 23 private and 25 community schools. For secondary schools, the district has over 64 schools, 25 are government, 27 private and 12 community.
HEALTH SERVICES
The district has 12 Government dispensaries (II), 17 health centres (III) at county, 4 health centres (IV) at sub-district with 2 hospitals. More so, it has 4 private/NGO dispensaries, 7 health centres (III) and no hospital. There is Bududa hospital with 104 beds, Regional Referral Hospital Mbale with 332 beds.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The Embalu dances where mass circumcision of the Bamasaba takes places, Mountain Elgon NP is the 4th highest Mt in East Africa, Te foot hills at the base of the Mt are known as Masaba by the local people and are excellent hiking area, The Caves of Mt Elgon are most interesting and easily accessible, The Sipi falls have been described as the most romantic in Africa etc.