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. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 241,038 sq km
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km
comparison ranking: total 81
Area – comparative
slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 2,729 km
border countries (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
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
Land use
agricultural land: 71.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 34.4% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 26.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.2% (2022 est.)
other: 16.9% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
105 sq km (2013)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) – 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) – 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga – 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) – 2,150 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) – 6,650 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
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
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
People and Society
Population
total: 49,283,041 (2024 est.)
male: 24,040,560
female: 25,242,481
comparison rankings: total 31; female 30; male 31
Nationality
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
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.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
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
comparison ranking: total 228
Population growth rate
3.18% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 6
Birth rate
39.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 5
Death rate
4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 206
Net migration rate
-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 183
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.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2016 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio
284 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 29
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
comparison ranking: total 53
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.5 years
female: 72 years
comparison ranking: total population 182
Total fertility rate
5.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 7
Gross reproduction rate
2.55 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
50.2% (2021)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 92.5% of population
rural: 80% of population
total: 83.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7.5% of population
rural: 20% of population
total: 16.9% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4.7% of GDP (2021)
4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 67.3% of population
rural: 27.5% of population
total: 37.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 32.7% of population
rural: 72.5% of population
total: 62.6% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
5.3% (2016)
comparison ranking: 180
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 61
Tobacco use
total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
male: 7.8% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 165
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
7.6% (2019/20)
comparison ranking: 59
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 7.3% (2016)
women married by age 18: 34% (2016)
men married by age 18: 5.5% (2016)
Education expenditure
2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 170
Literacy
total population: 69.1% (2016 est.)
male: 78.5% (2016 est.)
female: 61% (2016 est.)
Environment
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
Climate
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Land use
agricultural land: 71.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 34.4% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 26.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.2% (2022 est.)
other: 16.9% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 31.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 5.68 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 30.24 megatons (2020 est.)
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.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) – 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) – 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga – 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) – 2,150 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) – 6,650 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 330 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 260 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
60.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
etymology: the name is derived from the Swahili word u, meaning “land” or “country,” and the Ganda people; the origin of the Ganda name is unclear
Government type
presidential republic
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
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting “entrenched clauses,” including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda’s districts, and assent of the president of the republic
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
election results:
2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote – Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4%
2016: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote – Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 60.6%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 35.6%, other 3.8%
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
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
Political parties
Democratic Party or DP
Forum for Democratic Change or FDC
Justice Forum or JEEMA
National Resistance Movement or NRM
National Unity Platform
People’s Progressive Party or PPP
Uganda People’s Congress or UPC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://washington.mofa.go.ug/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190
telephone: [256] (0) 312-306-001
FAX: [256] (0) 414-259-794
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://ug.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
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); black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood
National symbol(s)
grey crowned crane
National color(s)
black, yellow, red
National anthem
name: “Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!”
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
note: adopted 1962
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)
Economy
Economic overview
low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy; COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction; lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments; endemic corruption; natural resource rich; high female labor force participation but undervalued
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$135.803 billion (2023 est.)
$128.923 billion (2022 est.)
$123.267 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 88
Real GDP growth rate
5.34% (2023 est.)
4.59% (2022 est.)
3.54% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 39
Real GDP per capita
$2,800 (2023 est.)
$2,700 (2022 est.)
$2,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 200
GDP (official exchange rate)
$48.769 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.3% (2024 est.)
5.4% (2023 est.)
7.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 109
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 24.1% (2023 est.)
industry: 25.8% (2023 est.)
services: 42.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 187; industry 87; agriculture 22
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 71.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 9.6% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 11.6% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -21.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate
4.03% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 78
Labor force
22.829 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 30
Unemployment rate
2.9% (2024 est.)
2.8% (2023 est.)
2.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 40
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 4.5% (2024 est.)
male: 3.5% (2024 est.)
female: 5.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 173
Population below poverty line
20.3% (2019 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
42.7 (2019 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 32
Average household expenditures
on food: 38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.4% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 34.5% (2019 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
2.93% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.74% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.85% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $6.895 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $7.473 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
53.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 95
Taxes and other revenues
13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 153
Current account balance
-$3.766 billion (2023 est.)
-$4.064 billion (2022 est.)
-$3.605 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 171
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
comparison ranking: 121
Exports – partners
India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
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
comparison ranking: 109
Imports – partners
China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.359 billion (2018 est.)
$3.721 billion (2017 est.)
$3.098 billion (2016 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 117
Debt – external
$10.469 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 49
Exchange rates
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
3,757.262 (2024 est.)
3,726.142 (2023 est.)
3,689.818 (2022 est.)
3,587.052 (2021 est.)
3,718.249 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 47.1% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 72%
electrification – rural areas: 35.9%
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.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 104; imports 121; exports 81; consumption 134; installed generating capacity 128
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
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 CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: -398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 129
Energy consumption per capita
2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 184
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 116,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 133
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 42.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 40
Broadcast media
public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 FM stations
Internet country code
.ug
Internet users
percent of population: 15% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 44,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 147
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5X
Airports
39 (2025)
comparison ranking: 106
Railways
total: 1,244 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force
Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)
note 1: the Special Forces Command is a separate branch within the UPDF; it evolved from the former Presidential Guard Brigade and has continued to retain presidential protection duties in addition to its traditional missions, such as counterinsurgency
note 2: the Uganda Police Force includes air, field, territorial, and marine units, as well as a presidential guard force
note 3: in 2018, President MUSEVENI created a volunteer force of Local Defense Units under the military to beef up local security in designated parts of the country
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.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the UPDF’s inventory is mix of older and some more modern weapons and equipment; it is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-era arms with smaller quantities of Chinese, Israeli, North Korean, South African, UK, US, and domestically-produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)
Military deployments
up to 5,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military – note
the UPDF’s missions include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, and participating in socio-economic development projects; it supports the police in maintaining internal security and participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions; it is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF also has considerable political influence; it is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and his political party to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates
since the 2010s, the UPDF has participated in several internal and regional military operations in addition to its large commitment to an international peacekeeping force in Somalia; from 2012-2017, it led regional efforts to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016, and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2023; since 2021, the UPDF has conducted operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) against the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which has been designated by the US as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC, and in December 2022 UPDF troops were sent to the DRC as part of a regional force to assist the DRC Government in combating the M23 rebel group; in addition, elements of the UPDF have deployed internally to assist the police against cattle rustlers, poachers, and criminal gangs
the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country’s first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 34,368 (Eritrea), 23,388 (Rwanda), 8,936 (Ethiopia), 5,776 (Sudan) (2023); 931,666 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 512,445 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 40,326 (Somalia), 40,326 (Burundi) (2024)
stateless persons: 67,000 (2022)
