The town of Budaka serves as the district headquarters.

The town of Budaka is approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi) west of Mbale, the largest city in the sub-region.

The 2002 national census estimated the population at 136,500, with an annual population growth rate of 2.8 percent.

[4] In 2009, Uganda Clays Limited opened a tile and brick manufacturing plant at Kamonkoli.

The factory employs over 200 people.