Christianity is the predominant religion in Uganda. According to the 2014 census, over 84 percent of the population was Christian, while about 14 percent of the population adhered to Islam, making it the largest minority religion.[1]Anglicanism and Catholicism are the main Christian denominations in the country.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Uganda Constitution, but religions are expected to be registered with the government and then to secure a five-year license; registered groups are exempt from direct taxation.[4]
Freedom of religion
In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House.[5]
^ abcThe 1991 census did not have separate categories for "None" and "Pentecostal" so the 1991 category of "Other Christian" includes "Pentecostal" and the 1991 category "Other non-Christian" includes "Baháʼí Faith" and "None".
^ abcdefgThe 1991 and 2002 censuses did not have separate categories for "Baptist" and also had separate categories for "Other Christian" and "Other non-Christian" and "Baháʼí Faith" so the 2014 category of "Other" includes those (minus the Baptists). The census states that "Others" includes those religions with less than .1% of the population and specifically mentions Salvation Army, Baháʼí, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Presbyterian, Hindus, Mammon, Jews and Buddhists.
^If Pentecostals are merged in to allow better comparison with the 1991 figure for "Other Christians", it is 5.8%.
^If Baháʼí and None are merged in to allow better comparison with the 1991 figure for "Other non-Christians", it is 1.7%
According to the national census of 2014, Christians of all denominations comprised 85 percent of Uganda's population.[8] The Roman Catholic Church had the largest number of adherents (39.3 percent of the total population). The largest Protestant church was the Anglican Church of Uganda, a part of the worldwide Anglican communion, at 32 percent. The category of Pentecostal/Evangelical/Born Again made up 11.1% of the population, while Seventh-day Adventists made up 1.7%, Baptists 0.3% and Eastern Orthodox 0.1%.,[8] although some sources estimate their numbers to more than 3%[9]
According to the 2014 National Census, 14 percent of Ugandans adhered to Islam.[17][8] Most Muslims are Sunni,[4] with a small minority of Shia Muslims. There was a small group of Ahmadis in the country in 2012.[18]
There are a small community of Ugandan Jews called the Abayudaya, numbering some 2,000-3,000.[19] The group was formed by Semei Kakungulu in the early 20th century.[20]
Indigenous beliefs
About 1 percent of Uganda's population follow traditional religions only; however, in 2009, more people practiced traditional religious practices along with other religions such as Christianity or Islam.[3] One survey in 2010 showed that about 27 percent of Ugandans believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm.[21]
Interfaith
Uganda has received media attention for interfaith efforts in Mbale. Founded by JJ Keki, the Mirembe Kawomera (Delicious Peace) Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative brings together Muslim, Jewish, and Christian coffee farmers. Members of the cooperative use music to spread their message of peace. The Smithsonian Folkways album "Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda" features songs from members of the cooperative about their interfaith message.[22]
The Baháʼí Faith in Uganda started to grow in 1951 and in four years time there were 500 Baháʼís in 80 localities, including 13 Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assemblies, representing 30 tribes, and had dispatched 9 Baháʼí pioneers to other African locations.[23] Following the reign of Idi Amin when the Baháʼí Faith was banned and the murder of Baháʼí Hand of the CauseEnoch Olinga and his family,[24] the community continues to grow though estimates of the population range widely from 19,000 to 105,000 and the community's involvements have included diverse efforts to promote the welfare of the Ugandan people. One of only ten Baháʼí Houses of Worship in the world, known as the Mother Temple of Africa, is located on the outskirts of Kampala.[25]
Buddhism
The Uganda Buddhist Centre, founded in 2005 by Venerable Buddharakkhita, is an initiative that intends to provide the first stable source of Buddhism in Uganda.[26]
Only 0.9 percent of Ugandans claim no religion. The Uganda Humanist Association is a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union and has been registered since 1996.[27]
^ abUnited States Department of State (2009-10-26). "Uganda". International Religious Freedom Report 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
^
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (15 April 2010). "Executive Summary". Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Retrieved 2010-07-11.