Uchqurgan District

Location and history

Uchqurgan District was formed on 28 July 1935 and was merged with Norin District in 1988–1989. It belonged to Fergana Region until 1940 and to Namangan Region from 1941, and was part of Andijan Region in 1960–1967. It borders Kyrgyzstan to the east, Norin District to the south, Uychi to the west and Andijan Region's Izboskan District to the south-east. It covers 290–300 km², and its centre is Uchqurgan, a city of regional subordination since 1974.

The name means 'three fortresses'. The district lies on a plain at around 500 metres, with the Naryn river along its north-western edge, and has a sharply continental climate.

What it is known for

Uchqurgan is where several of the valley's key irrigation systems meet, its fields watered by the Great Fergana, Great Andijan, Haqqulobod, Damariq and other canals. It has more than 60 mahallas and had 191,800 residents at the start of 2026. The district also has a strong tradition of epic storytelling: as early as the 1920s the dastan 'Yozi and Zebo' was recorded from Uchqurgan bards.