Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its chief town, Butebo, where the district headquarters are located.

[3] The location of the district headquarters at Butebo are located approximately 51 kilometres (32 mi), by road, northwest of the city of Mbale, the largest city in Eastern Uganda.

[4] Following requests for district status by the residents,[1] President Yoweri Museveni, in 2010, instructed his Minister of Local Government at the time, Adolf Mwesige, table a law in the Ugandan parliament to that effect.

[5] The law was tabled in parliament in August 2015, with the district to become operational on 1 July 2017.

[7] In 2008, the population of Butebo District was estimated at 120,000 people.