Introduction
Background
British influence in Uganda began in the 1860s with explorers seeking the source of the Nile. Uganda's British-created colonial boundaries grouped together many ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences complicated efforts to establish a cohesive country after independence was achieved in 1962, and Uganda fell under authoritarian rule that led to economic ruin and mass atrocities.
Geography
Area
total : 241,038 sq km
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km
Climate
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
People and Society
Population
total: 49,283,041
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.)
Population growth rate
3.18% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Kampala
Executive branch
chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (556 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)
Economy
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)
$135.668 billion (2023 est.)
$128.923 billion (2022 est.)
$123.267 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$2,800 (2023 est.)
$2,700 (2022 est.)
$2,700 (2021 est.)
Exports
$6.115 billion (2022 est.)
$6.231 billion (2021 est.)
$5.622 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 31%, India 12%, Hong Kong 9%, Kenya 8%, Italy 7% (2022)
Exports - commodities
gold, coffee, fish, milk, raw sugar (2022)
Imports
$11.145 billion (2022 est.)
$10.686 billion (2021 est.)
$10.209 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 23%, Kenya 15%, India 13%, UAE 7%, Tanzania 6% (2022)
Imports - commodities
vaccines, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars, motorcycles and cycles (2022)
Page last updated: Wednesday, August 07, 2024
