uganda profile

 

 

UGANDA GENERAL INFORMATION

 
Official Name The Republic of Uganda
Capital City Kampala
Cities as at 1st July 2020 Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, Lira, Soroti and Hoima.
Independence 9th October 1962
Official language English
Currency Shillings
Country code 256
Accessibility By air – Entebbe International Airport,
  By land – Kenya (Malaba & Busia), Tanzania (Mutukula & Kikagati), Sudan( Atiak/Bibia, Oraba), DR Congo(Vuura, Bunagana, Mpondwe, Goli), Rwanda (Katuna, Cyanika, Mirama Hills)
Mobile Telephone Networks Airtel (075, 070), MTN (077/078),  UTL (071)
   
Longitude 29o34’E & 35o0’E
Latitude 4o12’N & 1o29’S
Altitude (minimum ASL) 620 meters
             (maximum ASL) 5,111meters
Land Area by coverage by 2019
  • Uganda has a total area of 241,555 square kilometers
  • Open water bodies covered 37,013 square kilometers
  • Wetlands cover 8,773 square kilometers
  • Land area is 204,540 square kilometers
  • Agricultural land increased from 106,656 sq. kms in the year 2017 to 107,728 sq. kms in 2019
  • Built up land area covered 2,595 square kilometers
Forests
  • Forest cover reduced significantly by 44.7 percent between 1990 and 2019
  • Woodlands cover declined to 17,399 sq km in the year 2019 from 28,347 sq km in 2000
  • Total forest cover declined by 6.4 percent between the years 2010 and 2019
 
No of Administrative units – Uganda
Cities 10
Districts 146
Counties 322
Municipalities 39
Sub Counties
1,488
Parishes
7,553
Villages
58,197
 
Central Region
Cities 2
Districts 27
Municipalities 14
Counties 75
Sub Counties
265
Parishes
1,623
Villages
10,905
 
Western Region
Cities 2
Districts 38
Municipalities 8
Counties 91
Sub Counties
455
Parishes
1,961
Villages
15,967
 
Northern Region
Cities 3
Districts 41
Municipalities 7
Counties 70
Sub Counties
325
Parishes
1,647
Villages
14,344
 
Eastern Region
Cities 3
Districts 40
Municipalities 10
Counties 86
Sub Counties
443
Parishes
2,322
Villages
16,981
 

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

 
 
  • In nominal terms, GDP stood at Uganda Shillings 162,123 billion;
  • GDP per capita increased from Uganda Shillings 3,500,000 in FY2020/21 to Uganda Shillings 3,722,000 in FY2021/22
  • The Final Consumption Expenditure (FCE) recorded a growth of 4.4 percent in FY2021/22, compared to 6.0 percent in FY2020/21
  • In terms of Institutions, the Household Institution, was the lead contributor to the GDP, estimated at Uganda Shillings 82.5 Trillion in FY2021/22 and contributing 66.6 percent to GDP
  • The Services sector continues to be the lead contributor to GDP, accounting for 41.6 percent of the overall GDP in FY2021/22
 
Balance of Payments
  • The overall Balance of Payments (BoP) was a deficit of United States Dollars 66 million in 2021/22 following a previous deficit of United States Dollars 219 million recorded in 2020/21
  • The current account balance registered a deficit of United States Dollars 3,591 million in FY2021/22 compared to a deficit of United States Dollars 3,841 million in FY2020/21
  • The capital account position declined from a surplus of United States Dollars 171 million in FY2020/21 to United States Dollars 158 million in 2021/22
  • The financial account showed a net borrowing position of United States Dollars of 2,999 million in 2021/22, down from USD 3,393 million recorded in 2020/21
 
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
 
  • Calendar Year (CY) 2021 registered a higher annual average inflation of 2.2 percent compared to the annual average inflation of 2.8 percent in CY 2020
  • The annual average Core Inflation decreased to 2.8 percent in CY 2021 from the 3.2 percent recorded during the CY2020
  • The annual average Food Crops inflation for CY 2021 decreased to minus 0.9 percent from minus 0.5 percent recorded for the CY 2020
  • During the CY2020, the annual average Energy Fuel and Utilities (EFU) inflation decreased to minus 0.7 percent from 1.3 percent recorded during the CY 2020
 
 
Producer Price index for manufactured goods and utilities (Combined)
 
  • The PPI-M&U (Combined) registered an annual average increase of 11.9 percent from 182.98 recorded in CY2020 to 204.8 for CY2021
  • The PPI-M (Local) for the CY2021 increased by 9.9 percent from an annual average of 175.62 registered in CY2020 to 193.07 in CY2021
  • The PPI-M (Export) on average registered an annual increase of 21.9 percent from 206.3 annual average index in the FY2020 to 251.59 in 2021
 
Producer Price Index – Hotels and Restaurants (PPI-H&R)
 
  • The Annual Average Producer Prices for the Hotels and Restaurants Sector dropped by 1.2 percent in the CY 2021, compared with an increase of 0.1 percent for the C Y2020
 
Construction Sector Index (CSI)
 
  • The average prices in the construction industry increased by 2.55 percent in CY 2021 compared to CY 2020
 
External Trade
 
  • During the CY 2020, the total International Merchandise Trade was United States Dollars 13,625.4 million, representing a 10.7 percent increase in international trade in goods from US$ 12,554.5 million recorded in 2020
  • Total export earnings (Formal and Informal exports combined) increased by 4.8 percent to United States Dollars 4,469.2 million from United States Dollars 4,286.8 million recorded in 2020
  • Similarly, the total imports bill increased by 10.7 percent to United States Dollars 9,155.3 million in 2021 from United States Dollars 8,267.7 million registered in 2020
  • The overall annual trade deficit increased to United States Dollars 4,659.9 million in 2021 from United States Dollars 3,980.9 million recorded in CY 2020
  • Formal exports earnings were US$ 3,965.3 million while informal exports earnings were worth United States Dollars 503.84 million
  • Total imports bill increased significantly by 10.7 percent to United States Dollars 9,155.3 million in CY 2021 from United States Dollars 8,267.7 million registered in CY 2020
  • The formal and informal import bills in CY 2021 stood at United States Dollars 9,086.0 million and United States Dollars 69.2 million respectively from United States Dollars 8,250.5 million and United States Dollars 17.2 million recorded in CY 2020
 
Exports/Official Exports 3,577.4 US$ Million, (2022)
Imports/Official Imports 9,747.8 US$ Million, (2022)
Total trade 13,325.2 US$ Million, (2022)
Trade Balance -6,170.4 US$ Million, (2022)
 
Government Finance Statistics (GFS)
 
  • In the FY 2020/21, the net Central Government revenue (excludes tax refunds and government taxes) was Uganda Shillings 21,084 billion compared to Uganda Shillings 17,899 billion collected in the FY 2019/20
  • Central government expenditure increased by 88.6 percent from Uganda Shillings 29,013 billion for the FY2019/20 to Uganda Shillings 36,486 billion for FY2020/21
 
Banking and Currency
 
  • The Net Foreign Assets (NFA) which shows a country’s level of indebtedness, increased by 1.4 percent from Uganda Shillings 16,224 billion as at June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 16,449 billion as at June 2021
  • Net Domestic Assets (NDA) grew by 16.8 percent, from Uganda Shillings 13,845 billion in June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 16,170 billion in June 2021
  • M1 increased by 8.6 percent from Uganda Shillings 12,678 billion in June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 13,762 billion in June 2021
  • M2 increased by 9.7 percent from Uganda Shillings 21,575 billion in June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 23,678 billion in June 2021
  • M3 increased 8.5 percent from Uganda Shillings 30,069 billion in June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 32,619 billion in June 2021
  • Total assets of commercial banks in shillings increased by 10.9 percent from Uganda Shillings 36,060 billion as at June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 39,992 billion as at June 2021
  • Total commercial banks liabilities increased by 10.2 percent from Uganda Shillings 30,223 billion as at June 2020 to Uganda Shillings 33,308 billion as at June 2021
  • Net capital increased from Uganda Shillings 5,406 billion in June 2020 to 6,098 billion shillings in June 2021, representing a 12.8 percent increase
  • The Central Bank Rate (CBR), which is the rate at which commercial banks can borrow from the Central Bank decreased to 6.5 percent in June 2021 from 7.0 percent in June 2020
  • Commercial bank rate decreased to 10.5 percent in June 2021 from 11.0 percent in June 2020
  • The average buying rate for foreign exchange (US dollar) depreciated from Uganda Shillings 3,704 in CY2020 to Uganda Shillings 3,572 in CY2021 while the average selling rate depreciated from Uganda Shillings 3,717 shillings in CY2020 to Uganda Shillings 3,589 shillings in CY2021
 
Insurance
 
  • Life insurance Gross premium incomings increased by 22.4 percent in CY 2021, from Uganda Shillings 324.4 shillings in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 397.1 billion in 2021
  • Life group insurance category increased by 25.5 percent in gross premium incomings in the same period, from Uganda Shillings 70.4 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 88 billion in CY 2021
  • Life insurance for reinsurance outgoings category grew by 31.2 percent from Uganda Shillings 36.7 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 48.1 billion in CY 2021
  • The Net Incurred claims on life insurance registered 2.6 percent increase in CY 2021 compared to 132.1 percent registered in CY 2020. The value of life paid and outstanding claims increased from Uganda Shillings 153.2 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 157.2 billion in 2021
  • Non-life Insurance premium incomings increased from Uganda Shillings 350.8 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 408.0 billion in CY 2021, representing a growth of 16.3 percent
  • Marine insurance registered an increase of 20.2 percent in 2021 from an earlier increase of 13.8 percent in CY 2020
  • Miscellaneous accidents in non-life insurance premium incomings recorded a drastic growth of 98.1 percent in CY 2021 from a 4.7 percent decline registered in CY 2020
  • Outgoings in form of reinsurance registered a growth of 17.1 percent in CY 2021 from Uganda Shillings 165.4 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 193.6 billion in CY 2021
  • Non-Life premium income grew by 15.7 percent in CY 2021 from Uganda Shillings 183.7 billion in CY 2020 to Uganda Shillings 212.6 billion in 2021
  • Net incurred claims on non-life insurance increased by 46.8 percent in CY 2021 from an earlier decline of 21.2 percent in CY 2020
 

Demographic and Socio-Economic Statistics

 
Uganda’s population 34.6 million persons, (2014 Census)
Population growth rate 3.0%, (2014 Census)
Population projection 45.5 million, (Mid-year 2023)
Urban Population projection 17.0 million, (Mid-year 2023)
Total Population 34.6 million, (2014 Census)
Male population 48.79%, (2014 Census)
Female Population 51.21%, (2014 Census)
Sex ratio 94.5 percent, (2014 Census)
Children below 18 years 55%, (2014 Census)
Primary school going age (6-12 years) 21.3%, (2014 Census)
Youth (18-30) – 22.5%, (2014 Census)
Projected Youth (18-30) Population 10,976,000 (2023)
Older persons (60 years and above) 4.1%, (2014 Census)
Area under water and swamps 41,743 km2
Population Density 173 Persons per Sq Km, (2014 Census)
Life expectancy at birth (Total) 63.7 years, (2014 Census)
Life expectancy at birth (Males) 62.8 years, (2014 Census)
Life expectancy at birth (Female) 64.5 years, (2014 Census)
Age Dependency Ratio 103.3, (2014 Census)
Total Fertility Rate 5.4 Births per woman
Infant Mortality Rate 43 deaths per 1000 live births, (UDHS 2016)
Under Five Mortality Rate 64 deaths per 1,000 live births, (UDHS 2016)
Maternal mortality ratio 336 per 100,000 live births (UDHS 2016)
 

Education

 
  • The Gross Enrollment Rate at pre-primary level increased from 10.2 in the year 2013 to 16.6 in the year 2017
  • Primary school enrolment was at 8.8 million in the year 2017
  • Secondary school enrolment stood at 1,371,583 in the year 2017
  • 94 percent of the students who sat for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams in the year 2020, passed the examinations
  • 6 percent of the students who sat for UCE exams in the year 2020 failed
  • In the year 2017, more than two thirds of pupils attending primary school had adequate sitting space
  • 228,563 students were orphans in the year 2017
 

Labour Force, Employment and Earnings

 
  • The total working population was estimated at 18.3 million persons in the year 2021; an increase from 15.9 million persons in 2019/20
  • The Employment to Population Ratio (EPR) in the year 2021 was 43 percent, implying that less than half of the Working Age Population was employed during that period
  • There was a slight decrease in the proportion of working population in purely subsistence agriculture from 48 percent in 2019/20 to 40 percent in the year 2021
  • The highest percentage of the working population (61%) was engaged in Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry in the year 2021
  • The percentage of population in employment in Uganda increased from 8.3 million persons in 2019/2020 to about 10 million persons in the year 2021
  • The overall unemployment rate increased to 12 percent in the year 2021 from about nine percent in 2019/20
  • About 40 percent of children aged 5 – 17 years were involved in child labour in the year 20210
 

Income and Expenditure

 
  • Updates in the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS) data sets/waves from 2005/06 to 2019/20 indicate that, the largest share of household expenditure continues to be food (40.5%), followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel (18.2%), education (8.6%);
  • According to the 2018/19 and 2019/20 UNPS, 76 percent of the households remained in the bottom 40 percent of the wealth quintile while 10 percent remained in the top 60 percent of the wealth quintile
 

Health

 
  • The number of functional healthcare facilities decreased to 6,232 in 2019/20, from 6,904 in 2018/19 irrespective of the ownership status
  • The human resource statistics for health indicate that 74 percent of approved posts in health facilities were filled up in the FY 2020/21 compared to 65 percent recorded in the FY 2019/20
  • Government allocation on health reduced from 7.2 percent in 2019/20 to 6.1 percent 2020/21
  • The per capita health expenditure in the FY 2019/20 was Uganda Shillings 57,715 (about USD 16) compared to Uganda Shillings 55,339 registered in the previous FY 2018/19
  • Malaria continues to be the leading cause of death followed by Pneumonia
  • The health facility based on maternal mortality declined from 99 deaths per 100,000 live deliveries in 2019/20 to 92 in 2020/21
  • Haemorrhage still remains the leading cause of maternal illness and mortality in the country accounting for 42 percent of the deaths in 2020/21
  • Breast and Prostate cancer were the leading type of cancer recorded in patients in the FY 2020/21
 

Crime

 
  • The Annual Crime Rate (ACR) stood at 451, i.e out of every 100,000 people, 451 were victims of crime in 2021
  • The number of crimes reported to Police increased from 195,931 in 2020 to 196,081 in 2021
  • A total of 26,066 vehicles were involved in road accident crashes in 2021 compared to 17,992 vehicles reported in 2020
  • A total of 12,249 road traffic crashes were recorded by the Uganda Police Force in 2020
  • A total of 18,035 casualties were reported in the year 2021 and Accident Severity Index reported at 24
  • About 30 percent of road accident crashes occurred between 4:00-7:59pm in 2021
  • 331 prisoners occupied space meant for 100 prisoners in 2021 compared to 295 prisoners recorded in 2020
 

Agriculture

 
  • In 2021, there was a 15 percent increase in the volume of coffee produced same as in 2020; while Tea production increased by 10 percent in 2021
  • Production of all other food crops increased except plantains, specifically Banana Food (Matooke), that decreased by about five percent in 2021
 

Index of production

 
  • The index of production increased by nine percent in 2021 from an average index of 293.3 in 2020 to an average index of 318.8 in 2021
 

Energy

 
  • Total import of petroleum products increased by 12 percent from 2,047,237 in 2020 to 2,298,129 cubic meters recorded in 2021
  • A total of 2.282 billion litres of selected petroleum products were sold in 2021 reflecting a 10 percent increase in 2021 compared to 2.068 billion litres of sales in 2020
  • Total installed capacity of electricity power sources increased by 4.4 percent from 1269.053 MW in 2020 to 1,346.7 MW in 2021
  • Total Electricity generated increased by about eight percent GWh in 2021 i.e from 4,419 GWh in 2019/20 to748.7 GWh in 2020/2021
  • Electricity purchased by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company from the generating companies increased from 3,899 GWh in 2019/20 to 4,233 GWh in 2020/21
 

Building and construction

 
  • During 2021, the majority (64.5%) of Building Plans submitted were for residential structures, followed by commercial structures (24.1%), mixed-use structures (4.8%) and institutional structures (2.9%)
  • Total Net Domestic Supply of cement registered about 24 percent increase in 2021, with 3,997 thousand tonnes from 3,226.5 thousand tonnes in 2020
 

Minerals

 
  • There was a decrease in the total value of the minerals produced from 124.2 billion shillings in 2020 to 105.4 billion shillings
 

Transport

 
  • The total national road length during the FY2020/21 increased by 0.02 percent, from 21,016.18. km in FY2019/20 to 21,021.40 km in FY2020/21
  • The number of newly registered motor vehicles and motor cycles increased by 57.1 percent to 227,952 in CY2021 from 145,132 recorded in CY2020
  • There was a 49.1 percent increase in the aircraft movement at Entebbe Airport in CY2021 compared to 52.3 percent decrease registered in CY2020
  • In CY 2020, there was an increase in total number of passengers using Entebbe Airport to 950,362 (66.3%) in 2021, from 571,564 registered in 2020
 

Communication

 
  • The total number of mobile money registered customers increased by almost 16.8 percent, from almost 28.0 Million customers in CY2020 to 32.7 million customers in CY2021
  • The total volume of letters handled by Posta Uganda increased by 14.1 percent in CY2021, from 497,258 letters in CY2020 to 567,456 letters in 2021
 

Migration and Tourism

 
  • Uganda registered about 1.3 million people arriving and departing out of the country in 2020 compared to 2.3 million travellers recorded in 2019, reflecting a 43 percent decline
  • There were about 0.72 million persons entering the country (arrivals) and about 0.86 million leaving the country (departures) in 2021
  • In 2020, about 473,000 visitors entered Uganda through the eight ports of entry/exit and about 485,000 visitors left the country
  • The main reason for visitors into Uganda in 2020 was transit or visiting friend/relative(s).
Page Updated on the 19th of May 2023.