Map of Uganda
Uganda is a country in Africa with its capital at Kampala, home to about 51.38 million people across 241,038 km². The interactive map below plots 43 cities and towns, 3 rivers, 6 lakes and 2 mountain summits recorded for Uganda in YearMaps.
- Population
- 51.38 million
- Area
- 241,038 km²
- Capital
- Kampala
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of Uganda
Centred on Kampala at 0.3186° N, 32.5814° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About 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, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region, lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied equatorial climate. As of 2024, it had a population of 45.9 million, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital and largest city, Kampala.
Uganda is named after the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south, including Kampala, and whose language Luganda is widely spoken; the official language is English, while Swahili is the second official language. The region was populated by people of various ethnicities before Bantu and Nilotic groups arrived around 3,000 years ago. These new inhabitants established influential kingdoms such as the Empire of Kitara. The arrival of Arab traders in the 1830s and British explorers in the late 19th century marked the beginning of foreign influence. The British established the Protectorate of Uganda in 1894, setting the stage for future political dynamics.
Uganda gained independence in 1962, with Milton Obote as the first prime minister. The 1966 Mengo Crisis marked a significant conflict with the Buganda kingdom, as well as the country's conversion from a parliamentary system to a presidential system. Obote was overthrown in a military coup in 1971 by Idi Amin, who subsequently ruled the country under a brutal dictatorship until he was overthrown in 1979 during the Uganda–Tanzania War.
Obote returned to power following the controversial 1980 Ugandan general election, prompting a six-year guerrilla war, ending with the victory of Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement in 1986. While Museveni's rule resulted in stability and economic growth, political oppression and human rights abuses continued. The abolition of presidential term limits as well as allegations of electoral fraud and repression have raised concerns about Uganda's democratic future. Museveni was elected president in the 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026 general elections. Human rights issues, corruption, and regional conflicts, such as involvement in the Congo Wars and the struggle against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), continue to challenge Uganda.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Uganda (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Uganda
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.
- Climate
- Tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast.
- Terrain
- Mostly plateau with rim of mountains.
- Highest point
- Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m.
- Lowest point
- Albert Nile 614 m.
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Land borders
- 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.
- Major rivers
- Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- 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.
- Natural resources
- Copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.); forest: 12.1% (2023 est.); other: 16% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms.
- Geographic 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.
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Economy
- 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.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Uganda in Numbers
- Population
- 51.38 million
- GDP
- US$62.0 billion
- GDP per person
- US$1,206
- Life expectancy
- 68.5 years
- Population growth
- 2.70% a year
- Population density
- 249 per km²
- Urban population
- 31.9%
- Surface area
- 241,551 km²
- Forest cover
- 11.9%
- Arable land
- 43.6%
- Access to electricity
- 55.3%
- Internet users
- 8.9%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Uganda in Depth
History
Much of Uganda was inhabited by Central Sudanic- and Kuliak-speaking farmers and herders until 3,000 years ago, when Bantu speakers arrived in the south and Nilotic speakers arrived in the northeast. By 1500 AD, they had all been assimilated into Bantu-speaking cultures south of Mount Elgon, the Nile River, and Lake Kyoga. According to oral tradition and archaeological studies, the Empire of Kitara covered an important part of the Great Lakes Area, from the northern lakes Albert and Kyoga to the southern lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. Kitara is claimed as the antecedent of the Tooro, Ankole, and Busoga kingdoms. Some Luo invaded Kitara and assimilated with the Bantu society there, establishing the Biito dynasty of the current Omukama (ruler) of Bunyoro-Kitara.
Geography
Uganda is located in southeast Africa between 1º S and 4º N latitude, and between 30º E and 35º E longitude. Its geography is very diverse, consisting of volcanic hills, mountains, and lakes. The country sits at an average of 900 meters above sea level. Both the eastern and western borders of Uganda have mountains. The western Ruwenzori mountain range contains Mount Stanley, the highest peak in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with an elevation of 5,109 metres (16,762 ft). The east on the border with Kenya has volcanic Mount Elgon with its highest peak, Wagagai (4,321 metres (14,177 ft)), in Uganda.
Much of the south of the country is heavily influenced by one of the world's biggest lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands.
Economy and infrastructure
The Bank of Uganda is the central bank of Uganda and handles monetary policy along with the printing of the Ugandan shilling.
In 2015, Uganda's economy generated export income from the following merchandise: coffee (US$402.63 million), oil re-exports (US$131.25 million), base metals and products (US$120.00 million), fish (US$117.56 million), maize (US$90.97 million), cement (US$80.13 million), tobacco (US$73.13 million), tea (US$69.94 million), sugar (US$66.43 million), hides and skins (US$62.71 million), cocoa beans (US$55.67 million), beans (US$53.88 million), simsim (US$52.20 million), flowers (US$51.44 million), and other products (US$766.77 million).
Uganda has been experiencing consistent economic growth.
Demographics
Uganda's population grew from 9.5 million people in 1969 to 34.9 million in 2014. In 2024, the population was 45.9 million. With respect to the census in 2002, the population increased by 21.7 million people in those 22 years. Uganda's median age of 15 years is the lowest in the world. In 2014, Uganda had the fifth highest total fertility rate in the world, at 5.97 children born per woman.
Of Uganda's population, 23.6 million (51.4 per cent) were female and 22.3 million were male.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Uganda (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Uganda: Key Facts
| Currency | Ugandan shilling |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Swahili |
| Head of state | Yoweri Museveni |
| Head of government | Nabbanja Robinah |
| Form of government | presidential system |
| Calling code | +256 |
| Internet domain | .ug |
| Highest point | Mount Stanley |
| Established | 1962 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1036 (CC0).
History of Uganda: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Uganda, from Khedivate of Egypt in 1877 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Khedivate of Egypt | 1877–1884 CE | A small part |
| British Africa | 1885–1960 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1885–1962 CE | Nearly all |
| British East Africa | 1961–1968 CE | Most |
| Republic of Uganda | 1963–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Uganda
Uganda on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Uganda
Uganda was nicknamed the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill. It is home to one of the most diverse and concentrated ranges of African fauna including the highly endangered mountain gorilla and the endangered common chimpanzee.
Uganda's accessibility and affordability make it an attractive destination for budget-conscious travelers. Although it may not have reached the same level of tourism development as more established destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, this actually works in Uganda's favor. The country's raw and authentic character offers a unique experience with less predictability, giving visitors a taste of the real Africa.
From the bustling city of Kampala to the picturesque villages and subsistence farms, Uganda is a place of stark contrasts that can be both delightful and frustrating.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Uganda (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Uganda
43 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kampala | 1.42 million | Kampala | National capital |
| 2 | Mbale | 402,368 | Bungokho | Admin-1 region capital |
| 3 | Jinja | 301,619 | Jinja | Admin-1 region capital |
| 4 | Arua | 250,000 | Arua Municipality | Admin-1 region capital |
| 5 | Entebbe | 175,128 | Wakiso | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Tororo | 150,000 | Tororo | Populated place |
| 7 | Gulu | 146,858 | Aswa | Admin-1 region capital |
| 8 | Lira | 135,445 | Lira | Populated place |
| 9 | Mbarara | 83,700 | Kashari | Admin-1 region capital |
| 10 | Bombo | 75,000 | Bamunanika | Admin-1 region capital |
| 11 | Kasese | 67,269 | Kasese | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Masaka | 65,373 | Masaka | Admin-1 region capital |
| 13 | Kitgum | 56,891 | Kitgum | Populated place |
| 14 | Busia | 47,100 | Busia | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Iganga | 45,024 | Iganga | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Kabale | 44,600 | Kabale | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Fort Portal | 42,670 | Kabarole | Admin-1 region capital |
| 18 | Mityana | 41,131 | Busujju | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Adjumani | 34,700 | Adjumani | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Masindi | 31,486 | Masindi | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | Pallisa | 30,745 | Pallisa | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Nebbi | 30,354 | Nebbi | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | Moyo | 22,434 | Moyo | Populated place |
| 24 | Kayunga | 21,704 | Kayunga | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Mubende | 18,936 | Mubende | Populated place |
The other 18 (population, region, role)
- Pakwach · 17,541 · Nebbi · Populated place
- Ntungamo · 16,400 · Ntungamo · Admin-1 capital
- Kiboga · 14,512 · Kiboga · Admin-1 capital
- Sironko · 14,100 · Budadiri · Admin-1 capital
- Kumi · 13,000 · Kumi · Admin-1 capital
- Kisoro · 12,900 · Kisoro · Admin-1 capital
- Kamuli · 12,764 · Kamuli · Admin-1 capital
- Mpigi · 11,082 · Mpigi · Admin-1 capital
- Katakwi · 8,400 · Usuk · Admin-1 capital
- Masindi-Port · 8,319 · Masindi · Admin-1 capital
- Nakasongola · 6,921 · Nakasongola · Admin-1 capital
- Kalangala · 5,200 · Kalangala · Admin-1 capital
- Kibale · 5,200 · Kibale · Admin-1 capital
- Kaberamaido · 3,400 · Kaberamaido · Admin-1 capital
- Katwe · 1,957 · Kasese · Populated place
- Kaabong · 1,137 · Kaabong · Populated place
- Soroti · 1,038 · Soroti · Populated place
- Moroto · 371 · Moroto · Admin-1 region capital
Highest Mountains in Uganda
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Stanley | 4,979 m | 16,335 ft | Africa |
| 2 | Mount Elgon | 4,321 m | 14,177 ft | Africa |
Mount Stanley
Mountain · 4,979 m
Mount Stanley is a mountain rising to 4,979 metres (16,335 ft) in Uganda and the DR Congo, in the Africa region. The summit stands on the border between them.
Mount Stanley, also known as Mount Ngaliema (, also US: , UK: ), is a mountain located in the Rwenzori range. With an elevation of 5,109 m (16,763 ft), it is the highest mountain of both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and the fourth-highest in Africa.
The peak and several other surrounding peaks are high enough to support glaciers. Mount Stanley is named for the explorer, journalist, and colonist Sir Henry Morton Stanley. It is part of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Stanley (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 4,979 m (16,335 ft)
- Global rank
- #63 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#3)
- Countries
- Uganda, DR Congo
- Coordinates
- 0.3801°, 29.8721°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mount Stanley ranks #63 by elevation, below Pico Bolívar (4,980 m) and above Pik Talghar (4,979 m).
- Ranges:
- Ruwenzori Range (Africa), Ethiopian Highlands (Africa)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mount Elgon (4,321 m)
- Settlements below:
- Kasese (21 km), Fort Portal (55 km), Mbarara (139 km)
More about Mount Stanley
Mount Stanley: Key Facts
| Mountain range | Rwenzori Mountains |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q221666 (CC0).
Mount Elgon
Mountain · 4,321 m
Mount Elgon is a mountain rising to 4,321 metres (14,177 ft) in Uganda and Kenya, in the Africa region. The summit stands on the border between them.
Mount Elgon is an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya, north of Kisumu, east of Mbale and west of Kitale. The mountain's highest point, named "Wagagai", is located entirely within Uganda. Although there is no verifiable evidence of its earliest volcanic activity, geologists estimate that Mount Elgon is at least 24 million years old, making it the oldest known extinct volcano in East Africa. The mountain's name originates from its Maasai name, “Ol Doinyo Ilgoon” (Breast Mountain).
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Elgon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 4,321 m (14,177 ft)
- Global rank
- #98 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#7)
- Countries
- Uganda, Kenya
- Coordinates
- 1.1232°, 34.5342°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mount Elgon ranks #98 by elevation, below Mount Shasta (4,322 m) and above Mount Batu (4,307 m).
- Ranges:
- Ruwenzori Range (Africa), Ethiopian Highlands (Africa)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Mount Stanley (4,979 m)
More about Mount Elgon
Mount Elgon: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,458 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q732838 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Uganda
6 lakes recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Victoria | 69,385 km² | Lake |
| 2 | Lake Albert | 5,404 km² | Lake |
| 3 | Lake Edward | 2,220 km² | Lake |
| 4 | Lake Kyoga | 1,765 km² | Lake |
| 5 | Lake Kwania | 577 km² | Lake |
| 6 | Lake Bunyonyi | 56 km² | Lake |
Rivers in Uganda
3 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Kagera | River | Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda |
| Semliki | River | DR Congo |
| Victoria Nile | River | — |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uganda
3 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 1994 | Natural | (vii) (x) |
| 2 | Rwenzori Mountains National Park | 1994 | Natural | (vii) (x) |
| 3 | Kasubi Tombs | 2001 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) (vi) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Uganda
4 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congo Basin | 3.11M km² | Basin | Africa |
| 2 | Great Rift Valley | 163,247 km² | Valley | Africa |
| 3 | MITUMBA Mountains | 48,247 km² | Range/mtn | Africa |
| 4 | Ruwenzori Range | 642 km² | Range/mtn | Africa |
Countries Bordering Uganda
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
Uganda: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Uganda?
- The capital of Uganda is Kampala.
- What is the population of Uganda?
- Uganda has a population of about 51.38 million, the #31 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Uganda?
- Uganda covers 241,038 km², ranking #82 by area, with about 213 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Uganda in?
- Uganda is in Africa.
- Which countries border Uganda?
- Uganda shares a land or maritime border with Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda, Sudan.
- What is the largest city in Uganda?
- Kampala is the largest city in Uganda, with a metropolitan population of about 1.42 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Uganda?
- The highest summit recorded for Uganda in YearMaps is Mount Stanley at 4,979 m (16,335 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Uganda?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Uganda is Lake Victoria, at roughly 69,385 km².