Uraga (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Uraga is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Guji Zone
, Uraga is bordered on the south by Odo Shakiso
, on the west by the Borena Zone
, on the north by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and on the east by Bore
. The largest town in Uraga is Solomo.
, wheat, barley and haricot beans in that order, with some long cycle sorghum and teff
as well; in some parts ensete
or the false banana is also grown, which offers a degree of security during famines. Coffee
is an important cash crop; over 50 square kilometers are planted with it. On 11 January 2007, the woreda government announced the completion of a construction project, which included building 17 primary schools, 3 human health posts, 3 agricultural training centers, and 113 kilometers of road connecting the rural kebeles with Solomo.
Uraga was one of four woredas that suffered from a wildfire
that was started 10 February 2000 and was not brought under control until 7 April, after it had burned a total of 700 square kilometers.
This woreda was part of the Borena Zone until it, along with four other woredas, were split off in September 2003 to create the Guji Zone.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 235,833, of whom 118,352 are men and 117,481 are women; 6,711 or 2.85% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 11.6%. With an estimated area of 1,550.47 square kilometers, Uraga has an estimated population density of 152.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 170,518, of whom 85,417 were men and 85,101 women; 3,753 or 2.2% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Uraga were the Oromo
(74.5%), the Gedeo
(23.26%), and the Amhara
(1.49%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.75% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 75.16%, 22.89% spoke Gedeo
, and 1.61% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.34% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants were Protestant
, with 43.9% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 23.41% of the population said they practiced traditional beliefs, 9.6% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.99% were Catholic
, and 1.84% were Muslim
.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Part of the Guji Zone
Guji Zone
Guji is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Guji is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Guji is bordered on the south by Borena, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from Bale and on...
, Uraga is bordered on the south by Odo Shakiso
Odo Shakiso
Odo Shakiso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Guji Zone, Odo Shakiso is bordered on the south by the Dawa River which separates it from Arero, on the west by Hagere Mariam, on the northeast by Uraga, on the north by Bore, on the northeast by Adolana Wadera, and...
, on the west by the Borena Zone
Borena Zone
Borena is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Borena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by Guji and on the east by the Somali Region. The...
, on the north by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and on the east by Bore
Bore (woreda)
Bore is a small town in Gujii Zone, Oromia region, Located 385 Km south of Addis Ababa . Bore district is bordered on the south by Annaa Sorraa, on the west by Uraagaa, on the north and the east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region...
. The largest town in Uraga is Solomo.
Overview
The four major crops grown in this woreda are maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, wheat, barley and haricot beans in that order, with some long cycle sorghum and teff
Teff
Eragrostis tef, known as teff, taf , or khak shir , is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa....
as well; in some parts ensete
Ensete
Ensete, or Enset, is a genus of plants, native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is one of the three genera in the banana family, Musaceae.- Domesticated enset in Ethiopia :...
or the false banana is also grown, which offers a degree of security during famines. Coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is an important cash crop; over 50 square kilometers are planted with it. On 11 January 2007, the woreda government announced the completion of a construction project, which included building 17 primary schools, 3 human health posts, 3 agricultural training centers, and 113 kilometers of road connecting the rural kebeles with Solomo.
Uraga was one of four woredas that suffered from a wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
that was started 10 February 2000 and was not brought under control until 7 April, after it had burned a total of 700 square kilometers.
This woreda was part of the Borena Zone until it, along with four other woredas, were split off in September 2003 to create the Guji Zone.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 235,833, of whom 118,352 are men and 117,481 are women; 6,711 or 2.85% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 11.6%. With an estimated area of 1,550.47 square kilometers, Uraga has an estimated population density of 152.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 170,518, of whom 85,417 were men and 85,101 women; 3,753 or 2.2% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Uraga were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(74.5%), the Gedeo
Gedeo people
The Gedeo are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. The Gedeo Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region is named for this people...
(23.26%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(1.49%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.75% of the population. Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
was spoken as a first language by 75.16%, 22.89% spoke Gedeo
Gedeo language
Gedeo is the name of a Highland East Cushitic language of the Afro-Asiatic family spoken in south central Ethiopia. Alternate names for the language include Derasa, Deresa, Darassa, Geddeo, Derasanya, Darasa. It is spoken by the Gedeo people, who live in the highland area, southwest of Dila and...
, and 1.61% spoke Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 0.34% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants were Protestant
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, with 43.9% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 23.41% of the population said they practiced traditional beliefs, 9.6% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 7.99% were Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
, and 1.84% were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.