About Uganda

The Republic of Uganda is a land-locked country in East Africa, often described as the “Pearl of Africa” for its rich natural landscapes, abundant wildlife and warm hospitality.

It spans approximately 241,000 km², is bounded by Kenya to the east, South Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Tanzania and Rwanda to the south.

Uganda’s population is young and growing rapidly; recent estimates suggest around 49 million people or more.

English is the official language, and Swahili is also used; there are dozens of indigenous languages reflecting a highly diverse ethnic makeup.

Location & Geography

Geographically, Uganda is mostly a plateau bisected by the Nile and contains varied terrain: volcanoes in the west, mountains in the south-west (including the Rwenzori Range), vast lakes (including a large share of Lake Victoria) and dense forests.

Elevation typically drops from around 1,500 m in the south to 900 m in the north.

Climate

Climate is largely equatorial but moderated by altitude. In the south, two rainy seasons exist (April–May and October–November); in the north there tends to be one longer wet season. Annual rainfall ranges from less than 500 mm in the northeast to up to 2,000 mm in wetter areas.

Uganda’s varied terrain provides rich ecosystems — from rainforests to savanna to wetlands — and this supports exceptional biodiversity.

Uganda’s economy remains largely agrarian: about four-fifths of its working population are engaged in agriculture, which remains central to livelihoods and export earnings.

Key crops include coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, and horticulture. Uganda also has natural resources such as oil and gas potential, gold, and abundant wetlands and forests.

The economy has grown in recent years: according to the World Bank, Uganda’s economy accelerated to around 6.1 % growth in FY2024, supported by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and trade services.

Yet structural challenges remain: high dependency on agriculture, relatively low value‐added industrialization, rising public debt and the need for infrastructure investment.

Natural capital (forests, wetlands, biodiversity) plays a large role in Uganda’s economy and social well-being: for example, more than 80% of domestic energy comes from wood fuel, and forests underpin much of the tourism industry.

Tourism is recognized as a major potential growth area for Uganda. The country is home to unique wildlife (including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions), rich bird life and varied habitats, and has increasingly marketed nature-based tourism.

According to official statistics, tourism’s direct contribution to GDP in recent years is around 3.6%, with broader contributions via supply chains and employment even higher.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages ten national parks, twelve wildlife reserves, five community wildlife management areas and thirteen wildlife sanctuaries, each contributing to conservation, tourism and community livelihoods.

Uganda’s forest-based ecosystems are especially important for wildlife tourism: for instance, mountain gorilla tracking and chimpanzee viewing are among the most-visited experiences.

Challenges remain (wildlife poaching, habitat loss, tourism infrastructure gaps), but Uganda is positioning itself as a distinct and responsible nature destination.