Debunking The Claim: Was Buganda Excluded from the Uganda Map?
Over the past few weeks, an image of the Map of Uganda showing different regions has sparked a lot of debate, resentment among people online and offline. At the center of this controversy is that the map doesn’t state Buganda as a region (whereas other regions are named) and rather states “North Central”.
The image which quickly spread online caused uproar and resentment from many users online with some suggesting it was a deliberate attempt by the government to erase Buganda from Uganda’s history.
It’s funny that Buganda is no longer on the Ugandan map, they instead call it the central region 😂😂
Must you hate us that much pic.twitter.com/vrKoXr1kIr— Pages 🇺🇬 (@EddiePages) March 23, 2025
The deliberate exclusion of Buganda from several official maps is as ridiculous as it is ludicrous. If they really want to erase Buganda from the map then let them come & un-alive all of us… Otherwise akaalo kebayita Buganda kadda, atte ela kaliko nyini ko. pic.twitter.com/ut46As1pbT
— Ssenga 🎭 (@Kall_essy) March 20, 2025
Questions arise about why Buganda is missing from Uganda’s map. pic.twitter.com/DYjaZdvIJy
— Muhamadi Matovu (@MuhamadiMatovu) March 21, 2025
Context
The map circulating was first published in 2016. This map was published in the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2016 by Uganda Bureau Of Statistics (UBOS). This map, which sparked outrage from Buganda Kingdom officials and the Kabaka himself was quickly apologized to by UBOS and clarified that Buganda Kingdom will always be existent on the Map Of Uganda.
THE BUGANDA QUESTION ANSWERED: At last, Buganda Kingdom @BugandaOfficial has come to a common ground with UBOS that Buganda was not deleted off the map, it is the naming that differed. Central 1 and 2 are now Buganda North and South. @bmungyereza @nbstv @ntvuganda pic.twitter.com/kUTtHFXhgb
— UBOS Uganda Bureau of Statistics (@StatisticsUg) June 27, 2018
Obwakabaka butangazizza ku nsonga za Buganda okuggyibwa ku maapu ya Uganda.
Omwogezi w’Obwakabaka Owek. @KazibweIsrael ayogeddeko eri Bannamawulire n’atangaaza ku ddoboozi lya Kabaka awamu n’erya Katikkiro agoogera ku nsonga eno.
Owek. Kazibwe agamba nti ensonga eno yavaayo… pic.twitter.com/U3jyqu6yP2
— Buganda Kingdom (@BugandaOfficial) March 24, 2025
Misleading Context
A video circulating online from 2019 where Kabaka Ronald Mwenda Mutebi questioned why Buganda Kingdom wasn’t mentioned on the map of Uganda has been taken out of context. The re-surfaced video has been shared by many users with many believing that it’s current and addresses the viral image of the map that excludes Buganda.
“Lwaki Buganda teri ku maapu ya Uganda?”
Kiki ekigendererwa?#NnyinimuAsimye pic.twitter.com/C6SSMHsoEl
— Hon Betty Nambooze Bakireke (@HonNambooze) March 21, 2025
Reactions from political figures
National Unity Platform President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine expressed his displeasure at the government for having erased Buganda from Uganda. He said that it has been going on for a long time despite he huge sacrifice the region has contributed to the stability of the country.
Buganda Kingdom responds.
Buganda Kingdom through it’s Katitkkiro Charles Peter Mayiga clarified any misunderstandings the viral map could have brought to it’s people. He stated that the map was from 6 years ago and that issue had been clarified and cleared with Uganda Bureau Of Statistics. He urged them to remain steadfast and confident that Buganda will always be present on the Ugandan map.
No one can remove Buganda from Uganda map –Mayiga
“I was also surprised seeing that social media rumor claiming that Buganda is not on the map. I would like to clarify and also refer you to our 2024 national population and housing census report which was published on December… pic.twitter.com/riCkgNvNOt
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) March 26, 2025
“Tewali ayinza kuggya Buganda ku maapu ya Uganda, kubanga Buganda ly’ejjinja okwatonderwa Uganda ey’awamu” Katikkiro @cpmayiga agumizza Obuganda ku bya maapu ya Uganda etambuzibwa nga tekuli Buganda
Katikkiro akuutidde abantu ba Buganda okusigala obumu baleme kufaayo kw’abo… pic.twitter.com/VCpo2BkjU4
— Buganda Kingdom (@BugandaOfficial) March 25, 2025
Fact Check
To ascertain and find the current Map of Uganda showing regions, we cross checked with the Uganda Bureau Of Statistics website and from the National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2024-Final-Report (pg 28) it clearly indicates Buganda as one of the regions.
Verdict
The viral image of the map circulating online without Buganda is False and misleading. It is from 6 years ago and the issue was rectified and clarified by Uganda Bureau Of Statistics. The current map also indicates Buganda as one of the regions on the Ugandan map.
