2022 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

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

71.2% (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.)

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

40.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

5.5% (2016 est.)

women married by age 15

7.3%

women married by age 18

34%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.4% (2016)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

50.2% (2021)

Current health expenditure

3.8% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2022 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 close to 5.5 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

3.2

potential support ratio

31.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

88.2

youth dependency ratio

85.1

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2021 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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.4% (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

female

26.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

33.88 deaths/1,000 live births

total

30.45 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

71.27 years (2022 est.)

male

66.71 years

total population

68.96 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

note

note 1: on 18 November 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Uganda is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote 2: on 15 November 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated Level Two Travel Alert (Practice Enhanced Precautions) for Ebola virus in Uganda, currently present in the following districts: Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka City, and Jinja, and recommended that people avoid non-essential travel to these regions; this outbreak has been linked to the Sudan ebolavirus for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics approved for prevention or treatment of the Sudan ebolavirus; in addition, on 6 October 2022, the State Department issued a Level Three Travel Advisory to reconsider travel to Uganda and also announced the following "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the CDC announced entrance screening for travelers who have been in Uganda in the last 21 days.  All U.S.-bound passengers who have been in Uganda at any point in the 21 days prior to their arrival will be routed to one of the following designated airports: New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), or Washington (IAD), where they will undergo enhanced screening, including a health questionnaire and temperature checks. This applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and foreign nationals (to include Diplomatic and Official visas)."

vectorborne diseases

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

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)

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

Nationality

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physicians density

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

46,205,893 (2022 est.)

Population distribution

population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

3.27% (2022 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: 27.5% 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

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.95 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.86 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

3.7% (2020 est.)

male

13% (2020 est.)

total

8.4% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

5.9% (2017 est.)

male

5.6%

total

5.8%

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 of the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2017

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Santa Mary Laker KINYERA (since 20 May 2022)

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 26 January 1986); 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 26 January 1986); 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, 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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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 legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

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 188, percent of women 33.8%

elections

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

National anthem

lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

name

"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"

note

note: adopted 1962

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; national colors: black, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Patrick Oboi AMURIAT]Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA]National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]National Unity Platform [Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU, known as Bobi WINE]People's Progressive Party or PPP [Jaberi Bidandi SSALI]Uganda People's Congress or UPC [James AKENA]note: only parties with seats in Parliament listed

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)

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

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

Exports 2019

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

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

Imports 2019

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

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 (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$96.84 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$99.61 billion (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 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$2,200 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$2,200 (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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

5.9% (2017 est.)

male

5.6%

total

5.8%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

5.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

4,207,040,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

299.2 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports

104.2 million kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.397 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.157 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

17% (2019)

electrification - total population

29% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

66% (2019)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

10.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

86.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

2.943 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

40,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 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

0.1 (2020 est.)

total

58,594 (2020 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 operational FM stations

Internet country code

.ug

Internet users

percent of population

20% (2020 est.)

total

9,148,200 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile cellular systems teledensity about 61 per 100 persons; intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations (2020)

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

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 a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2020 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

90,774 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

57.37 (2019)

total subscriptions

25,395,500 (2019)

Airports

total

47 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2021)

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 (2021)

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 (2014) 1.000-m gauge

total

1,244 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

4,257 km (2017)

total

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

unpaved

16,287 km (2017)

Waterways

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)

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 his political party to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidatesas of 2022, the UPDF was conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including cross-border operations) against a Congo-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see Appendix T); in addition, elements of the UPDF were deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangsbeginning in 2012, the UPDF 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 2020the 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 Uganda People's Defense Force was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2022)

Military and security forces

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces, Air Forces, Marine Forces, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force (2022)

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 conventional missions, such as counterinsurgencynote 2: 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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel; approximately 20-30,000 personnel in the Local Defense Units (2022)

Military deployments

6,800 Somalia (6,200 ATMIS; 625 UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (training mission) (2022)

note

note: in December 2022, Uganda sent approximately 1,000 troops to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a newly formed East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF) to assist the DRC military against the rebel group M23

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, Russia has been the leading supplier of arms to the UPDF (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $610 million)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $640 million)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $870 million)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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 (2022)

Disputes - international

Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its bordersUganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda began a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021; Uganda and Kenya both claim Migingo Island, a tiny island in the middle of Lake Victoria, which offers good fishingUganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the borderUganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River; Rukwanzi Island in Lake Albert is claimed by both countriesUganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain storesUganda-Sudan: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

845,711 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 452,891 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 61,482 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 40,311 (Burundi), 26,700 (Eritrea), 23,154 (Rwanda), 5,307 (Ethiopia) (2022)

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

severe localized food insecurity

due to weather extremes, civil insecurity, and high food prices- in Karamoja Region, about 518,000 people, 41% of the population, are estimated to be severely food insecure between March and July 2022, as a result of consecutive poor rainy seasons that adversely affected crop and livestock production, frequent episodes of cattle rustling leading to the loss of productive assets, and high food prices (2022)

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

note

note 1: on 18 November 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Uganda is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccinenote 2: on 15 November 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated Level Two Travel Alert (Practice Enhanced Precautions) for Ebola virus in Uganda, currently present in the following districts: Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka City, and Jinja, and recommended that people avoid non-essential travel to these regions; this outbreak has been linked to the Sudan ebolavirus for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics approved for prevention or treatment of the Sudan ebolavirus; in addition, on 6 October 2022, the State Department issued a Level Three Travel Advisory to reconsider travel to Uganda and also announced the following "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the CDC announced entrance screening for travelers who have been in Uganda in the last 21 days.  All U.S.-bound passengers who have been in Uganda at any point in the 21 days prior to their arrival will be routed to one of the following designated airports: New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), or Washington (IAD), where they will undergo enhanced screening, including a health questionnaire and temperature checks. This applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and foreign nationals (to include Diplomatic and Official visas)."

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

26.8% of total population (2023)

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.)