Last updated on January 12th, 2022

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. With these 56 facts about Uganda, let us learn more about its: history, culture, people, government, geography, national issues, and more…

Facts about Uganda

1. Until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, the people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers.

2. Buganda kingdom was the most well-known in Uganda. Today, it is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in the country and is bordered on South by Lake Victoria. The name Uganda also comes from the name of this kingdom.

3. Sir Edward Mutesa, the king of Buganda (Mutesa II), was elected the first president, and Milton Obote the first prime minister of the country after its independence in 1962.

4. An estimated 300,000 people lost their lives during the regime of Idi Amin (Former President: 1971-79). The majority of these people belonged to the northern part of the country and were perceived as Milton Obote’s (former Prime Minister: 1962-66; also former President: 1966-71 and 1980-85 ) supporters. Amin also forcibly expelled the Indian businessmen from the country during his regime.

5. Uganda is ethnically and culturally a diverse country. If you pick two people randomly, they would most of the times be of different ethnicity.

Flag of Uganda

6. Sir Winston Churchill called Uganda “the Pearl of Africa”. He visited the country when it was under the British rule.

7. Almost half of the country’s population is under the age of 14, which makes it one of the youngest countries in the world.

8. HIV/AIDS is a major threat to the population of the Ugandans.

9. In Uganda, motorcycles are used as taxis to ferry people from one place to another. However, these taxis are not recommended for tourists as they can be dangerous. These are locally known as “boda-boda“.

10. Agriculture is an important part of the country’s economy as it employs the majority of the Ugandans (almost 1/3rd).

Read: facts about Tanzania

11. Mountain gorillas in Uganda are a major attraction for tourist all over the world. It is estimated that half of their population lives in Uganda (in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park). Learn more…

12. Uganda welcomes over 800,000 tourists each year.

13. Uganda is under the rule of one and the same president— Yoweri Museveni–since 1986.

14. In 2005, presidential term limits were lifted and a 19-year ban on multi-party politics was also lifted. However, the lifting of the ban on presidential term limit was not welcomed by the Ugandans.

Also, read an inspiring story of a young Ugandan woman – Sylvia.

15. In the area, the United States of America (9,833,517 sq km) is almost 41 times larger than Uganda (241,038 sq km).

16. Uganda has plenty of lakes and rivers and hence it is a well-watered country.

17. Large families are preferred in Uganda.

18. Uganda also has one of the world’s highest fertility rate at 5.8 children per woman.

19. In its rural areas, the actual fertility rate is above the nationwide average of 5.8 children per woman. Lack of awareness of contraception and minimal governmental support for family planning is also leading to the growth in population.

20. Women are married at a young age which also exposes them to issues related to their reproductive health.

21. The country also experiences high maternal mortality rate because of the early age of childbearing and short birth intervals.

22. If the country’s population keeps on rising at the same rate, the country might have to face difficulties in supporting its population with respect to food, employment, healthcare, housing, education and more.

23. Uganda is one of the world’s poorest and least-developed countries.

24. Uganda is also short on skilled health care workers because of the lack of opportunity for medical professionals to pursue their careers in the country.

25. Doctors and nurses from the country have immigrated to other countries in search of better job opportunities.

Read: facts about Kenya

26. Deforestation, soil erosion, overgrazing and hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria are some of the environmental issues that Uganda is currently facing.

27. Uganda is losing a lot of its forest cover due to the increasing demand for charcoal and firewood to sustain life.

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