Busia, Uganda


Busia is a town in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of the Busia District, with the district headquarters located there.

Location

Busia is at the border of Kenya, adjacent to the similarly named town of Busia, Kenya. Busia, Uganda is approximately, by road, east of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. This is approximately, by road, south of the town of Tororo, the nearest large town in Uganda.
The coordinates of Busia, Uganda are 0°28'01.0"N, 34°05'24.0"E. Busia, Uganda sits at an average elevation of above sea level.

Population

According to the 2002 national census, the population of Busia was around 36,630. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimated the population at 45,700. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 47,100. In 2014, the national population census put the population at 55,958.

Economy

In 2005, Busia was the busiest border crossing between Uganda and Kenya. In 2011, the border post averaged 894 vehicle crossings every 24 hours. It was expected that in May 2016, the construction of a one-stop-border-crossing between Busia, Uganda and Busia, Kenya will conclude. The construction on the Ugandan side was completed in May 2016, and that on the Kenyan side concluded in July 2017. The entire project cost US$12 million in both countries, funded by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom and Global Affairs Canada. The common upgraded border crossing is expected to be commissioned on Saturday, 24 February 2018, jointly by presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.
The one-stop-border-post at Busia, is the busiest in the East African Community, with Uganda's exports through the post being valued at UShs798 billion in the 2016/2017 financial year, according to a high-ranking official of the Uganda Revenue Authority.