It is named after its 'chief town', Kotido, where the district headquarters are located.

[2] This location lies approximately 430 kilometres (270 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country.

The district is part of the Karamoja sub-region, home to an estimated 1.2 million Karimojong, according to the 2002 national census.

The annual population growth rate in Kotido District, between 2002 and 2012, has been calculated at 6.39%.

[4] Nomadic pastoralism is the main economic activity in the district.