Uganda

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. 

land

197,100 sq km

total

241,038 sq km

water

43,938 sq km

slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

0 km (landlocked)

highest point

Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

lowest point

Albert Nile 614 m

1 00 N, 32 00 E

landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

105 sq km (2013)

border countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km

total

2,729 km

agricultural land

71.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.)

forest

14.5% (2018 est.)

other

14.3% (2018 est.)

East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Africa

none (landlocked)

droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms

copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold

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

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

0-14 years

47% (male 11,747,745/female 11,427,932)

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)

beer

0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

39.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

men married by age 18

5.5% (2016 est.)

women married by age 15

7.3%

women married by age 18

34%

7.6% (2019/20)

50.2% (2021)

4% of GDP (2020)

58.3% (2023 est.)

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world; its total fertility rate is among the world’s highest at close to 5.5 children per woman in 2022. Except in urban areas, actual fertility exceeds women’s desired fertility by one or two children, which is indicative of the widespread unmet need for contraception, lack of government support for family planning, and a cultural preference for large families. High numbers of births, short birth intervals, and the early age of childbearing contribute to Uganda’s high maternal mortality rate. Gender inequities also make fertility reduction difficult; women on average are less-educated, participate less in paid employment, and often have little say in decisions over childbearing and their own reproductive health. However, even if the birth rate were significantly reduced, Uganda’s large pool of women entering reproductive age ensures rapid population growth for decades to come. Unchecked, population increase will further strain the availability of arable land and natural resources and overwhelm the country’s limited means for providing food, employment, education, health care, housing, and basic services. The country’s north and northeast lag even further behind developmentally than the rest of the country as a result of long-term conflict (the Ugandan Bush War 1981-1986 and more than 20 years of fighting between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan Government forces), ongoing inter-communal violence, and periodic natural disasters. Uganda has been both a source of refugees and migrants and a host country for refugees. In 1972, then President Idi AMIN, in his drive to return Uganda to Ugandans, expelled the South Asian population that composed a large share of the country’s business people and bankers. Since the 1970s, thousands of Ugandans have emigrated, mainly to southern Africa or the West, for security reasons, to escape poverty, to search for jobs, and for access to natural resources. The emigration of Ugandan doctors and nurses due to low wages is a particular concern given the country’s shortage of skilled health care workers. Africans escaping conflicts in neighboring states have found refuge in Uganda since the 1950s; the country currently struggles to host tens of thousands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and other nearby countries.

elderly dependency ratio

3.2

potential support ratio

31.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

88.2

youth dependency ratio

85.1

improved: rural

rural: 80% of population

improved: total

total: 83.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 92.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 20% of population

unimproved: total

total: 16.9% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 7.5% of population

2.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

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.)

2.55 (2024 est.)

0.5 beds/1,000 population

female

25.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

31.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

28.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

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

female

72 years

male

67.5 years

total population

69.7 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

74.3% (2021)

male

84%

total population

79%

3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)

284 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

17.1 years

male

15.5 years

total

16.2 years (2024 est.)

19.4 years (2016 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

5.3% (2016)

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

25,242,481 (2024 est.)

male

24,040,560

total

49,283,041

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

3.18% (2024 est.)

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.)

improved: rural

rural: 27.5% of population

improved: total

total: 37.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 67.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 72.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 62.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 32.7% of population

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

3.7% (2020 est.)

male

13% (2020 est.)

total

8.4% (2020 est.)

5.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the site of the original British settlement was referred to by its native name as Akasozi ke'Empala ("hill of the impala" [plural]); over time this designation was shortened to K'empala and finally Kampala

geographic coordinates

0 19 N, 32 33 E

name

Kampala

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

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

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2018

history

several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995

conventional long form

Republic of Uganda

conventional short form

Uganda

etymology

from the name "Buganda," adopted by the British as the designation for their East African colony in 1894; Buganda had been a powerful East African state during the 18th and 19th centuries

chief of mission

Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)

email address and website

KampalaWebContact@state.govhttps://ug.usembassy.gov/

embassy

1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala

FAX

[256] (0) 414-259-794

mailing address

2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC  20521-2190

telephone

[256] (0) 312-306-001

chancery

5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)

email address and website

washington@mofa.go.ughttps://washington.mofa.go.ug/

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1727

telephone

[1] (202) 726-7100

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly or persons who qualify to be elected as members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)

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%2016: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 60.6%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 35.6%, other 3.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

head of government

Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)

six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK

presidential republic

9 October 1962 (from the UK)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices)

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

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

description

unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (556 seats; 353 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 146 for women directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote, and 30 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5, older persons 5; 27 ex officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 336, NUP 57, FDC 32, DP 9, UPDF 10, UPC 9, independent 76 (excludes 27 ex-officio members); composition- men 368, women 189, percentage women 33.9%

elections

last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in February 2026)

lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

name

"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"

note

note: adopted 1962

selected World Heritage Site locales

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

grey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red

Democratic Party or DPForum for Democratic Change or FDCJustice Forum or JEEMANational Resistance Movement or NRMNational Unity PlatformPeople's Progressive Party or PPPUganda People's Congress or UPC

18 years of age; universal

plantains, sugarcane, maize, cassava, milk, sweet potatoes, beans, vegetables, rice, coffee (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

0.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

44.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$7.473 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$6.895 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

B+ (2015)

Moody's rating

B2 (2016)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B (2014)

Current account balance 2020

-$3.598 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$3.972 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$4.172 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$9.636 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

3,704.049 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3,718.249 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3,587.052 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3,689.817 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3,726.14 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$5.622 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$6.231 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$6.115 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, coffee, fish, milk, raw sugar (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 31%, India 12%, Hong Kong 9%, Kenya 8%, Italy 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

13.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

9.5% (2023 est.)

household consumption

71.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-23.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

23.8% (2023 est.)

industry

26% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

42.4% (2023 est.)

$49.273 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

42.7 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

34.5% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2020

$10.209 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$10.686 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$11.145 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

vaccines, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars, motorcycles and cycles (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 23%, Kenya 15%, India 13%, UAE 7%, Tanzania 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.2% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.35% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

18.881 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

20.3% (2019 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

53.89% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$123.267 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$128.923 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$135.668 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

3.54% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.59% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.23% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$2,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,800 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2.85% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.74% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.63% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016

$3.098 billion (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017

$3.721 billion (2017 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018

$3.359 billion (2018 est.)

12.55% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.42% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.93% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.83% (2023 est.)

female

5.6% (2023 est.)

male

3.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

4.5% (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

6.19 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

6.19 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

exports

85.4 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

proven reserves

799.999 million metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

3.971 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

336.98 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

23 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.436 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.101 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

35.9%

electrification - total population

47.1% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

72%

biomass and waste

7.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

89.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

2.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

2.248 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

proven reserves

14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

43,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.1 (2020 est.)

total

58,594 (2020 est.)

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 operational FM stations

.ug

percent of population

10% (2021 est.)

total

4.6 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile cellular systems teledensity is 66 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

a series of reforms within Uganda’s telecom sector have provided the country with one of the most competitive markets in the region; in line with the regulator’s licensing requirements by which Uganda-based companies should be broadly owned by Ugandans by mid-2022; fixed-line infrastructure remains poor, with low penetration, and as a result fixed-line broadband penetration is also particularly low; consumers have largely depended on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services; there is sufficient capacity with LTE infrastructure to match data demand during the next few years; Uganda has anticipated the migration to 5G, having held trials in early 2020 though the roll out of 5G is not expected until later in 2022 (2022)

international

country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog and digital links to Kenya and Tanzania

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

117,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

70 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

33.068 million (2022 est.)

39 (2024)

5X

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

21,537 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

26

number of registered air carriers

6 (2020)

narrow gauge

1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

total

1,244 km (2014)

paved

4,257 km

total

20,544 km (excludes local roads)

unpaved

16,287 km (2017)

907 km (2022) (there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile ( 210 km) that flow out of Lake Albert (160 km) in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria (337 km) and Lake Kyoga (199.5) have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores)

the UPDF’s missions include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, and participating in socio-economic development projects; it supports the police in maintaining internal security and participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions; it is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF also has considerable political influence; it is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and his political party to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidatessince the 2010s, the UPDF has participated in several internal and regional military operations in addition to its large commitment to an international peacekeeping force in Somalia; from 2012-2017, it led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016, and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2023; since 2021, it is also conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) against the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which has been designated by the US as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC (see Appendix T); in December 2022, Uganda sent about 1,000 UPDF troops to the DRC as part of a regional force to assist the DRC Government in combating the M23 rebel group; in addition, elements of the UPDF have deployed internally to assist the police against cattle rustlers, poachers, and criminal gangsthe 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 (2024)

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2024)

note

note 1: the Special Forces Command is a separate branch within the UPDF; it evolved from the former Presidential Guard Brigade and has continued to retain presidential protection duties in addition to its traditional missions, such as counterinsurgencynote 2: the Uganda Police Force includes air, field, territorial, and marine units, as well as a presidential guard forcenote 3: in 2018, President MUSEVENI created a volunteer force of Local Defense Units under the military to beef up local security in designated parts of the country

approximately 45-50,000 active-duty troops (2023)

as many as 6,000 Somalia (625 for UNSOM; the remainder under ATMIS; note - foreign troop contingents in Somalia under ATMIS are drawing down towards a final withdrawal in December 2024) (2024)

the UPDF's inventory is mix of older and some more modern weapons and equipment; it is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-era arms with smaller quantities of Chinese, Israeli, North Korean, South African, UK, US, and 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 (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 18-30 for those with degrees/diplomas in specialized fields such as medicine, engineering, chemistry, and education, or possess qualifications in some vocational skills; 9-year service obligation (2024)

refugees (country of origin)

34,368 (Eritrea), 23,388 (Rwanda), 8,936 (Ethiopia), 5,776 (Sudan) (2023); 931,666 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 512,445 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 40,326 (Somalia), 40,326 (Burundi) (2024)

stateless persons

67,000 (2022)

al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

5.68 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

30.24 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

31.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

severe localized food insecurity

due to weather extremes, civil insecurity, and high food prices - the latest analysis, conducted in the northeastern agro-pastoral Karamoja region, estimates that about 582,000 million people are facing acute food insecurity between April and August 2023; these conditions reflect the adverse impact of weather shocks, crop and livestock diseases, civil insecurity and high food prices; the significant deterioration of the food security situation during the last 12 months in Karamoja Region is mainly due to protracted insecurity that has caused livelihood losses and consecutive poor local harvests; in 2023, the national average price of maize increased by 20% between January and May 2023, with seasonal patterns compounded by a fast depletion of stocks due to a drought‑reduced production in 2022 (2023)

agricultural land

71.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.)

forest

14.5% (2018 est.)

other

14.3% (2018 est.)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

7.32% of GDP (2018 est.)

60.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

260 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

330 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

7,045,050 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

422,703 tons (2017 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

6% (2017 est.)