Uganda

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Its geography is dominated by Lake Victoria, a central plateau, and the presence of equatorial forests and savannas.

Historically, the area was inhabited by various peoples who established several kingdoms, including the powerful Buganda Kingdom, from which the country takes its name. Uganda became a British protectorate in 1894 and gained independence in 1962.

The largest ethnic group is the Baganda, representing about 16% of the population and mainly living in the central region. Their language, Luganda, is widely spoken, along with English and Swahili, the official languages of the country.

Since 1986, the country has experienced a period of relative stability, which has allowed for a gradual restoration of democratic rules and the implementation of numerous political and institutional reforms. In the post-pandemic period, the economy has seen a progressive recovery of real GDP growth from 2020/21 onwards: for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, real GDP growth accelerated to 6.3%, compared to 6.1% previously. Domestic demand made the largest contribution, with an overall increase of 10.3%, supported by a record rise in public spending during the pre-election period (2026 presidential elections) and a recovery in private consumption.

Italian Contribution

In Uganda, the Italian Cooperation has been engaged for over thirty years in a wide range of initiatives spanning health, sustainable agriculture, environment, and support to refugees, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable regions, such as Karamoja, affected by socioeconomic fragility and instability. With the Resolution of the Joint Committee No. 64 of 28 June 2024, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) established a new office in Kampala, building on Italy’s longstanding presence in the health sector and with renewed attention to the country’s infrastructure needs.

Health sector interventions aim to strengthen the Ugandan public health system and improve access to basic healthcare services. In the agricultural and environmental sectors, Italian Cooperation promotes sustainable and inclusive agri-food value chains, regenerative practices, and reforestation, with a particular focus on food security, the empowerment of women and persons with disabilities, and sustainable management of natural resources. In line with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) — the new national development plan replacing the previous Three-Year Plan and guiding the country’s medium-term strategy — support is provided to strengthen the private sector through the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Within the framework of humanitarian response, Italian Cooperation supports the resilience of refugee and host communities in the northern part of the country, in collaboration with United Nations organizations and civil society actors active in the sector, promoting health, livelihoods, and social inclusion.