# Gulu City

> city in Uganda

**Wikidata**: [Q581379](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q581379)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulu)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gulu

## Summary
Gulu City is a large human settlement and the capital of Gulu District, located in the Northern Region of Uganda. Serving as a major urban center in the country, it had a population of 233,271 as recorded by the 2024 census. The city is distinguished by its significant infrastructure, including Gulu Airport, St. Joseph's Cathedral, and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Defined as a large human settlement and a city.
- **Location**: Situated in Gulu District within the Northern Region of Uganda.
- **Administrative Role**: Serves as the capital of Gulu District.
- **Coordinates**: Located at 2.7666666666667 latitude and 32.305555555556 longitude.
- **Elevation**: Lies 1,100 meters above sea level.
- **Timezone**: Observes UTC+03:00.
- **Population (2024)**: 233,271 (per the 2024 census).
- **Population (2014)**: 150,306 (per the 2014 census).
- **Population (2002)**: 119,430 (per the 2002 census).
- **Population (1991)**: 38,297 (per the 1991 census).
- **Population (1980)**: 14,958 (per the 1980 census).
- **Population (1969)**: 17,817 (per the 1969 census).
- **Population (2020 Estimate)**: 177,400.
- **Transportation**: Served by Gulu Airport.
- **Religious Institutions**: Home to St. Joseph's Cathedral (inception 1941) and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu (inception 1923).
- **Healthcare**: Hosts St. Mary's Hospital Lacor (inception 1959).
- **Official Website**: http://www.gulu.go.ug/.
- **Aliases**: Known as グルー in Japanese.

## FAQs
**Where is Gulu City located?**
Gulu City is located in the Northern Region of Uganda and serves as the capital of Gulu District. It is geographically positioned at coordinates 2.7666666666667, 32.305555555556.

**What is the population trend of Gulu City?**
The city has experienced substantial growth, with a population of 17,817 in 1969 rising to 233,271 according to the 2024 census. An estimation in 2020 placed the population at 177,400.

**What major institutions are located in Gulu City?**
The city hosts significant institutions including St. Joseph's Cathedral, established in 1941, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, established in 1923. It is also the site of St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, which was founded in 1959.

**How is Gulu City connected?**
Gulu City is served by Gulu Airport and maintains an official web presence at gulu.go.ug. It operates in the UTC+03:00 timezone.

**What distinguishes Gulu City geographically?**
The city sits at an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level. It is classified as a large human settlement and is distinct from the entity Gouloux.

## Why It Matters
Gulu City functions as the administrative and economic heartbeat of Gulu District in northern Uganda. Its rapid population growth, expanding from roughly 15,000 inhabitants in 1980 to over 233,000 in 2024, underscores its role as a vital destination for internal migration and urbanization. The city's infrastructure supports the broader region through critical facilities such as Gulu Airport for transport and St. Mary's Hospital Lacor for healthcare. Additionally, its long-standing religious institutions, including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese established in 1923, highlight its historical and cultural significance in the area.

## Notable For
- Being the capital of the Gulu District.
- Recording a population of 233,271 in the 2024 National Population and Housing Census.
- Hosting the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, which was established in 1923.
- Containing St. Joseph's Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in 1941.
- Serving as the location for St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, a hospital operational since 1959.
- Being served by Gulu Airport.
- Having an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Gulu City is classified as a large human settlement and serves as the capital of Gulu District. It is situated within the Northern Region of Uganda, a country that gained independence in 1962. The city's geographic coordinates are 2.7666666666667 latitude and 32.305555555556 longitude, with an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level. It operates within the UTC+03:00 timezone. The city is distinct from the entity known as Gouloux.

### Demographics
The population of Gulu City has shown a consistent upward trend over the decades according to census data and estimates:
*   **1969**: 17,817
*   **1980**: 14,958
*   **1991**: 38,297
*   **2002**: 119,430
*   **2014**: 150,306
*   **2020 (Estimation)**: 177,400
*   **2024**: 233,271

The 2024 figure represents the most recent official count, detailing a total of 233,271 residents.

### Infrastructure and Transport
Transportation into and out of the city is facilitated by Gulu Airport, which is identified by the GeoNames ID 233346 and OpenWeatherMap city ID 233346. The city maintains an official website at http://www.gulu.go.ug/, which has been archived historically.

### Religious and Healthcare Institutions
Gulu City is a center for significant religious and medical infrastructure:
*   **St. Joseph's Cathedral, Gulu**: A Roman Catholic Cathedral established in 1941.
*   **Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu**: A Catholic archdiocese established in 1923, with its headquarters located in the city.
*   **St. Mary's Hospital Lacor**: A hospital that began operations in 1959.

### Digital and Archival Identifiers
Gulu City is cataloged in numerous global databases and information systems. It holds a VIAF ID of 150283245 and a Freebase ID of /m/079z6d. The city is listed in the GeoNames database under ID 233346 and has a GNS unique feature ID of -1727955. MusicBrainz recognizes the area under the ID 560dc8b2-cd1d-46e7-b548-db032bfccba0, while the BBC Things ID is e8301f89-22eb-44cd-bc6a-e83f31ba484d. Other identifiers include the Yale LUX ID (place/1b92d5d3-8931-4e2d-b114-a2a370906139), Who's On First ID (421174765), and the Library of Congress authority ID (n99802761). The city also has a presence on Wikimedia projects, with a Wikipedia title of "Gulu" and a Commons category and gallery named "Gulu". The WordNet 3.1 synset ID is 09066569-n.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/cities/?cityid=1758)
6. [Source](https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2024-Final-Report-Volume-1-Main.pdf)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. GeoNames
9. BBC Things