In 2019, the Ugandan Cabinet approved part of Mbarara District, the then-Mbarara municipality, to be upgraded to city status effective July 2020.

[1] The district headquarters at Mbarara, the largest city in the sub-region, are located approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi), by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

The area covered by the above districts constituted the traditional Ankole Kingdom.

Mbarara District covers a land area of 1,778.4 square kilometres (686.6 sq mi), with an average elevation of about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level.

Crops grown include: The livestock raised in the district includes: The main tourist attractions in Mbarara District include the following: Lake Mburo National Park Lake Mburo National Park is located about 30 km east of Mbarara Town.

[4] The park size is approximately 370 km2[5] and was named after Lake Mburo which occupies about 20% of its total area.

[5] The park is home to zebras, impalas, elands, leopards, hippos, hyenas, Defassa waterbucks, buffaloes and about 350 bird species.

[6] The lake's water body, sandy beaches and expansive open grounds make it an attractive spot to tourists.

The district has attained a penta vaccine coverage of 86.4%, 66% deliveries of pregnant mothers in health units, a 1.3% out-patient department (OPD) per capita utilization, and a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service coverage of 85% with a prevalence rate of 7%, sanitation coverage of 97% and reduction in sanitation related diseases occurrence by 40%.