The town of Bukwo is its main political, administrative, and commercial center and the site of the district headquarters.

The town of Bukwo is approximately 83 kilometres (52 mi), by road, northeast of Mbale the nearest large city[1] on the slopes of Mount Elgon.

The district has many well-educated people, but many have left to find greater prosperity in the neighbouring country of Kenya.

Most of the people from the northern part of the district have been internally displaced by cattle rustlers and have since not been resettled back in their original land.

Crops grown include the following: Animal husbandry is practiced; the livestock domesticated are mainly cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys, hogs and chicken.