The town of Katakwi is the site of the district headquarters.

[1] The district's 'chief town', Katakwi, is located approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi), by road, north of Soroti, the largest town in the sub-region.

The district is located in the Teso sub-region, home to an estimated 2.5 million people of Iteso and Kumam ethnicities, according to the 2002 national census.

[3] Subsistence agriculture and pastoral animal husbandry are the two main economic activities in Katakwi District.

In recent years, attempts to start commercial agriculture have been initiated.