Uganda
Africa Β· Capital: Kampala
How it is run: Uganda is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Uganda is home to 51.4 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak English, Swahili.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
51.4 million people
That is 0.6% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
241,550 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 213 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
9th most people in Africa
33rd largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Swahili
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Ugandan shilling (Sh)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
68.5 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$1,206
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
31.9% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
43.1% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+256
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.ug
π§ People here are called
Ugandan
π·οΈ Name at home
Uganda
Also written: Republic of Uganda, Jamhuri ya Uganda.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Uganda is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Uganda
French
Ouganda
Arabic
Ψ£ΩΨΊΩΨ―Ψ§
Chinese
δΉεΉ²θΎΎ
Japanese
γ¦γ¬γ³γ
Russian
Π£Π³Π°Π½Π΄Π°
Portuguese
Uganda
German
Uganda
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 4.6Γ as many people as Uganda.
- Uganda covers roughly 2,300 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Uganda lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 25,692 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Uganda is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Uganda
ποΈ Capital
Kampala
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
UG
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Uganda π
π§ Where on the map
1.0Β° N, 32.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Kampala.
- πΊπ¬ is the flag of Uganda. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is UG.
- Uganda is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Uganda is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Uganda lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Uganda sits in Eastern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Uganda has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Uganda?
- If Uganda spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Uganda?
Kampala
Which money do people spend in Uganda?
Ugandan shilling (Sh)
How many countries share a land border with Uganda?
5 β DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania.
Roughly how many people live in Uganda?
51.4 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.