tororo

Tororo was garrisoned by the Uganda Army's Air and Sea Battalion during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–79). On 2 March 1979, rebels loyal to Milton Obote attacked the town, whereupon part of the garrison defected while the rest was routed. Tororo was recaptured by the Uganda Army in a counterattack two days later;{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=62}}{{cite news| last = Darnton| first = John| title = Amin's Rule in Uganda Imperiled As Tanzanian Force Nears Capital| newspaper = New York Times| date = 5 March 1979| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/05/archives/amins-rule-in-uganda-imperiled-as-tanzanian-force-nears-capital.html |access-date=22 December 2018 }} many local civilians were displaced by the fighting.{{cite news| last = McManus| first = James| title = Amin's mutinous troops create a second front| newspaper = The Guardian| date = 3 March 1979| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20713029/mars_3_1979_p_1/ |access-date=22 December 2018 }} A few weeks later, however, Ugandan President Idi Amin's rule throughout Uganda collapsed and the garrison of Tororo reportedly mutinied yet again.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=36}} In late April 1979, the Tanzania People's Defence Force's (TPDF) 19th Battalion, 208th Brigade, moved into Tororo. They encountered no resistance. The town was largely deserted and completely looted. Journalists Tony Avirgan and Martha Honey stated that the local UA garrison had fled the city,{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=162}} whereas Tom Cooper and Adrien Fontanellaz claimed that the mutinous troops helped the anti-Amin forces to secure the town.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=36}}

Tororo was captured by the National Resistance Army from the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) in early February 1986 during the Ugandan Bush War. The UNLA counter-attacked in an attempt to retake Tororo and turn the tide in the war, but was repelled.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=51}}

The town is approximately {{convert|10|km|mi}} west of the town of Malaba at the border between Uganda and Kenya. This is approximately {{convert|209|km|0}}, by road, east of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.{{google maps|

url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Post+Office+Building,+Plot+35+Kampala+Rd,+Kampala+P.O.Box+7106,+Kampala/Tororo+Post+Office,+Malakisi+Rd,+Tororo/@0.5024176,32.2612412,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x177dbc80f4d7275f:0xf2b9a78f6de4baa2!2m2!1d32.5811944!2d0.3136791!1m5!1m1!1s0x177f6b645862baa3:0x5d7eb9a94f579bd3!2m2!1d34.1843294!2d0.6909712!3e0 |title=Distance between Post Office Building, Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda and Tororo Post Office, Tororo, Uganda |access-date=1 January 2021}} The geographical coordinates of the town are 0°41'34.0"N, 34°10'54.0"E (Latitude:0.692780; Longitude:34.181655).{{google maps |title=Location of Tororo, Tororo District, Uganda |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/0%C2%B041'34.0%22N+34%C2%B010'54.0%22E/@0.69278,34.181655,3207m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 |access-date=26 February 2018}} Tororo town lies at an average elevation of {{convert|1278|m|0}} above sea level.{{cite web|title=Tororo, Uganda Page |website=Falling Rain Software |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/UG/76/Tororo.html |date=15 July 2019 |access-date=15 July 2019}}

File:Sunset time in tororo.jpg

Tororo has a tropical monsoon climate with a short dry season.{{Cite web|url=https://weatherspark.com/history/29329/2013/Tororo-Eastern-Region-Uganda |title=Average Weather in Tororo, Uganda |website=Weather Spark |access-date=2017-07-06}} The average annual temperature is {{convert|22.4|C|F}} (average high {{convert|28.7|C|F}} and average low {{convert|16.2|C|F}}). Average annual precipitation is {{convert|1494|mm|in}}.{{Cite web |url=http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=ugzz0007&lang=en|title=Climate Tororo - Uganda |website=climatedata.eu |language=en|access-date=2017-07-06}} Tororo has many thunderstorms and may be the place where thunder occurs on more days than any other place on Earth.{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/480476/Top-10-facts-about-thunder |title=Top 10 facts about thunder |work=Daily Express |date=6 June 2014 |access-date=23 November 2016}} From September to December there is rain most days in the late afternoon. The drier and hotter season starts in December.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Tororo (1961–1990)

| Jan high C = 30.6

| Feb high C = 30.7

| Mar high C = 30.3

| Apr high C = 28.9

| May high C = 28.3

| Jun high C = 27.9

| Jul high C = 27.5

| Aug high C = 28.0

| Sep high C = 28.8

| Oct high C = 29.2

| Nov high C = 28.8

| Dec high C = 29.9

| Jan low C = 15.8

| Feb low C = 16.5

| Mar low C = 16.8

| Apr low C = 17.1

| May low C = 16.7

| Jun low C = 16.0

| Jul low C = 15.8

| Aug low C = 15.6

| Sep low C = 15.6

| Oct low C = 16.0

| Nov low C = 16.0

| Dec low C = 15.6

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 59.0

| Feb rain mm = 77.0

| Mar rain mm = 139.0

| Apr rain mm = 223.0

| May rain mm = 214.0

| Jun rain mm = 110.0

| Jul rain mm = 91.0

| Aug rain mm = 114.0

| Sep rain mm = 115.0

| Oct rain mm = 134.0

| Nov rain mm = 123.0

| Dec rain mm = 74.0

| unit rain days = 1.0 mm

| Jan rain days = 5.8

| Feb rain days = 8.0

| Mar rain days = 11.4

| Apr rain days = 15.8

| May rain days = 17.2

| Jun rain days = 10.9

| Jul rain days = 9.2

| Aug rain days = 10.9

| Sep rain days = 10.8

| Oct rain days = 13.5

| Nov rain days = 12.5

| Dec rain days = 7.2

| source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

|url = https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1941

|title = World Weather Information Service

|publisher = World Meteorological Organization

|access-date = 18 August 2024}}

}}

In 2002, the national census put the population of the town of Tororo at 34,810. In 2010, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated the population at 42,500. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population at 43,700.{{cite web |url=http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |title=Population of Tororo Municipal Council In 2002, 2010 And 2011 |work=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |date=June 2011 |author=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |access-date=1 August 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda |format=Archived from the original on 7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707231502/http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/TP52010.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} The 2014 national population census put the population at 41,906.{{Cite web | url=http://citypopulation.de/Uganda-Cities.html |title=The Population of The Regions of the Republic of Uganda And All Cities And Towns of More Than 15,000 Inhabitants |date=27 August 2014 |publisher=Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) |access-date=26 February 2015}}

In 2015, the population of the town was projected at 43,100. In 2020, the mid-year population of Tororo Town was projected at 48,500. It was calculated that the population of this municipality grew at an average annual rate of 2.5 percent, between 2015 and 2020.{{cite web| url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/eastern/admin/039__tororo/ |title=The population development in Tororo as well as related information and services |work=Citypopulation.de | date=14 June 2020 |author=Citypopulation.de |access-date=1 August 2022 |format=Citypopulation.de Quoting Uganda Bureau of Statistics}}

{{Historical populations| 2002|34,800|2010|42,500|2011|43,700|2014|41,906|2015|42,800|2020|48,500|||align=none|footnote=source:}}

Tororo is home to three cement factories thus making Tororo the biggest producer of cement in the country. Tororo Cement Limited is the largest cement producer with 3 million tons produced annually. Tororo cement also produces nails, iron sheets, wire mesh among others.{{cite web| work=Tororocement.com |date=1 August 2022 |url=https://www.tororocement.com/company-profile/ |

title=Company Profile of Tororo Cement Limited |access-date=1 August 2022 |author=Tororo Cement Limited |location=Tororo, Uganda}}{{cite web| work=Daily Monitor | url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Cement-prices-shoot-up-amidst-scarcity/688334-4314252-q95be6/index.html |title=Cement prices shoot up amidst scarcity |date=21 February 2018 |

author=Eronie Kamukama |access-date=1 August 2022 |

location=Kampala, Uganda}}

Larfage has also established their Hima Cement factory in Tororo producing a variety of cement brands.{{cite web | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/tororo-rises-from-the-dust-as-new-cement-factories-open-1754966 |title=Tororo rises from the dust as new cement factories open |date=7 May 2018 |work=Daily Monitor |author=Daily Monitor |access-date=1 August 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}

Tororo has National cement company Uganda Limited (Simba brand), inaugurated in August 2018 and producing 2000 metric tonnes daily.{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/575407 | title=Cement shortage pushes retail price to sh25,000 | publisher=New Vision | date=11 July 2007 | first=Peter | last=Kaujju | access-date=26 July 2015}}

It is also home to SEBA Foods, a food factory that was officially opened by the president of Uganda on 25 June 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/723797 | title=Power cuts to go - Museveni | date=24 June 2010 | publisher=New Vision | first=Henry Mukasa and Moses Nampala | last=Ibrahim Kasita | access-date=26 July 2015}}

Electromaxx Limited constructed a 20 megawatt thermal plant, Tororo Power Station, which was commissioned in June 2010.

Tororo is also the location of Nilefos Minerals Limited, a subsidiary of the Madhvani Group of companies. Nilefos mines and processes phosphates for use in fertilizer and related industries.{{cite web | title=Madhvani to invest $535m in Tororo phosphates mining | publisher=New Vision | date=12 May 2008 | access-date=26 July 2015 | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/627449 | first=Kiganda | last=Ssonko}}File:Aherezaowen1.jpg

File:Uganda railways assessment 2010-14.jpg.]]

Tororo marks the junction of railway lines to Pakwach, via Soroti, and to Kasese, via Kampala. Since 1993, the metre gauge line from Tororo Junction to Gulu and Pakwach has been out of use.

Rift Valley Railways funded the clearing of the line east to Gulu of vegetation and repairing track and bridges, thus allowing the first commercial train for 20 years to run through on the metre gauge track from the Kenyan port of Mombasa through Nairobi and Eldoret to the Kenyan frontier in Tororo and onwards to Gulu on the line to Pakwach on 14 September 2013.{{cite web | access-date=26 July 2015 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/africa/single-view/view/ugandas-northern-line-reopens.html | title=Uganda's Northern Line revived | author=Staff Writers | date=9 October 2013 | publisher=Railway Gazette International}}

The following additional points of interest lie within the town limits or near its edges:

1. The tourist attraction of the town is the dominating rock outcrop that overlooks the town known as Tororo Rock. It is a hike that takes around an hour to the top. There used to be a cable car that took people to the top but this was closed down after a couple of people died in an accident. There is a fee for a tour guide at the bottom of the rock, just off the golf course.

2. There is a golf course in town with a clubhouse with a pool

3. Offices of Tororo Town Council

4. The Tororo central market was knocked down in September 2017, to make way for a new indoor shopping centre that was predicted to be finished in 2020. This has led to a new market starting nearby in Water Village.

5. Tororo General Hospital, a 200-bed public hospital administered by the Uganda Ministry of Health.

6. Uganda Martyrs' Cathedral, the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo

7. St. Anthony's Hospital (Uganda), a 150-bed mission hospital affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tororo

8. Christ the King Priory, a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien

9. Tororo–Mbale–Soroti Road{{cite web | date=25 July 2012 | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/633376-delayed-tororo-mbale-soroti-road-to-cost-more-money.html | access-date=29 August 2015| title=Delayed Tororo-Mbale-Soroti road to cost more money | first=Henry | last=Sekanjako | location=Kampala | newspaper=New Vision}} begins here and continues in a northwesterly direction, to end {{convert|158|km|0}} away at Soroti.

10. Tororo Airport, a public airport administered by the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda

11. Tororo Solar Power Station

12. Busitema University, one of the public universities in Uganda, located {{convert|28|km|0}}, by road, southwest of the central business district of Tororo town.

13. A mobile branch of PostBank Uganda

14. Branch of the National Social Security Fund.

• [http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7_ky1r2x7lY/Rgd21TTHh5I/AAAAAAAAAAs/J1IsZWeM5KM/s320/PICT1643.JPG Photo of Tororo Rock 2]
• [http://www.mccrow.org.uk/EastAfrica/Uganda/Tororo/TororoCementJG.jpg Photo of Tororo Cement Works]
• [http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6Qx-YWSTpGw/SFkyuz1eZbI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/piO6LvHqBI8/DSCN0330.jpg Photo of Rock Garden Hotel, Tororo]
• [http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/utp/images/tororo02.jpg Photo of Downtown Tororo]

File:Uganda Tororo Rock.jpg|Tororo Rock Photo

• Railway stations in Uganda
• Transport in Uganda
• Uganda Salvation Front
• List of cities and towns in Uganda

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book| last1 = Avirgan| first1 = Tony| last2 = Honey| first2 = Martha| title = War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin| location= Dar es Salaam|publisher = Tanzania Publishing House| date = 1983| isbn = 978-9976-1-0056-3}}
• {{cite book |last1 = Cooper |first1 = Tom |last2 = Fontanellaz |first2 = Adrien |title= Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994 |date= 2015 |publisher= Helion & Company Limited |location= Solihull |isbn= 978-1-910294-55-0 }}

{{commons category|Tororo, Uganda}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|00|41|34|N| 34|10|52|E|region:UG_type:city|display=title}}

{{Tororo District}}

Category:Tororo District

Category:Populated places in Eastern Region, Uganda