Moroto District is located in mid north-eastern Uganda at an altitude ranging between 1,356 and 1,524 metres above sea level. Geographically, it lies between latitudes 1°53’ and 3°05’ North and longitudes 33°38’ and 34°56’ East. The district shares borders with Kaabong District to the north, Kotido to the north-east, Napak to the west, Nakapiripirit to the north-west, Amudat to the south, and along its entire eastern boundary, the Republic of Kenya. The district headquarters are situated along Independence Avenue in Moroto Municipality.

Moroto District covers a total area of approximately 3,537.7 square kilometres. Of this, about 3,500 square kilometres are available for cultivation after accounting for land occupied by game reserves and mountainous areas. Historically, Moroto was part of the former Karamoja Province until 1971, when it became a district. Further administrative changes occurred in July 2001 with the creation of Nakapiripirit District from Moroto.

The district is predominantly inhabited by two major ethnic groups: the Karimojong, who mainly occupy the rangelands, and the Tepeth, who live in the mountainous areas of Moroto and Napak. Although these groups differ in language and cultural practices, they share similar socio-economic livelihoods. The majority of the population practices agro-pastoralism, combining subsistence crop production with semi-nomadic livestock rearing as their main means of survival.