Uganda

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part includes a large part of Lake Victoria, which is shared with Kenya and Tanzania. As of 2024, Uganda had a population of 45.9 million, with 1.8 million living in the capital city, Kampala.

The country is named after the Buganda kingdom, whose language, Luganda, is widely spoken, though the official language is English. Uganda's history includes the arrival of Bantu and Nilotic people around 3,000 years ago, who created powerful kingdoms such as the Empire of Kitara. Foreign influence began with Arab traders in the 1830s and British explorers in the late 19th century. Britain set up the Protectorate of Uganda in 1894. Uganda became independent in 1962, with Milton Obote as the first prime minister.

The country has faced many changes in government. After a conflict known as the Mengo Crisis in 1966, Uganda changed from a parliamentary system to a presidential system. In 1971, Idi Amin took control in a military coup and ruled until he was removed in 1979 by the Uganda–Tanzania War. Later, Yoweri Museveni led the country after winning a six-year guerrilla war in 1986. Despite bringing stability, his government has been criticized for human rights issues.

Uganda is geographically rich, featuring volcanic hills, mountains, and lakes such as Lake Victoria, the world's second-largest freshwater lake. The country has fertile land and oil reserves, helping its economy grow. Tourism is also important because of Uganda's biodiversity, with many national parks and wildlife reserves. Uganda belongs to groups like the United Nations, the African Union, and the East African Community.

History

Main article: History of Uganda

Precolonial Uganda

Main article: Early history of Uganda

Long ago, many people in Uganda were farmers and herders who spoke Central Sudanic and Kuliak languages. About 3,000 years ago, new groups arrived: Bantu speakers came to the south, and Nilotic speakers came to the northeast. By the year 1500, these groups had mixed together, especially in areas south of Mount Elgon, the Nile River, and Lake Kyoga.

One important ancient kingdom was the Empire of Kitara, which covered much of the Great Lakes Area, including parts near Lakes Albert, Kyoga, Victoria, and Tanganyika. Kitara is linked to later kingdoms like Tooro, Ankole, and Busoga. Some Luo people also moved into Kitara and joined the local Bantu society, creating a new ruling line in Bunyoro-Kitara.

Uganda Protectorate (1894–1962)

Main article: Protectorate of Uganda

In 1894, Uganda became a protectorate of the British Empire, meaning Britain controlled it without making it a full colony. This status let Uganda keep some self-rule compared to nearby Kenya, which was a full colony.

During this time, many Indian laborers were brought to East Africa to help build a railway. After the railway was finished, some Indians stayed and became traders.

Independence (1962–1965)

Uganda became independent from Britain on October 9, 1962, with Queen Elizabeth II as its first head of state. Later, in 1963, Uganda became a republic but stayed part of an international group called the Commonwealth of Nations.

Buganda crisis (1962–1966)

Main article: Mengo Crisis

After independence, there were big disagreements between the central government and the Buganda kingdom, which was the largest region in Uganda.

Different groups in Buganda had different ideas about how much power their king, called the Kabaka, should have. Some wanted him to stay very powerful, while others wanted Uganda to be a modern country where everyone was equal.

These disagreements caused a lot of tension. Eventually, the leader of Uganda at the time, Milton Obote, took away many of Buganda’s special rights and powers. This led to a big conflict, and Obote’s forces attacked the Kabaka’s palace. The Kabaka had to leave Uganda and live in exile.

Before the coup (1966–1971)

In 1966, Obote changed the government a lot. He removed the ceremonial president and vice-president and later made Uganda a republic, taking away the powers of traditional kingdoms.

Idi Amin's regime (1971–1979)

Main article: Second Republic of Uganda

In 1971, a military leader named Idi Amin took control of Uganda in a coup. He ruled the country harshly for eight years. Many people suffered during his time as leader. In 1976, a plane with passengers from many countries was taken over by people who wanted to hurt Israel. Ugandan forces and an Israeli rescue team helped free the passengers. Amin’s rule ended when Tanzania and Ugandan exiles worked together to remove him in 1979.

1979–present

Main article: History of Uganda (1979–present)

In 1980, a long and difficult conflict began in Uganda. In 1986, a leader named Yoweri Museveni and his forces took control of the country.

Since then, Uganda has gone through many changes. Political parties were not allowed to operate freely for many years, but this changed in 2005. Museveni has been the leader of Uganda for a long time. There have been elections, but sometimes there have been claims that they were not fair.

Museveni was most recently re-elected in the January 2026 presidential elections.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Uganda and Wildlife of Uganda

Uganda is a country in East Africa with many different landscapes. It has hills, mountains, and several large lakes. The land there is usually about 900 meters above sea level. In the east and west, there are mountain ranges. The highest mountain in Uganda is Mount Stanley, which rises to 5,109 meters tall.

The southern part of Uganda is near Lake Victoria, one of the world's largest lakes. Important cities such as the capital, Kampala, and the town of Entebbe are close to this lake. Another big lake in the middle of the country is Lake Kyoga, surrounded by wet, marshy lands.

Uganda has many lakes, even though it does not touch the sea. Besides Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, there are Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and the smaller Lake George. Most of the country is part of the Nile River area. The Victoria Nile flows from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga, then to Lake Albert, and continues northward into South Sudan.

Uganda is also home to many animals and plants. It has ten national parks where wildlife is protected. These parks include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park, both recognized as important World Heritage Sites. Visitors can see mountain gorillas, other gorillas, golden monkeys, and hippos in different parks.

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of Uganda and Elections in Uganda

The President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government. The president appoints a vice-president and a prime minister to help them govern.

The Parliament of Uganda has 557 members. These include constituency representatives, district woman representatives and representatives of the Uganda People's Defense Forces. There are also representatives for the youth, workers, people with disabilities, and some special members.

Freedom of the press has faced challenges. Some actions against political freedom have drawn criticism from other countries.

Foreign relations

Further information: Foreign relations of Uganda

Uganda is part of the East African Community, along with Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Uganda is also a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

In 2025, Uganda agreed to accept people seeking safety who were being sent away from the US. This decision was discussed by some people.

Military

In Uganda, the Uganda People's Defence Force is the military. It has about 45,000 soldiers. The Uganda army helps with peace and safety efforts in nearby areas.

Corruption

Main article: Corruption in Uganda

Transparency International has found that Uganda's public sector has been one of the places where rules are often not followed. In 2016, Uganda was ranked near the bottom in a list of countries.

The World Bank has also noted problems with rules not being followed. Some people in government have been criticized for not sharing money properly.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Uganda

There are many areas where people’s rights need better protection in Uganda.

Some groups, like the Lord's Resistance Army, have been involved in difficult situations. Many people have had to leave their homes.

Children sometimes work in jobs that are not right for them. Some children face unsafe situations.

Refugee policy

Main article: Refugees in Uganda

Uganda has a friendly way of helping people who need to leave their homes. Many people from nearby countries live in Uganda, and they are allowed to work and move around.

Uganda has helped many people over the years, including those escaping wars and trouble in other places. By 2025, Uganda was home to about 1.95 million people from other countries.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Uganda

As of 2022, Uganda is divided into four regions and 136 districts. Rural areas are split into smaller parts like sub-counties, parishes, and villages. Urban areas have special councils.

There are also traditional kingdoms that have cultural roles, like Toro, Busoga, Bunyoro, Buganda, and Rwenzururu. Some groups are working to have other kingdoms recognized.

Economy and infrastructure

Main articles: Economy of Uganda, Energy in Uganda, and Agriculture in Uganda

The Bank of Uganda is Uganda’s central bank, handling money matters and printing the Ugandan shilling.

In 2015, Uganda earned money from selling things like coffee, oil, metals, fish, and grains. The country’s economy has been growing steadily. In 2015–16, Uganda’s economy grew by 4.6% in real terms and 11.6% in nominal terms, compared to 5.0% growth the year before.

Uganda has plenty of untapped oil and natural gas. Though farming was a big part of the economy in the past, services are now more important. Since the 1980s, the government has worked to fix the economy after tough times.

Uganda often relies on Kenya to reach the ocean, but there are plans to build new routes through lakeside ports and railways. Uganda is part of the East African Community and hopes to join the East African Federation.

Economic growth hasn’t always helped reduce poverty. Despite growth, poverty levels went up between 2000 and 2003. This shows the need for growth that benefits everyone.

The Uganda securities exchanges started in 1996, and several companies have joined. The government has used the stock market to sell parts of companies. The Capital Markets Authority has licensed 18 brokers and advisors.

Uganda depends on Kenya for sea access but is working on new routes through lakeside ports like Bukasa in Uganda and Musoma in Tanzania, connected by railway to Arusha and the port of Tanga. Uganda is a member of the East African Community and hopes to join the East African Federation.

Uganda has many people living abroad, mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom. These people send money home, which helps Uganda’s economy. In 2016, Uganda received about US$1.099 billion in money sent home, making it second in East Africa.

In November 2016, Uganda’s inflation rate was 4.6%. By June 2018, it dropped to 3.4% for the year ending 2017/18, down from 5.7% the year before.

Industry

Uganda was ranked 102nd in the world by the International Monetary Fund in terms of the size of its economy. Since the 1990s, Uganda’s economy has grown, with the total economy growing by 6.7% each year from 1990 to 2015.

Poverty

Main article: Poverty in Uganda

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. In 2012, 37.8% of people lived on less than $1.25 a day. Though poverty has dropped from 56% in 1992 to 24.5% in 2009, it’s still a big problem in rural areas, where most people live.

Women in rural areas work very hard, often more than men, and have less time for other activities. Many girls leave school early to help at home or get married. This affects their education and future.

Air transportation

Uganda has 36 airports. Commercial airlines fly from four of them. The main international airport is Entebbe International Airport, located near Kampala. In 2017, the airport had 1.53 million passengers, 8% more than the year before. A new international airport, Hoima International Airport, is being built.

Road network

See also: List of roads in Uganda

Roads are the main way people and goods move in Uganda. About 95% of travel is by road. Uganda has about 129,469 km of roads, but only about 4% are paved. The roads include national roads, district roads, urban roads, and community roads. National roads carry most of the traffic.

Railroad

Uganda’s railroad network is about 1,260 km long. The main lines go from Kampala to Tororo, Kampala to Kasese, and Tororo to Pakwach.

Communications

Main article: Communications in Uganda

Uganda has many ways to communicate, like phones, radio, TV, internet, mail, and newspapers. Using phones and the internet has grown a lot. There are seven telecom companies, and as of 2018, over 24 million people used them out of a population of 48 million. Most internet use is on mobile phones.

Energy

See also: Energy in Uganda

Uganda has lots of energy sources, like hydropower, biomass, solar, geothermal, peat, and fossil fuels. In the 1980s, most energy came from charcoal and wood. But oil was found near Lake Albert, with an estimated 95 million cubic meters of crude oil.

Uganda and Tanzania agreed in 2016 to build a $3.5 billion oil pipeline, connecting Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s port of Tanga. Uganda has a good environment for private investment in energy, with an independent Electricity Regulatory Authority and private companies managing distribution.

Water supply and sanitation

Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Uganda

Although progress has been made in cities, 38% of people still don’t have clean water. Access to clean toilets varies, with better access in cities than in the countryside. The government and other groups are working to improve this.

Education

Main article: Education in Uganda

Uganda’s schools have improved since the late 1990s. Primary school is free for all children. In 1986, only two million children went to primary school, but by 1999, that number grew to six million and keeps increasing.

In 2007, Uganda became the first in sub-Saharan Africa to make secondary school universal, increasing enrolment by nearly 25% between 2007 and 2012.

By 2002, Uganda’s literacy rate was 66.8%. Public spending on education was 5.2% of GDP from 2002 to 2005. As of 2020, Uganda had 46 private universities, including Makerere University and Mbarara University of science and technology.

Health

Main articles: Health in Uganda and HIV/AIDS in Uganda

There were eight doctors for every 100,000 people in the early 2000s. Removing fees at state health facilities in 2001 led to an 80% increase in visits, especially from the poorest people. Despite this, many people still struggle to get good care because of poor communication in hospitals, long distances, and low satisfaction with services.

Life expectancy was about 63.4 years in 2019. The infant mortality rate was about 61 deaths per 1,000 children in 2012.

In July 2012, there was an outbreak of a serious illness in Kibaale District. The outbreak ended in October 2012 after at least 16 people had died.

Uganda has done well in reducing the spread of a health issue that affected many people in the 1980s. Rates dropped from 30% of the population to 6.4% by 2008.

Crime and law enforcement

The Uganda Police Force is the country’s national police force, led by the Inspector General of Police. Recruitment happens every year.

The Allied Democratic Forces is a rebel group that opposes the Ugandan government and is linked to a foreign group.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Uganda

Tourism in Uganda focuses on the country’s wildlife and landscapes. It helps create jobs, bring in investment, and earn money for the country. In 2012–13, tourism added 4.9 trillion Ugandan shillings (about US$1.88 billion) to Uganda’s economy.

Uganda’s main attractions include national parks, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, cultural sites, and birdwatching. Uganda has over 1,073 bird species, making it a top destination for bird lovers. The country also has beautiful landscapes, from the Rwenzori mountains to the Great Rift Valley.

Science and technology

Main article: Science and technology in Uganda

Uganda has a plan called the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy from 2009. It aims to help the country use science and technology to grow and use its natural resources wisely. This plan helps guide Uganda Vision 2040, started in 2013. The vision wants to change Uganda from a farming-based country to a modern and successful one in 30 years. It focuses on building a strong economy, better education, better roads and services, and supporting farming, industry, and good leadership.

In 2025, Uganda was ranked 124th in the world for innovation, which is lower than its rank of 102nd in 2019. Between 2008 and 2010, spending on research grew from 0.33% to 0.48% of the country’s total money. During that time, the number of people working in research doubled from 1,387 to 2,823. This means there were many more researchers for every million people living in Uganda. About one in four of these researchers were women.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Uganda

Uganda's population has grown quickly over the years. In 1969, there were about 9.5 million people, and by 2014, this number had risen to 34.9 million. As of 2024, the population is about 45.9 million. Uganda has the youngest population in the world, with a median age of just 15 years. Many families in Uganda have several children, with women having around 6 children on average.

Most people in Uganda are young, with more than half under the age of 18. There are small communities of people from India, Europe, and Arab countries. Uganda also welcomes many people who have had to leave their homes, hosting over 1.4 million refugees from nearby countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Uganda

English is the official language of Uganda, used in schools and government. In 2005, Swahili was also made an official language. Swahili is especially important in the northern parts of the country and is used by the police and military. Uganda even has its own fun way of speaking English, called Uglish!

Religion

Main article: Religion in Uganda

Many people in Uganda follow different religions. The Catholic Church has the most followers, followed by the Anglican Church of Uganda. There are also many people who belong to Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Born-Again churches, which have been growing quickly. Islam is practiced by a smaller but important group of people. Some Ugandans also follow traditional religions or have no religious affiliation.

Largest cities and towns

Culture

Uganda has many different groups of people, so its culture is very diverse. Some people from India who left Uganda a while ago have come back to live there.

Media

Further information: Mass media in Uganda

Uganda has many radio and television stations and newspapers. These share news, sports, entertainment, and other topics with people in Uganda and around the world.

Popular Ugandan newspapers include:

• New Vision
• Daily Monitor
• Bukedde
• The Observer
• East African Business Week
• Red Pepper

The most popular television stations in Uganda include:

• Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC)
• NTV
• NBS Television
• Sanyuka TV
• Baba TV
• Top TV
• Spark TV

All of the media is controlled and regulated under the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Sports

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Uganda. The Uganda national football team, called "The Cranes", is managed by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. They have not yet played in the FIFA World Cup, but they came in second place in the African Cup of Nations in 1978. Some successful clubs include SC Villa, Simba SC, and KCCA.

Uganda has won medals in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, mostly in boxing and athletics. The national boxing team is called The Bombers. Famous athletes include John Akii-Bua, who won Uganda's first Olympic gold medal in the 400m hurdles in 1972, and Stephen Kiprotich, who won the marathon in 2012.

Uganda's national basketball team, called "The Silverbacks", is growing stronger. The country also enjoys cricket and has teams that have qualified for international tournaments.

In 2011 and 2012, teams from Kampala, Uganda, almost went to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Uganda

Uganda's film industry is new but growing. It faces challenges like limited funding and few film schools. However, film festivals such as Amakula, Pearl International Film Festival, Maisha African Film Festival, and Manya Human Rights Festival support local filmmakers. The industry has two main styles: quick, low-budget films and more carefully planned productions. With new rules encouraging Ugandan content on television, the film industry may grow more in the future. The first film made entirely by Ugandans was Feelings Struggle, directed by Ashraf Ssemwogerere in 2005.