2021 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. The colonial boundaries demarcating Uganda 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 approved the removal of presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life. Uganda faces numerous challenges that could affect future stability, including explosive population growth, power and infrastructure constraints, corruption, underdeveloped democratic institutions, and human rights deficits.

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 the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Irrigated land

140 sq km (2012)

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

71.2% (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.)

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 kmnote – [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

48.21% (male 10,548,913/female 10,304,876)

15-24 years

20.25% (male 4,236,231/female 4,521,698)

25-54 years

26.24% (male 5,202,570/female 6,147,304)

55-64 years

2.91% (male 579,110/female 681,052)

65 years and over

2.38% (male 442,159/female 589,053) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

41.6 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.4% (2016)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

41.8% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

6.5% (2018)

Death rate

5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

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 5.8 children per woman. 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.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.8

potential support ratio

26.2 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

92.3

youth dependency ratio

88.5

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 77.2% of population

improved: total

total: 80.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 92.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 22.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 19.2% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 7.1% of population

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2020)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.4% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

22,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.4 million (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

female

27.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

34.98 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official language, taught in schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), 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

70.9 years (2021 est.)

male

66.34 years

total population

68.58 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

70.8% (2018)

male

82.7%

total population

76.5%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

3.470 million KAMPALA (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

375 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

16.5 years (2020 est.)

male

14.9 years

total

15.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2016 est.)

note

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

Nationality

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physicians density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

44,712,143 (July 2021 est.)

note

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

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

Population growth rate

3.31% (2021 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: 26.6% of population

improved: total

total: 36.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 67.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 73.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 63.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 32.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2011)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.94 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.85 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.45 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

17.6% (2017 est.)

male

13.8%

total

15.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

25.6% of total population (2021)

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 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

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

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 ofthe president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2017 (2021)

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Natalie E. BROWN (since 17 November 2020)

email address and website

KampalaUScitizen@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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Mull Sebujja KATENDE (since 8 September 2017)

email address and website

washington@mofa.go.ug; info@ugandaembassysus.org; ambauganda@aol.comhttps://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 the National Assembly or persons who qualify to be elected as members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since coming to power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, 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

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since coming to power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021)

Flag description

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

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, 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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

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 legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (445 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 112 for women directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote, and 25 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5; up to 18 ex officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 292, FDC 37, DP 5, UPDF 10, UPC 6, independent 66 (excludes 19 ex-officio members)

elections

last held on 18 February 2016 (next to be held in February 2021)

National anthem

lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

name

Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!

note

note: adopted 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for National Transformation or ANT [Ms. Alice ALASO, acting national coordinator]; note - Mugisha MUNTU resigned his position as ANT national coordinator in late June 2020 to run in the 2021 presidential electionActivist Party [Stephen BAMPIGGA] Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]Conservative Party [Walyemera Daniel MASUMBA]Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Patrick Oboi AMURIAT]Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA]National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]Uganda People's Congress or UPC [James AKENA]National Unity Platform [Nkonge KIBALAMA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar cane, plantains, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, milk, vegetables, beans, bananas, sorghum

Budget

expenditures

4.928 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

3.848 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2015)

Moody's rating

B2 (2016)

Standard & Poors rating

B (2014)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$707 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$1.212 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$12.187 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$13.85 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$6.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economic overview

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country’s export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption.Uganda’s economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda’s budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise.Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars’ worth of highway projects to the oil region.Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government’s failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas.

Exchange rates

currency

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

2,599.8 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

3,234.1 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

3,735 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

3,685 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3,680 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$5.958 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$5.63 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$6.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, milk, fish and fish products, tobacco (2019)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 58%, Kenya 9% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

18.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption

8% (2017 est.)

household consumption

74.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-25.1% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

28.2% (2017 est.)

industry

21.1% (2017 est.)

services

50.7% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.683 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2002

45.7 (2002)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

42.8 (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.1% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

Imports 2017

$7.44 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$8.65 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$9.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

packaged medicines, aircraft, delivery trucks, cars, wheat (2019)

Imports - partners

China 19%, India 17%, Kenya 16%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Japan 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

5.6% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

2.6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.8% (2019 est.)

Labor force

15.84 million (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

71%

industry

7%

services

22% (2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

21.4% (2016 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

40% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$90.67 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$96.84 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$99.61 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

5.7% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

2.3% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4.8% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$2,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$2,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$2,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: excludes gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$3.034 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$3.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

9.4% (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

17.6% (2017 est.)

male

13.8%

total

15.6%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.106 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

121 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

19% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

68% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

50 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.02 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

3.463 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

17% (2019)

electrification - total population

29% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

66% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

32,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

31,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total

34,596 (2020)

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 operational FM stations

Internet country code

.ug

Internet users

percent of population

23.71% (2019 est.)

total

12.16 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile- cellular systems teledensity about 57 per 100 persons; intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations (2019)

general assessment

telecom infrastructure has developed through private partnerships; as of 2018, fixed-fiber backbone infrastructure is available in over half of Uganda’s districts; mobile phone companies now provide 4G networks across all major cities and national parks, while offering 3G coverage in small cities and most rural areas with road access; price of commercial Internet services dropped substantially in 2019; consumers rely on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services as fixed-line infrastructure is poor; 5G migration is developing slowly; government commissioned broadband satellite services for rural areas in 2019 (2020)

international

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

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

90,774 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

60.53 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

27,688,987 (2020)

Airports

total

47 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2019)

over 3,047 m

3

total

5

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

8

914 to 1,523 m

26

over 3,047 m

1

total

42

under 914 m

7 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5X

National air transport system

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)

Ports and terminals

lake port(s)

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

1,244 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

4,257 km (2017)

total

20,544 km (excludes local roads) (2017)

unpaved

16,287 km (2017)

Waterways

(there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile that flow out of Lake Albert in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores) (2011)

Military - note

the UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates the UPDF has conducted operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo against a Congo-based Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see the Terrorist Group Appendix); beginning in 2012, the UPDF also 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; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threat 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 2020

Military and security forces

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces, Air Forces, Marine Forces, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 45-50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel (2021)

Military deployments

6,200 Somalia (AMISOM); 620 Somalia (UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the UPDF's inventory is mostly older Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a limited mix of more modern Russian- and Western-origin arms; since 2010, the leading suppliers of arms to the UPDF are Russia and Ukraine (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.6% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.5% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.4% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.1% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty (must be single, no children); 9-year service obligation (2021)

Disputes - international

Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders; Ugandan refugees as well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

953,630 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 449,863 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 51,775 (Burundi), 51,321 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 25,507 (Rwanda), 19,468 (Eritrea) (2021)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Uganda, and traffickers exploit victims from Uganda abroad; young Ugandan children are exploited in forced labor in agriculture, fishing, forestry, cattle herding, mining, stone quarrying, brick making, carpentry, steel manufacturing, street vending, bars, restaurants, gold mining, and domestic service; traffickers exploit girls and boys in commercial sex; most are children from the northeastern region and are exploited in forced begging, commercial sex in brothels, or sold in markets; traffickers compel  children from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan into forced agricultural labor and sex trafficking in Uganda; young women most at risk for transnational trafficking seek employment as domestic workers in the Middle East and then are exploited in sex trafficking; traffickers subject Ugandans to forced labor and sex trafficking in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Bahrain, Jordan, China, Kenya, and India; traffickers are often relatives, friends of victims, or religious leaders who receive a fee per worker from recruiters

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch list — Uganda does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include investigating allegations of complicit officials, implementing the protection and prevention provisions of the 2009 anti-trafficking act, convicting alleged traffickers, developing a plan for an anti-trafficking department within the police force; however, the government reported the lowest number of investigations in the past five years and a substantial decrease in prosecutions; authorities provided no training for law enforcement and immigration officials and identified fewer victims; the Coordination Office for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons is severely underfunded, stifling efforts to coordinate and combat trafficking; no systematic procedures to refer or assist victims have been developed, and the government provides no resources to NGOs for protective services; Uganda was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

Terrorist group(s)

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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.68 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

30.24 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

48.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current 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

Environment - international 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

Food insecurity

widespread lack of access

due to reduced incomes, and floods - in traditionally food secure urban areas, including the capital, Kampala, more than 600,000 people were food insecure due to the restrictive measures introduced to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus; the food security situation in urban areas was the most affected by the COVID‑19‑related restrictive measures, as poor households mainly rely on the daily wages obtained through casual labor, petty trading, food vending, construction activities and domestic work; despite the phasing out of some restrictive measures, the food security situation of the urban poor has not significantly improved, as the restrictions still in place on business operations are resulting in a slow recovery of the economic activities; in rural areas, torrential rains in April and May 2020 resulted in localized crop and livelihood losses (2021)

Land use

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.)

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

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 kmnote – [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)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

7.32% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

60.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

259 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

328 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

25.6% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

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.)