Uganda Country Code (+256): Complete Calling Guide 2026
Complete guide to calling Uganda with country code +256. Learn Kampala area codes, MTN/Airtel mobile prefixes, calling costs, Pearl of Africa facts, and the +256 vs US 256 confusion.
The Uganda country code is +256. To call Uganda from the United States, dial 011-256 from a landline or +256 from a mobile phone, followed by the area code and local number. Kampala uses area code 41, while mobile numbers are 9 digits starting with 7.
This guide covers everything you need to call Uganda: city area codes, mobile carriers (MTN, Airtel), dialing examples, calling costs, and time zone details. Churchill called Uganda the "Pearl of Africa" — home to half the world's mountain gorillas, the source of the Nile, Africa's largest tropical lake, the birthplace of Robusta coffee, and the youngest population on Earth.
Uganda +256 Quick Reference
| Country Code: +256 | Capital: Kampala (area code 41) |
| US Exit Code: 011 | Currency: Ugandan Shilling (UGX) |
| Trunk Prefix: 0 (drop internationally) | Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3) — no DST |
| Mobile Format: +256 + 9 digits | Landline Format: +256 + area code + number |
| Population: ~55 million | Languages: English, Swahili, Luganda |
How to Call Uganda from the US
Kampala Landline: 011 + 256 + 41 + 7-digit number → Example: 011-256-41-234-5678
MTN Mobile: +256 + 77/78/76/79 + 7 digits → Example: +256 77 123 4567
Airtel Mobile: +256 + 70/75/74 + 7 digits → Example: +256 75 987 6543
Important: Drop the leading 0. Inside Uganda, locals dial 077-XXX-XXXX. Internationally, replace the 0 with +256: +256 77 XXX XXXX.
Uganda Area Codes by City
| City / Region | Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|
| Kampala | 41 | +256 41 XXX XXXX |
| Jinja | 43 | +256 43 XXX XXXX |
| Mbale | 45 | +256 45 XXX XXXX |
| Gulu | 471 | +256 471 XXX XXX |
| Mbarara | 485 | +256 485 XXX XXX |
| Fort Portal | 483 | +256 483 XXX XXX |
| Masaka | 481 | +256 481 XXX XXX |
| Kabale | 486 | +256 486 XXX XXX |
Landlines are rare in Uganda. Over 95% of phone connections are mobile.
Uganda Mobile Carriers
| Carrier | Market Share | Prefixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN Uganda | ~54% | 077, 078, 076, 079 | 22.8M subscribers (Q1 2025) |
| Airtel Uganda | ~39% | 070, 075, 074 | Subsidiary of Bharti Airtel (India) |
| Uganda Telecom | ~2% | 071 | Government-owned, small share |
Uganda has 37.1 million mobile subscribers. MTN Mobile Money processes UGX 435 billion (~$117M) daily.
Cost of Calling Uganda from the US
| Method | Landline | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T (no plan) | $2.69/min | $2.72/min |
| T-Mobile (no plan) | ~$3.00/min | ~$3.00/min |
| T-Mobile Magenta | $0.20/min | $0.20/min |
| BubblyPhone (VoIP) | From $0.15/min | From $0.20/min |
Uganda Time Zone
Uganda uses East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3 year-round with no daylight saving time. When it's 9:00 AM in New York, it's 5:00 PM in Kampala. Best calling window: 7-10 AM US Eastern (3-6 PM Uganda).
The Pearl of Africa
Winston Churchill visited Uganda in 1907. In his 1908 book My African Journey, he wrote: "For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life — bird, insect, reptile, beast — for vast scale — Uganda is truly the Pearl of Africa." The phrase was originally coined by explorer Henry Morton Stanley in 1898.
Uganda earned this name through extraordinary biodiversity: Lake Victoria (world's largest tropical lake), the Rwenzori Mountains (Africa's 3rd highest at 5,109m), the source of the White Nile at Jinja, and over half the world's mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Mountain Gorillas: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to approximately half of the world's 1,063 mountain gorillas (2024 census). The population grows at about 3% per year since 2010. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $700, compared to $1,500 in neighboring Rwanda.
Birthplace of Robusta Coffee
Uganda is the birthplace of Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora). Uganda produces approximately 85% Robusta and 15% Arabica, with exports hitting a 30-year high in 2024: 6.13 million bags earning $1.14 billion. Uganda is Africa's top coffee exporter by volume.
The World's Youngest Population
With a median age of just 17.1 years, Uganda has one of the youngest populations on Earth. 77% of Ugandans are under 25. The population of ~55 million is growing at ~3.4% annually and projected to reach 105 million by 2050. Kampala, built on seven hills (like Rome), has expanded across at least 21 hills today.
Uganda +256 vs. US Area Code 256
Uganda's country code +256 shares the same three digits as US area code 256 (Huntsville, Alabama — "Rocket City"). They are completely different: Uganda dial +256-XX-XXX-XXXX. Huntsville dial +1-256-XXX-XXXX. The US country code +1 distinguishes them.
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