Uganda

American  

[yoo-gan-duh, oo-gahn‑] / yuˈgæn də, uˈgɑn‑ /

noun

1. an independent state in E Africa, between the NE Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British protectorate. 91,065 sq. mi. (241,068 sq. km). Kampala.

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Uganda British  

/ juːˈɡændə /

noun

1. a republic in E Africa: British protectorate established in 1894–96; gained independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1963; a member of the Commonwealth. It consists mostly of a savanna plateau with part of Lake Victoria in the southeast and mountains in the southwest, reaching 5109 m (16 763 ft) in the Ruwenzori Range. Official language: English; Swahili, Luganda, and Luo are also widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: Ugandan shilling. Capital: Kampala. Pop: 34 758 809 (2013 est). Area: 235 886 sq km (91 076 sq miles)

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Uganda Cultural  

1. Landlocked nation on Lake Victoria in east-central Africa, bordered by Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Sudan to the north, and Kenya to the east. Its capital and largest city is Kampala.

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Discover More

From 1971 to 1979, Uganda was ruled by the notorious military strongman Idi Amin. It is estimated that Amin killed as many as 300,000 Ugandans through internal purges and campaigns of terror before he was overthrown.

Under Amin, Uganda was a sponsor of international terrorism. In 1976, a French airliner was hijacked and flown to Entebbe Airport outside Kampala. An Israeli commando unit subsequently rescued the hostages in a sensational raid.

Other Word Forms

• Ugandan adjective

Example Sentences

Two years earlier, 15 players and the team doctor were granted asylum in Uganda after they absconded.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Eight people from different African countries have been deported to Uganda from the United States, the first such transfer under a migration deal signed last year.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The BBC's US partner CBS News reports that Uganda agreed to accept deported migrants as long as they did not have criminal histories.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

After finishing the fall semester of his sophomore year, Bior returned to Uganda for winter break.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

They walked to Uganda to get away from the fighting, going south as I went east with Abraham.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau