Uganda
Republic of Uganda
Population
50.86M
Area
241,038 km²
GDP
$53.65B
GDP Per Capita
$2,900
Pop. Density
211/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
ShUgandan shilling(UGX)
Calling Code
+256
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Languages
English, Swahili
Driving Side
left
Demonym
Ugandan
Background
An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large, centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. Uganda's colonial boundaries grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country.
Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament removed presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑440.3% since 2006Population
↑73.7% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 68.3 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography20
Location
East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain
mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation
lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
105 sq km (2013)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Population distribution
population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms
Geography - note
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
People & Society35
Population
male: 24,835,513
female: 26,028,337
Nationality
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups
Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.)
Languages
English (official), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic
Religions
Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 11,788,483/female 13,131,051)
65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 504,332/female 683,498)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 15.5 years
female: 17.1 years
Population growth rate
3.13% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 31.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 67.5 years
female: 72 years
Total fertility rate
5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.5 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 7.8% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.8% (2022 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 34% (2016)
men married by age 18: 5.5% (2016)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy
male: 78.5% (2016 est.)
female: 61% (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 10 years (2016 est.)
female: 9 years (2016 est.)
Government23
Country name
conventional short form: Uganda
etymology: the name is derived from the Swahili word u, meaning "land" or "country," and the Ganda people; the origin of the Ganda name is unclear
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala
Administrative divisions
134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4%
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts
Political parties
Forum for Democratic Change or FDC
Justice Forum or JEEMA
National Resistance Movement or NRM
National Unity Platform
People's Progressive Party or PPP
Uganda People's Congress or UPC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
email address and website:
washington@mofa.go.ug
https://washington.mofa.go.ug/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
KampalaWebContact@state.gov
https://ug.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Flag
meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood
National symbol(s)
grey crowned crane
National color(s)
black, yellow, red
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
history: adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)
Economy32
Economic overview
low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy; COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction; lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments; endemic corruption; natural resource rich; high female labor force participation but undervalued
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $135.803 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $128.923 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$53.652 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 24.9% (2024 est.)
services: 43.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)
Industries
sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate
4.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force
22.829 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 3.5% (2024 est.)
female: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
20.3% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 34.5% (2019 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $10.043 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022: -$4.064 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$3.605 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022: $6.116 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $6.231 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022: $11.079 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $10.62 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $3.721 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $3.098 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy7
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 72%
electrification - rural areas: 35.9%
Electricity
consumption: 4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
exports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 19 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 FM stations
Internet country code
.ug
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Transportation3
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5X
Airports
39 (2025)
Railways
narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Military & Security7
Military and security forces
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2019: 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
most of the UPDF's arms are of Russian/Soviet origin with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Israel, and South Africa, as well as some domestically produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)
Military deployments
estimated 3,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military - note
the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country's first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2025)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 22,209 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 10,284 (2024 est.)