It is the main municipal, commercial, and administrative center of Kapchorwa District.

The town of Kapchorwa is located in the Sebei sub-region, approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi), by road, northeast of Mbale, the largest city in the Eastern Region.

[1] This is approximately 310 kilometres (190 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

[2] It is also approximately 77km from the Suam Kenya-Uganda Border to the east.The coordinates of the town are 1°24'00.0"N 34°27'00.0"E (latitude:1.4000; longitude: 34.4500).

[4] The following points of interest lie within the town limits or close to the edges of the town: Kapchorwa is a home to some very successful running athletes in the past decade, including gold olympic and world championship medalists, like Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and Stephen Kiprotich still living and training there.