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, and to the south-west by Rwanda. To the south, it borders Tanzania and includes part of Lake Victoria, which is shared with Kenya and Tanzania. In 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. Its widely spoken language is Luganda, 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 had 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. Later, Yoweri Museveni led the country after winning a war in 1986.

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. They spoke different 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. It 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. This meant Britain controlled it without making it a full colony. Uganda kept some self-rule compared to nearby Kenya.

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. 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. 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. 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 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 is very 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 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. 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 the leader of the country. The president chooses a vice-president and a prime minister to help them.

The Parliament of Uganda has many members. They come from different areas and groups.

Freedom of the press has sometimes been hard to keep.

Foreign relations

Further information: Foreign relations of Uganda

Uganda works with other countries. It is part of the East African Community. This group includes Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Uganda is also in other groups like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

In 2025, Uganda agreed to help people who needed to leave the US. This was talked about by some people.

Military

In Uganda, the Uganda People's Defence Force is the army. It has many soldiers. The army helps keep peace nearby.

Corruption

Main article: Corruption in Uganda

Sometimes rules are not followed in Uganda. This has been noticed by groups like Transparency International.

The World Bank has also seen that not all rules are followed. Some leaders have been criticized.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Uganda

Some people’s rights need more protection in Uganda.

Some groups have caused trouble. Many people have had to leave their homes.

Children sometimes have to do work that is not safe for them.

Refugee policy

Main article: Refugees in Uganda

Uganda helps people who have to leave their homes. Many people from nearby countries live there and can work and move around.

Uganda has helped many people over the years, including those leaving wars and trouble. By 2025, many people from other countries lived in Uganda.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Uganda

Uganda is divided into regions and districts. Rural areas are split into smaller parts. Urban areas have special councils.

There are also traditional kingdoms with cultural roles, like Toro, Busoga, Bunyoro, Buganda, and Rwenzururu. Some groups want other kingdoms to be 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.

Uganda earns money by selling things like coffee, oil, metals, fish, and grains. The country’s economy has been growing. Uganda often relies on Kenya to reach the ocean, but there are plans to build new routes. Uganda is part of the East African Community and hopes to join the East African Federation.

Uganda has many people living abroad who send money home, which helps the country.

Industry

Uganda’s economy has grown since the 1990s.

Poverty

Main article: Poverty in Uganda

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. Though poverty has dropped, it’s still a big problem in rural areas.

Air transportation

Uganda has 36 airports. The main international airport is Entebbe International Airport, located near Kampala. 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. Many roads are not paved.

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, and the internet. Using phones and the internet has grown a lot.

Energy

See also: Energy in Uganda

Uganda has lots of energy sources, like hydropower and solar. Oil was found near Lake Albert.

Water supply and sanitation

Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Uganda

Although progress has been made in cities, many people still don’t have clean water or clean toilets. 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 2007, Uganda became the first in sub-Saharan Africa to make secondary school universal.

Health

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

There were few doctors for every 100,000 people in the early 2000s. Removing fees at state health facilities led to more visits.

Life expectancy was about 63 years in 2019.

Uganda has done well in reducing the spread of a health issue that affected many people in the 1980s.

Crime and law enforcement

The Uganda Police Force is the country’s national police force.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Uganda

Tourism in Uganda focuses on the country’s wildlife and landscapes. Uganda’s main attractions include national parks, mountain gorillas, cultural sites, and birdwatching. Uganda has many 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 to help the country use science and technology to grow and care for its natural resources. This plan is called the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and it started in 2009. It helps guide Uganda Vision 2040, which began 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 lower in the world for innovation than it was in 2019. Between 2008 and 2010, spending on research grew. During that time, the number of people working in research doubled. 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 fast. In 1969, there were about 9.5 million people. By 2014, this grew 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 15 years. Many families 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 groups 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 became an official language too. Swahili is important in the north and is used by the police and military. Uganda 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 in Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Born-Again churches, which are growing fast. Islam is practiced by a smaller but important group. Some Ugandans 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.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Uganda

Uganda's film industry is new but growing. It faces challenges like limited funding and few film schools. 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. The first film made entirely by Ugandans was Feelings Struggle, directed by Ashraf Ssemwogerere in 2005.