Largest Cities and Towns by Population in Uganda

235 cities and towns in Uganda with 17,500 or more inhabitants, ranked by population at the census of May 10, 2024 (by Uganda Bureau of Statistics).

Rank	City or Town	Population
1	Kampala	1,797,722
2	Nansana	692,478
3	Kira	459,827
4	Makindye-Ssabagabo	439,605
5	Arua	384,656
6	Kyengera	311,112
7	Mukono	305,945
8	Masaka	294,166
9	Mbaleincl. Nakaloke	290,414
10	Jinjaincl. Bugembe	279,184
11	Kasangati	277,685
12	Mbarara	264,425
13	Lira	245,132
14	Gulu	233,271
15	Njeru	201,484
16	Katabi	169,602
17	Kajjansi	155,058
18	Hoima	143,304
19	Fort Portalincl. Karago	137,549
20	Soroti	134,199
21	Kasese	133,629
22	Lugazi	129,795
23	Mityana	126,109
24	Ibanda	126,088
25	Mubende	113,298
26	Sheemaincl. Kibingo, Kabwohe, Itendero	98,594
27	Masindi	97,781
28	Wakiso	91,060
29	Kyaka II	90,021
30	Entebbe	81,160
31	Kamuli	76,758
32	LuweeroLuweero	73,644
33	Kyangwali	72,098
34	Nakivale	68,645
35	Koboko	67,727
36	Nakifuma-Naggalama	66,547
37	Yumbe	65,882
38	Mpondwe - Lhubiriha	65,539
39	Kabale	64,695
40	Busia	63,681
41	Bweyale	58,489
42	Iganga	56,381
43	Kapchorwa	54,520
44	Kotido	53,888
45	Bushenyi-Ishaka	52,408
46	Kitgum	50,166
47	Apac	49,593
48	Nebbi	49,191
49	Mpigi	48,461
50	Kasanje	46,962
51	Namungalwe	44,990
52	Rukungiri	43,529
53	Rwamwanja	43,456
54	Tororo	42,865
55	Kakira	42,854
56	Paidha	42,733
57	Palorinya Zone 2 / Zone 3	42,558
58	Busiika	42,412
59	Pallisa	41,108
60	Isingiro	39,957
61	Kumi	39,781
62	Buyengo	39,130
63	Kakiri	38,994
64	Kangulumira	37,937
65	Adjumani	36,853
66	Kasaali	36,659
67	Palabek	36,548
68	Wobulenzi	35,801
69	Kayunga	35,617
70	Kyenjojo	35,014
71	Ntenjeru-Kisoga	34,725
72	Buyende	33,843
73	Imvepi Zone 1 / Zone 2	33,756
74	Kyegegwa	33,476
75	Budaka	33,120
76	Lukaya	32,825
77	Nyakyera	32,724
78	Bidi Bidi Zone 1	32,233
79	Bugiri	31,819
80	Buwama	31,774
81	Kagadi	31,602
82	Pakwach	31,079
83	Bidi Bidi Zone 3	30,379
84	Buwenge	30,377
85	Kiryandongo	30,074
86	Muhorro	29,706
87	Aboke	29,469
88	Lobe	29,406
89	Lodonga	29,357
90	Bombo	29,298
91	NamayumbaLukoma	29,130
92	Barakala	28,583
93	Palorinya Base Camp / Zone 1	28,259
94	Kuru	28,238
95	Katosi	28,125
96	Kihiihi	28,033
97	Namutumba	27,400
98	Nabiganda	27,220
99	Bukuya	26,972
100	Nankoma	26,823
101	Bidi Bidi Zone 2	26,795
102	Kisoro	26,689
103	Bwondha	26,680
104	Kiboga	26,677
105	Ishongororo	26,426
106	Rwentobo-Rwahi	26,375
107	Nyamunuka	26,212
108	Kasawo	26,176
109	Minakulu	25,771
110	Kaabong	25,657
111	Mutumba	25,509
112	Butemba	25,338
113	NamayingoBuinja	25,252
114	Nyaravur - Angal	25,168
115	Kigumba	24,835
116	Butaleja	24,726
117	Dokolo	24,697
118	Kasambya	24,588
119	Kikyusa	24,478
120	Nyumanzi	24,281
121	Kitagwenda	24,135
122	Idudi	23,784
123	Banda	23,706
124	Ayilo 1/2	23,644
125	Kamwenge	23,638
126	Midigo	23,533
127	Kaliro	23,410
128	Buremba	23,182
129	Akalo	23,139
130	Namagera	22,908
131	Osukuru	22,511
132	Butunduzi	22,468
133	Namwendwa	22,400
134	Namataba	22,395
135	Rubaare	22,263
136	Kibibi	22,231
137	Anaka	22,113
138	IgayazaGayaza	22,077
139	GombeButambala	22,070
140	Kayabwe	22,005
141	Kiyindi	21,931
142	Busembatia	21,869
143	KyazangaBukoto	21,754
144	Magamaga	21,741
145	Mpara	21,660
146	Kiganda	21,647
147	Busaana	21,635
148	Ngora	21,488
149	Muwayo	21,084
150	Nakivale-Rubondo	21,057
151	Kacheri	20,959
152	Kitimbwa	20,941
153	Nabilatuk	20,874
154	Bundibugyo	20,828
155	Bukoova	20,788
156	Ntungamo	20,760
157	HapuuyoKitaleesa	20,751
158	Rubanda	20,687
159	Buikwe	20,665
160	Kidera	20,476
161	Aloi	20,426
162	Sironko	20,374
163	Katooke	20,303
164	Mayuge	20,197
165	Maaji 1/2/3	20,197
166	Kitwe	20,076
167	Kakukuru-Rwenanura	19,942
168	Nyahuka	19,913
169	Lyantonde	19,799
170	Kyaterekera	19,782
171	Kyenda	19,769
172	Rubuguri	19,584
173	Kisiita	19,570
174	Ssekanyonyi	19,540
175	Parombo	19,473
176	Nyakigumba	19,470
177	Kakabara	19,467
178	Busowa	19,432
179	Ibanda-Kyanya	19,430
180	Rhino Camp Ofua Zone	19,429
181	Buheesi	19,344
182	Bala	19,339
183	Rwimi	19,185
184	Naboa	19,156
185	Biguli	19,121
186	Karugutu	19,070
187	Loro	19,029
188	Busesa	19,021
189	Mpeefu ya Sande	19,010
190	LwengoLwensinga	18,964
191	Bubaare	18,956
192	Malaba	18,847
193	Nakivale-Juru	18,817
194	Nabingoola	18,815
195	Rushere	18,775
196	MasuliitaKiziba	18,669
197	Bwizibwera-Rutooma	18,664
198	Kisinga	18,653
199	Zombo	18,573
200	Nkuringo	18,511
201	Pagirinya	18,506
202	Buwuni	18,448
203	Busunju	18,391
204	Kamira	18,227
205	Kazo	18,217
206	Kyamukube	18,213
207	Namayemba	18,198
208	Karita	18,082
209	Ntunda	17,941
210	Kabuyanda	17,911
211	Buteraniro-Nyeihanga	17,898
212	Bukungu	17,754
213	Pader	17,704
214	Butogota	17,694
215	Hima	17,640
216	Bugadde	17,638
217	Kongunga	17,624
218	Endiinzi	17,623
219	Bukomero	17,622
220	Kanoni	17,570
221	Amuru	17,246
222	Kassanda	17,239
223	Bitooma	17,216
224	Shuuku	17,211
225	Kikuube	17,173
226	Kinoni	17,137
227	Mahyoro	17,119
228	Bugango	17,079
229	Buhoma	17,052
230	Nazigo	16,940
231	Zirobwe	16,895
232	Kebisoni	16,811
233	Moroto	16,769
234	Bukomansimbi	16,747
235	Budadiri	12,846

Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2024 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.Show moreShow less

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

27 urban areas in Uganda with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

Rank	Urban Area	Population Estimate (2026)	Yearly Change	Land Area (km²)	Density (P/km²)	World Rank	Projections (2030)	Projections (2050)
1	Kampala	5,012,188	+2.62%	828	6,056	84	5,537,167	7,893,623
2	Mbale City	403,422	+5.67%	115	3,508	1,422	494,851	1,276,059
3	Bukalasi	375,246	+7.99%	164	2,288	1,535	495,079	930,994
4	Jinja	274,018	+4.53%	81	3,400	2,150	323,674	490,966
5	Mbarara	237,671	+2.42%	48	4,993	2,496	260,650	370,881
6	Arua	234,330	+3.39%	52	4,524	2,533	266,088	409,439
7	Gulu	202,877	+2.85%	49	4,140	2,981	226,023	318,064
8	Masaka	167,716	+4.86%	40	4,193	3,646	200,323	358,936
9	Iganga	158,352	+2.32%	32	4,918	3,872	173,051	270,711
10	Buligenyi	155,503	+6.96%	66	2,370	3,952	198,748	563,608
11	Lira	144,686	+3.52%	35	4,087	4,274	165,057	256,960
12	Busia	126,470	+2.99%	23	5,596	4,888	141,586	234,982
13	Bwera	123,538	+4.05%	42	2,970	5,026	143,548	233,991
14	Kasese	104,411	+2.26%	19	5,438	5,996	113,855	151,726
15	Hoima	92,479	+6.08%	21	4,321	6,780	114,981	240,694
16	Koboko	89,588	+3.53%	20	4,525	7,015	102,221	146,893
17	Soroti	87,486	+3.58%	25	3,444	7,194	100,015	172,485
18	Mubende	79,202	+6.50%	13	5,911	7,977	99,786	199,117
19	Mityana	73,934	+5.17%	18	4,201	8,542	89,232	160,327
20	Fort Portal	66,810	+4.83%	24	2,784	9,390	79,708	157,637
21	Masindi	65,534	+5.20%	21	3,181	9,579	79,157	177,180
22	Yumbe	64,362	+3.69%	17	3,877	9,759	73,865	273,096
23	Lugazi	63,931	+2.59%	11	5,708	9,829	70,549	97,078
24	Njeru	61,795	+6.17%	9.60	6,437	10,164	77,049	140,375
25	Luweero	60,921	+2.69%	14	4,352	10,300	67,479	110,928
26	Kabale	58,551	+3.48%	20	2,987	10,663	66,693	101,351
27	Adjumani	55,868	+3.36%	15	3,628	11,164	63,374	90,509

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

Data topics

Reference

Tools

Largest Cities and Towns by Population in Uganda

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