Uganda: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026

News •

Kenya discharges last Ebola patient, beginning countdown to Ebola-free declaration • Nov. 11, 2026, 5:12 AM ET (AP)

Peacekeepers plan to take over bases near Somalia’s capital as Ugandan troops withdraw • Nov. 3, 2026, 4:12 AM ET (AP)

Promising new HIV-prevention drug is hard to find where it's most needed, in places like Uganda • Nov. 3, 2026, 3:06 AM ET (AP)

Uganda tightens Ebola border controls and requires returnees from Congo to pay for quarantine • Oct. 25, 2026, 1:44 PM ET (AP)

First Ebola patients in Nigeria and Kenya might have crossed paths at Uganda airport • Oct. 22, 2026, 8:26 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Uganda • Jamhuri ya Uganda
Head Of State And Government	President: Yoweri Museveni, assisted by Prime Minister: Robinah Nabbanja
Capital	Kampala
Population	(2026 est.) 48,850,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (Parliament [529¹])
Official Languages	English; Swahili
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Jamhuri ya Uganda (Swahili); Republic of Uganda (English)
Total Area (Sq Km)	241,553
Total Area (Sq Mi)	93,264
Monetary Unit	Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Population Rank	(2026) 32
Population Projection 2030	55,723,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 523.8
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 202.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2021) 11.4% • Rural: (2021) 88.6%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2024) 66.9 years • Female: (2024) 70.1 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 50,933
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 1,020
¹There are 499 members directly elected and 30 indirectly elected. Excludes ex officio members appointed by the president; ex officio members do not have any voting rights.

Photos and Videos

Political map of Uganda and surrounding countries in East Africa, showing Uganda's borders, major cities including Kampala, Entebbe, Gulu, and Jinja, and the location of Lake Victoria along the southern border. Neighboring countries-South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-are also labeled. An inset locator map highlights Uganda's position within the African continent.

Crowded street scene in downtown Kampala, Uganda, with heavy traffic, many pedestrians, street vendors, and shops lining both sides of the busy road.

Map of East Africa highlighting Uganda in orange, with surrounding countries labeled, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Kampala, Uganda's capital, is marked near Lake Victoria.

Uganda: botanical gardens

Map of Uganda highlighting major physical features, including Lake Victoria along the southern border, Lake Albert and Lake Edward to the west, and notable mountains such as Mount Elgon in the east and Margherita Peak in the Ruwenzori Range to the west. National parks like Murchison Falls and Ruwenzori are marked, as are major rivers and dams. Surrounding countries-South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-are labeled, and a small locator map shows U

Several hikers make their way across rocky terrain toward Margherita Glacier on Mount Stanley, with rugged peaks and clouds in the background in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda.

View of Lake Victoria in Uganda showing grassy hills in the foreground, dense green forest on the Ssese Islands, and calm water stretching to the horizon.

Murchison Falls, Uganda

Lifesavers on Lake Victoria: Fighting superstition and promoting safety

Journey of the Nile: The longest river in the world

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Topics

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Bobi Wine

Bobi Wine

Ugandan politician, performer, and activist

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame wearing a suit and glasses, speaking at a podium with a green marble background at the United Nations.

Paul Kagame

president of Rwanda

Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Ugandan military officer

Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja speaks at the podium with the United Nations emblem during the 79th UN General Assembly in New York City.

Robinah Nabbanja

prime minister of Uganda

Joseph Kony

Joseph Kony

Ugandan rebel

Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, speaks at a podium with the United Nations emblem during a meeting at the UN General Assembly.

Yoweri Museveni

president of Uganda

Ugandan Pres. Idi Amin, shown here at the United Nations, New York, October 2025.

Idi Amin

president of Uganda

Milton Obote

Milton Obote

president of Uganda

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James Hannington

British missionary

Harry Hamilton Johnston

Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston

British explorer

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Africa

continent

Map of East Africa showing political boundaries, major cities, and capitals, overlaid with shaded elevation zones. Higher elevations are concentrated in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, while lower elevations follow the coastal regions along the Indian Ocean and extend into Somalia and Mozambique. Major lakes such as Victoria, Tanganyika, and Rudolf are also marked.

Eastern Africa

region, Africa

Political map of Uganda and surrounding countries in East Africa, showing Uganda's borders, major cities including Kampala, Entebbe, Gulu, and Jinja, and the location of Lake Victoria along the southern border. Neighboring countries-South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-are also labeled. An inset locator map highlights Uganda's position within the African continent.

Kampala

national capital, Uganda

Uganda: botanical gardens

Entebbe

Uganda

Jinja, Uganda

Jinja

Uganda

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Fort Portal

Uganda

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Gulu

Uganda

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Arua

town, Uganda

Mbarara

Mbarara

Uganda

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Moroto

Uganda

default image

Masaka

Uganda

default image

Bugembe

Uganda

default image

Mbale

Uganda

default image

Bombo

town, Uganda

Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi World Heritage site

Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi

royal burial ground, Uganda

Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features

7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia

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Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

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The Country Quiz

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Which Country Is Larger? Quiz

10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres

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Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.

Geography Fun Facts

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Countries of the World

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