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
Total: 241,038 km²
Land: 197,100 km²
Water: 43,938 km²
Comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 2,729 km
Border countries (5): (5) Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation
Highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 16% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 105 km² (2013)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms

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

Population
Total: 49,283,041 (2024 est.)
Male: 24,040,560
Female: 25,242,481
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
Growth rate: 3.18% (2024 est.)

Languages: English (official), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic

Religions: Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.)

Age structure
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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 97.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 93 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 21 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 16.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 15.5 years
Female: 17.1 years

Population growth rate: 3.18% (2024 est.)

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

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

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 28.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 31.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 67.5 years
Female: 72 years

Total fertility rate: 5.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Kampala
Geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala

Administrative divisions: 134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo

Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)
Head of government: Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of Parliament or persons who qualify to be elected as members of Parliament
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Most recent election date: 14 January 2021
2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4%
2016: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 60.6%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 35.6%, other 3.8%
Expected date of next election: 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021
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%
Expected date of next election: January 2026

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)

National anthem
Title: 'O Uganda, Land of Beauty!'
Lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
History: adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 6.1% (2024 est.); 5.3% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 6.1% (2024 est.); 5.3% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 66.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 10% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -24.6% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 24.7% (2024 est.)
Industry: 24.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 43.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 22.829 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 2.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $7.616 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $10.043 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $9.084 billion (2023 est.); $6.116 billion (2022 est.); $6.231 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $13.853 billion (2023 est.); $11.079 billion (2022 est.); $10.62 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.452 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 47.1% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 72%
Access electrification - rural areas: 35.9%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 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.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: -398 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 116,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 42.1 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 15% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 44,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Airports: 39 (2025)

Railways
Total: 1,244 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge