2020 Edition

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. 

Area

land

197,100 sq km

total

241,038 sq km

water

43,938 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

lowest point

Albert Nile 614 m

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

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

Irrigated land

105 sq km (2013)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

agricultural land

71.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)

forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

other

16% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

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

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)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

5.5% (2016)

women married by age 15

7.3% (2016)

women married by age 18

34% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.7% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.8% (2022 est.)

Death rate

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

20.8 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

96.9 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

92.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.5% national budget (2022 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.5 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

25.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

31.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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

Life expectancy at birth

female

72 years

male

67.5 years

total population

69.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

61% (2016 est.)

male

78.5% (2016 est.)

total population

69.1% (2016 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

17.1 years

male

15.5 years

total

16.4 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2016 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

Net migration rate

-2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

26,028,337

male

24,835,513

total

50,863,850 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

3.13% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2016 est.)

male

10 years (2016 est.)

total

9 years (2016 est.)

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

Tobacco use

female

1.5% (2025 est.)

male

7.8% (2025 est.)

total

4.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

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

Capital

etymology

the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala

geographic coordinates

0 19 N, 32 33 E

name

Kampala

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

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

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Uganda

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)

email address and website

KampalaWebContact@state.gov https://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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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.ug https://washington.mofa.go.ug/

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1727

telephone

[1] (202) 726-7100

Executive branch

cabinet

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

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%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)

expected date of next election

2026

head of government

Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)

most recent election date

14 January 2021

Flag

description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is at the center and shows a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

9 October 1962 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

January 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament

most recent election date

1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021

number of seats

529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

National Resistance Movement (NRM) (336); National Unity Platform (NUP) (57); Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) (32); Independents (74); Other (30)

percentage of women in chamber

34.1%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world

lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

title

"O Uganda, Land of Beauty!"

National color(s)

black, yellow, red

National heritage

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

National symbol(s)

grey crowned crane

Political parties

Democratic Party or DP 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$10.043 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$7.616 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$3.605 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$4.064 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$3.766 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$10.469 billion (2023 est.)

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

Exchange rates

Currency

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

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.)

Exchange rates 2024

3,757.263 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$6.231 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$6.116 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$9.084 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)

Exports - partners

India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

16.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption

10% (2024 est.)

household consumption

66.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-24.6% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.5% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

24.7% (2024 est.)

industry

24.9% (2024 est.)

services

43.1% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.652 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

42.7 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

34.5% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4% (2019 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$10.62 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$11.079 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$13.853 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)

Imports - partners

China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

4.9% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Labor force

22.829 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.3% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

53.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$128.923 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$135.803 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$144.137 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

6.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$2,900 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Taxes and other revenues

13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

5.5% (2024 est.)

male

3.5% (2024 est.)

total

4.5% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

19 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

100 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

19 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

1.452 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

35.9%

electrification - total population

47.1% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

72%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

proven reserves

14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total

44,000 (2023 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

percent of population

15% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

116,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

83 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

41.6 million (2024 est.)

Airports

39 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5X

Railways

narrow gauge

1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

total

1,244 km (2014)

Military - note

the responsibilities of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, contributing to regional security, participating in socio-economic development projects, conducting military diplomacy, and ensuring internal security, including against civil unrest, internal insurgency, and terrorism; in recent years it has beefed up its presence along the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan; the UPDF participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates 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)

Military and security forces

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (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 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 expenditures

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.)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

22,209 (2024 est.)

refugees

1,796,597 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

10,284 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

-398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

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

Particulate matter emissions

31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

259 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

328 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

7.045 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.1% (2022 est.)