Explore Uganda

Introduction to Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. Approximately 41.2 million people live in an area around the same size as the state of Victoria.

The main languages are Swahili, English and Luganda, but there are also over 50 Indigenous languages.

World Vision has been working in Uganda since 1986. Today, we operate in more than 50 districts, working to improve the wellbeing of six million children.

Fun facts

Greetings

Greetings vary from place to place. But wherever people are, they typically greet others with bright smiles and take the time to ask how they are – whether they know them or not.

One of the common greetings in Central Uganda is "Wasuze otya onno?” This means "How was your night?" The response is usually "Nasuze bulungi", which means "I slept well".

The national sport

Football (soccer) is extremely popular – especially English Premier League teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. But there’s also a big following for rugby – both local and international.

Traditional dances

There are 56 different tribes in Uganda. Each one has its own unique dance – and accompanying music and song – and these are important symbols of identity.

For instance, the Ekitaguriro is danced by the Banyancore people in the Ankole District to demonstrate their love of cattle.

The Ekizino dance, performed by the Bakiga people from the Kigezi region, was originally performed when the king was going to settle disputes in the kingdom. It’s therefore known as a court dance.

Try this at home

Here’s a recipe for binyebwa, a delicious traditional sauce which tastes like satay!

Binyebwa recipe

World Vision in Uganda

With the help of our donors and supporters, we partner with communities in Uganda to address the causes and effects of poverty.

Through community development, emergency relief and advocacy, we work to:

• improve health, nutrition and hygiene;
• increase access to clean water and toilets;
• ensure all children gain a good education;
• help families grow their incomes;
• empower women through economic opportunities;
• respond to emergencies, including the needs of refugees from neighbouring countries; and
• protect children from harm, focusing especially on children at risk of early marriage and violence.