Government & politics — Uganda
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Uganda: Republic of Uganda
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Republic of Uganda
- Country Name
Uganda
- Etymology- history of name
from the name "Buganda," adopted by the British as the designation for their East African colony in 1894; Buganda had been a powerful East African state during the 18th and 19th centuries
- Independence
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
- National Holiday
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Political system
- Government Type
presidential republic
- Constitution
- history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995,
- promulgated 8 October 1995 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2018
- Legal System:
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986); Vice President Je
- ssica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021) head of government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021); note - the prime minister is appointed by the president, with the approval of parliament, to coordin
- ate the work of the cabinet and advise the president. cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly or persons who qualify to be elect
- ed as members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held
- on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: 2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4% 2016: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 60.6%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 35.6%, other 3.8%
- Legislative Branch:
Description
unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (556 seats; 353 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 146 for women directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote, and 30 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5, older persons 5; 27 ex officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections
last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in February 2026)
Election Results
- percent of vote by party - NA
- seats by party - NRM 336, NUP 57, FDC 32, DP 9, UPDF 10, UPC 9, independent 76 (excludes 27 ex-officio members)
- composition as of February 2024 - men 368, women 189, percentage women 33.9%
- Judicial Branch:
- highest court(s): Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justic
- e and at least 6 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices
- serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts
- Regions or States:
Summary
134 districts and 1 capital city*
Regions or States
- Abim
- Adjumani
- Agago
- Alebtong
- Amolatar
- Amudat
- Amuria
- Amuru
- Apac
- Arua
- Budaka
- Bududa
- Bugiri
- Bugweri
- Buhweju
- Buikwe
- Bukedea
- Bukomansimbi
- Bukwo
- Bulambuli
- Buliisa
- Bundibugyo
- Bunyangabu
- Bushenyi
- Busia
- Butaleja
- Butambala
- Butebo
- Buvuma
- Buyende
- Dokolo
- Gomba
- Gulu
- Hoima
- Ibanda
- Iganga
- Isingiro
- Jinja
- Kaabong
- Kabale
- Kabarole
- Kaberamaido
- Kagadi
- Kakumiro
- Kalaki
- Kalangala
- Kaliro
- Kalungu
- Kampala*
- Kamuli
- Kamwenge
- Kanungu
- Kapchorwa
- Kapelebyong
- Karenga
- Kasese
- Kasanda
- Katakwi
- Kayunga
- Kazo
- Kibaale
- Kiboga
- Kibuku
- Kikuube
- Kiruhura
- Kiryandongo
- Kisoro
- Kitagwenda
- Kitgum
- Koboko
- Kole
- Kotido
- Kumi
- Kwania
- Kween
- Kyankwanzi
- Kyegegwa
- Kyenjojo
- Kyotera
- Lamwo
- Lira
- Luuka
- Luwero
- Lwengo
- Lyantonde
- Madi-Okollo
- Manafwa
- Maracha
- Masaka
- Masindi
- Mayuge
- Mbale
- Mbarara
- Mitooma
- Mityana
- Moroto
- Moyo
- Mpigi
- Mubende
- Mukono
- Nabilatuk
- Nakapiripirit
- Nakaseke
- Nakasongola
- Namayingo
- Namisindwa
- Namutumba
- Napak
- Nebbi
- Ngora
- Ntoroko
- Ntungamo
- Nwoya
- Obongi
- Omoro
- Otuke
- Oyam
- Pader
- Pakwach
- Pallisa
- Rakai
- Rubanda
- Rubirizi
- Rukiga
- Rukungiri
- Rwampara
- Sembabule
- Serere
- Sheema
- Sironko
- Soroti
- Tororo
- Wakiso
- Yumbe
- Zombo
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]
- Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Patrick Oboi AMURIAT]
- Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA]
- National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]
- National Unity Platform [Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU, known as Bobi WINE]
- People's Progressive Party or PPP [Jaberi Bidandi SSALI]
- Uganda People's Congress or UPC [James AKENA]
- Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship Criteria:
- no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must b
- yes residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Kampala
- Capital - geographic coordinate
0 19 N, 32 33 E
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- International Law Organization Participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
chief of mission
Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023) embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190
telephone
[256] (0) 312-306-001
FAX
[256] (0) 414-259-794
Email address and website
- KampalaWebContact@state.gov
- https://ug.usembassy.gov/
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
chief of mission
Ambassador Robinah KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)
chancery
5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone
[1] (202) 726-7100
FAX
[1] (202) 726-1727
Email address and website
- washington@mofa.go.ug
- https://washington.mofa.go.ug/