UGANDA – Country Information

Population:
Uganda has a population of 43,252,966 as of 2020.

Size:
241,500 sq km / 93,000 sq mi (roughly the size of Oregon)

Capital City:
The capital city of Kampala is surrounded by parks and gardens alongside the shore of Lake Victoria.

Ethnic Groups:
16.5% Ganda
9.6% Nkole
8.8% Soga
7.1% Kiga
7% Teso
6.3% Lango
4.9% Gisu
4.4% Acholi
32.1% Other

Uganda has a large variety of ethnic groups made up of the Baganda, Banyankole, Basoga, Bakiga, Iteso, Langi, Bagisu, Acholi, Lugbara, and others.

Religion:
45.1% Protestant
39.3% Roman Catholic
13.7% Muslim
1.8% Other / Non-religious

Those listed as Protestants include Anglicans, Pentecostals/Evangelicals, Seventh Day Adventist, and Baptist.

Languages:
English (official)

Ganda or Luganda as well as Swahili and Arabic are widely spoken.

Geography:
Uganda is richly diverse with volcanic mountains, frontiers, densely forested swamps, rainforests, and plateaus.

Economy:
Agriculture makes up three-fifths of the working population. Coffee and cotton are the most profitable exports.

Interesting Fact:
Winston Churchill said, “Uganda is a fairy-tale. You climb up a railway instead of a beanstalk, and at the end there is a wonderful new world.”

Important Facts:
In 1894, Uganda became a protectorate of the British Empire, allowing Uganda to maintain its own governmental leadership but giving the British the ultimate authority. The British granted Uganda’s independence in 1962.