Paidha is a town in Zombo District, in theWestNile sub- region in Northern Region of Uganda. It is an administrative and commercial centre near the international border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC). The town serves surrounding agricultural communities and participates in cross- border trade between Uganda and the DRC.
History
On 13 February 1965, Paidha and Goli were bombed by the Congolese Air Force in retaliation for the support of the Ugandan government for Simba rebels. The attack caused minimal damage. Paidha is also known for Got Aminzi, and also the best town in Uganda where Rubutsa coffee are grow.
Geography
Paidha is in Zombo District, West Nile sub-region. The town is near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is approximately 95 kilometres (59mi), by road, south of Arua, the largest city in the sub-region. This is approximately 196 kilometres (122mi), by road, southwest of Gulu, the largest city in the Northern Region of Uganda. Zombo, the town where the district headquarters are located, is approximately 16 kilometres (9.9mi), by road, northwest of Paidha. The coordinates of Paidha are 2°25'00.0"N, 30°59'15.0"E (Latitude:2.416667; Longitude:30.987500).
Economy
Cross- border trade
Paidha is an important commercial Centre in the Uganda-DRC border area. Trade connects the town with markets in neighboring Congolese communities and other parts of the West Nile sub- region.A survey conducted by the Bank of Uganda and Uganda Bureau of Statistics in 2013 identified Paidha as one of Uganda's significant locations for inform cross- border trade with the DRC. In that survey, Paidha accounted for 6.6% of the recorded informal exports and 22.6% of the recorded informal imports among the border locations covered by the report.
Agriculture
Agriculture is important to the livelihoods of communities in and around Paidha.Farmers in Zombo District produce food crops for household consumption and sales in local markets. Paidha's commercial activities connect agricultural producers with traders and consumers.The town also serves as a market for goods and services used by households and businesses in surrounding rural areas.
Overview
Paidha is a busy border town in northwest Uganda at its border with the DRC. In 2013, it was the second-busiest border crossing between Uganda and the DRC, based on the volume of informal exports and imports.
Uganda border towns' market share of crossborder informal trade with the DRC in 2013
The 2002 national census estimated the population of Paidha at 24,079 and in 2010 the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, estimated the population of the town at 29,700. In 2011, UBOS estimated the mid-year population of Paidha at 30,500. In 2014, the population census put the population of the town at 33,426.
In 2015, the population of the town was projected at 32,300. In 2020, Paidha's mid-year population was projected at 37,500. It was calculated that the population of the town increased at an average annual rate of 3.0 percent, between 2015 and 2020.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
2002
24,079
—
2010
20,100
−16.5%
2011
20,900
+4.0%
2014
33,426
+59.9%
2015
32,300
−3.4%
2020
37,500
+16.1%
source:
Points of interest
The following additional points of interest lie within the town limits or close to the edges of town:
The offices of Paidha Town Council
The international border between Uganda and the DRC is at Goli, about 8 kilometres (5mi) southeast of Paidha
Uganda
