[3] The town of Moroto is 213 kilometres (132 mi), by road, northeast of Mbale, the nearest large city.

[4] It lies about 434 kilometres (270 mi) northeast of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.

Moroto District is "characterized by rocky mountainous landscape with moderately low rainfall".

Of these, Moroto has gold, silver, copper, iron, titanium, manganese, niobium, tantalite, and chrome.

Other proven minerals include marble, mica, garnets, limestone, and asbestos.