[1] The administrative headquarters of the district at Oyam, are located approximately 78 kilometres (48 mi), by road, west of Lira, the largest city in the sub-region.

Oyam District was established by the Ugandan Parliament in 2006.

The district population was growing at an annual rate of 3.5%, at that time.

It was estimated that the population of the district in 2012 was approximately 378,900.

[3] Subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry are main economic activities in the district.