25+ Interesting Facts About Uganda

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  1. Uganda is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is the 2nd most populous landlocked country in the world after Ethiopia. (Source)  
  2. Uganda shares Lake Victoria, the world’s 2nd largest freshwater lake, with Kenya and Tanzania. Additionally, eight major rivers and four big lakes also exist in the country.
  3. Uganda had one of the highest HIV prevalence rates during the 1990s. But it successfully reduced the infection rate during the 2000s. But again, the HIV rate in Uganda is increasing, and its HIV new infection rate is the second highest in Africa after South Africa. (Source)
  4. Owen Falls Dam in Uganda is the world’s largest reservoir based on storage capacity. It can store up to 204,800 million cubic meters of water. (Source)
  5. Uganda remained under British rule from 1894 to 1962. The African nation gained independence on 9th October 1962.
  6. Idi Amin is the most well-known military leader of Uganda. His military dictatorship lasted for eight years (1971 to 1979). He took several controversial steps, like expelling all Asians from Uganda and crushing opposition through force. His rule ended after a failed war against Tanzania.
  7. Uganda faced two civil wars between 1980 and 1994. The Ugandan Bush War (1980-86) and the War in Uganda (1986-94) took numerous lives. 
  8. In April 1995, around 300 people in Atiak, northern Uganda, were killed and many others kidnapped by members of LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army). This incident is known as the Atiak massacre.
  9. In Uganda, the sleeping sickness epidemic killed more than 250,000 people between 1900 and 1920. The most affected area was the southern part of the country. (Source)
  10. Buganda is a kingdom inside Uganda. It was the most powerful kingdom in East Africa during the 19th Century. Uganda abolished Buganda and three other traditional kingdoms in 1967. But its status was later restored in 1993. (Source)
  11. Uganda also actively participated in the Second Congo War between 1998 and 2003. It fought against the government of DR Congo and its allies. 
  12. Uganda has the 2nd lowest median age in the world after Niger. It is 15.7 years for males and 15.9 years for females in Uganda. (Source)
  13. Uganda has the 6th highest fertility rate in the world. It levels with Burkina Faso with 5.71 births per woman. (Source)
  14. Uganda became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to initiate universal secondary education in 2007. (Source)
    Students in Uganda
    Uganda is the 1st Sub-Saharan country to start universal secondary education

  15. Less than 900 mountain gorillas remain in the world. Around half of these gorillas are present in Uganda. (Source)
  16. There are more than 1,200 butterfly species in Uganda. It is one of the highest numbers of species in Africa. (Source)
  17. Uganda has lost 63% of its forest cover in the past 25 years. It happened due to cutting trees for firewood, charcoal, timber, and the growth of farms and towns. (Source)
  18. The Chapel on Biku hill is one of the smallest churches in the world. It can only accommodate three people at a time. (Source)
  19. Grasshoppers are eaten as a delicacy in many communities inside Uganda. There is a risk that large scale consumption of grasshoppers can reduce their harvest in the country. (Source)  
  20. Ugandans are the biggest consumers of pork in Africa and the second biggest in the world after China. The per capita consumption of pork in Uganda is 3.5 kg. (Source)
  21. English and Swahili are the two official languages of Uganda. The primary native language in the country is "Luganda," with more than 4 million speakers.  
  22. Uganda is one of the world’s largest producers of Robusta coffee. The country also produces Arabica coffee. It is the country’s main export and employs 20% of Uganda’s population.
  23. More than 80% of Ugandans are Christians, while around 14% are adherents of Islam. There was a significant population of Sikhs and Hindus in Uganda before the expulsion of Asians in 1972. 
  24. Uganda is the most ethnically diverse country in the world. The racial diversity in this African country is more than 93%. (Source)
  25. According to the forecast, Uganda will become the 3rd poorest country in the world in 2025. The estimated GDP (per capita) of Uganda in 2025 will be $1,100. (Source)
  26. Uganda is known for its wildlife and variety of landscapes. It was called Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill. (Source)
  27. Uganda has won 2 gold, three silver, and two bronze medals in Olympic Games. All these Olympic medals were due to their performance in boxing and athletics.
  28. Mt. Stanley is the 3rd highest mountain in Africa. This 5,109 m high mountain is on the border between Uganda and DR Congo. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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