Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.21 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
44,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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
Communications: Internet country code
.ug
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
8.9% (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.39 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
116,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
83.17 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
41.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$10.043 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$7.616 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$3.605 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$4.064 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$3.766 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$-4.192 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$20.534 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3,718.249 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3,587.052 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
3,689.817 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
3,726.14 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
3,757.263 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$6.231 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$6.116 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$9.084 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$13.290 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
21.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
65.2% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
28.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
21.9% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
26.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
24.3% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
42.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,488 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$61.986 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$153.146 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
42.7 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
42.70 (2019, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
34.5% (2019, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.4% (2019, World Bank)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$10.62 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$11.079 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$13.853 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$17.827 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.2% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.6% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Labor force
23,393,999 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Population below poverty line
16.1% (2023, World Bank)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
54.4% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$128.923 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$135.803 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$153.146 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
6.3% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,700 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,800 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
2.7% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.098 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.721 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.359 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.483 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
14.0% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
5.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.3% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
4.2% (2025, World Bank)
Energy: Coal: consumption
19 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
19 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
44.8% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
55.3% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
78.3% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.452 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
-398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Environment: Environmental issues
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
71.9% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
34.4% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
11.0% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: other
16% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
259 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
328 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
31.9% (2025, World Bank)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
7.045 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Geography: Area: land
197,100 sq km
Geography: Area: water
43,938 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Albert Nile 614 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
105 sq km (2013)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,729 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
71.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
12.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
16% (2023 est.)
Geography: 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
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
0 19 N, 32 33 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Uganda
Government: Country name: 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: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
KampalaWebContact@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[256] (0) 414-259-794
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[256] (0) 312-306-001
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@mofa.go.ug https://washington.mofa.go.ug/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 726-1727
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 726-7100
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of Parliament or persons who qualify to be elected as members of Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
14 January 2021
Government: Flag
description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is at the center and shows a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
January 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
34.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
Government: National color(s)
black, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Government: National symbol(s)
grey crowned crane
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the responsibilities of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, contributing to regional security, participating in socio-economic development projects, conducting military diplomacy, and ensuring internal security, including against civil unrest, internal insurgency, and terrorism; in recent years it has beefed up its presence along the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan; the UPDF participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country's first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
estimated 3,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
most of the UPDF's arms are of Russian/Soviet origin with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Israel, and South Africa, as well as some domestically produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
1.9% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
43.1% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
54.7% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
2.2% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
34.44 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
5.5% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
7.3% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
34% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Contraceptive prevalence rate
43.0% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.2% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.77 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
4.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
20.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
96.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
92.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
63.0% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.50 (2010, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
32.00 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
39.70 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
35.90 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.36 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
65.49 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: female
73.5% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: male
81.3% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
77.0% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
170.00 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Median age: female
17.1 years
People and Society: Median age: male
15.5 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.4 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Ugandan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.19 (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Population
51,384,894 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.7% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: female
25,889,256 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: male
25,495,638 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
23.9% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
9 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
10 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
9 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.9 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.74 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
7.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
4.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.17 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.8% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
31.9% (2025, World Bank)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
29,776 (2011, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,936,719 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
10,284 (2025, UNHCR)
Transportation: Airports
39 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5X
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
1,244 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.