Uganda
British influence in Uganda began in the 1860s with explorers seeking the source of the Nile and expanded in subsequent decades with various trade agreements and the establishment of the Uganda Protectorate in 1894. The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences complicated the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. In December 2017, parliament approved the removal of presidential age limits, thereby making it possible for MUSEVENI to continue standing for office. Uganda faces numerous challenges, however, that could affect future stability, including explosive population growth, power and infrastructure constraints, corruption, underdeveloped democratic institutions, and human rights deficits.

geography

location

1.0° N, 32. 0° E
East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

area

241,038 sq km
land
197,100 sq km
water
43,938 sq km

land boundaries

2,729 km

coastline

0 km

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

lowest point
Albert Nile
614
highest point
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley
5,110

natural resources

  • copper
  • cobalt
  • hydropower
  • limestone
  • salt
  • arable land
  • gold

land use

arable land
34.3 %
permanent crops
11.3 %
permanent pasture
25.6 %
forest
14.5 %
other
14.3 %

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

people

population

  • 43,252,966
  • 34
    global rank

nationality

  • Ugandan(s)
    noun
  • Ugandan
    adjective

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 %

languages

  • English
    official language, taught in schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts
  • Ganda or Luganda
    most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital
  • other Niger-Congo languages
  • Nilo-Saharan languages
  • Swahili
    official
  • Arabic

religions

Protestant
45.1 %
Roman Catholic
39.3 %
Muslim
13.7 %
other
1.6 %
none
0.2 %

birth rate

  • 42.3
    per 1,000 population
  • 3
    global rank

death rate

  • 5.3
    per 1,000 population
  • 193
    global rank

urban population

25 %

major urban areas

  • Kampala
    pop. 3,298,000

life expectancy

  • 68.2
    total population
  • 177
    global rank
66
male
70.5
female

adult obesity rate

  • 5.3%
    percent of adults
  • 181
    global rank

government

government type

presidential republic

capital

Kampala
0.19 N, 32.33 E

independence

national holidays

  • Independence Day
    9 October

legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

age of suffrage

18

flag description

six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK

national colors

  • black
  • yellow
  • red

national anthem

Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!

economy

overview

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country’s export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption. Uganda’s economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda’s budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise. Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars’ worth of highway projects to the oil region. Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government’s failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas.

GDP

89,190,000,000 USD
2017

agriculture products

  • coffee
  • tea
  • cotton
  • tobacco
  • cassava
  • manioc
  • tapioca
  • potatoes
  • corn
  • millet
  • pulses
  • cut flowers
  • beef
  • goat meat
  • milk
  • poultry
  • fish

poverty level

21.4%
2017

budget

  • 3,848,000,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 4,928,000,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 186,902
    total subscriptions
  • 124
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 24,472,033
    total subscriptions
  • 50
    global rank

broadcast media

public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 operational FM stations

internet

.ug
country code

    users

  • 9,620,681
    total
  • 23.71
    % of population
  • 53
    global rank

energy

electricity access

20%
2017

transportation

air transport

    national system

  • 1
    registered air carriers
  • 41,812
    annual passenger traffic

    airports

  • 47
    total
  • 5
    paved

railways

1,244 km
total length

roadways

20,544 km
total length

military

expenditures

expenditures here

service age

18