THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,729 km
border countries: 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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
other: 16% (2023 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 kmnote: [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

Population: total: 50,863,850 (2025 est.)
male: 24,835,513
female: 26,028,337
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 96.9 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 16.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 15.5 years
female: 17.1 years
Population growth rate: 3.13% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 31.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.5 years
female: 72 years
Total fertility rate: 5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.5 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
male: 7.8% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.8% (2022 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: Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy: total population: 69.1% (2016 est.)
male: 78.5% (2016 est.)
female: 61% (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years (2016 est.)
male: 10 years (2016 est.)
female: 9 years (2016 est.)

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
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
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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
other: 16% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 7.045 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 328 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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%
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 DPForum for Democratic Change or FDCJustice Forum or JEEMANational Resistance Movement or NRMNational Unity PlatformPeople's Progressive Party or PPPUganda 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: washington@mofa.go.ughttps://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: KampalaWebContact@state.govhttps://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)meaning: 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(s): title: "O Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
history: adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world
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)

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $144.137 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $135.803 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $128.923 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.652 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 24.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 24.9% (2024 est.)
services: 43.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 10% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -24.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)
Industries: sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 22.829 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 4.5% (2024 est.)
male: 3.5% (2024 est.)
female: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.3% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 42.7 (2019 est.)
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.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $7.616 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $10.043 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2023: 53.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$3.766 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$4.064 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$3.605 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $9.084 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $6.116 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $6.231 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $13.853 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $11.079 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $10.62 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $3.359 billion (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $3.721 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $3.098 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $10.469 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 3,757.263 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 3,726.14 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3,689.817 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3,587.052 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 3,718.249 (2020 est.)

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.)
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.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 116,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 41.6 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2024 est.)
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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5X
Airports: 39 (2025)
Railways: total: 1,244 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

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 expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2019: 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
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 service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)
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 - 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 candidatesthe 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)

Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 1,796,597 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 22,209 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 10,284 (2024 est.)

Uganda