Butaleja Population 2026

Butaleja has a population of 24,000, making it the #81 biggest city in 🇺🇬 Uganda, located in Eastern Region. It is about 70× smaller than Kampala, the country's biggest city.

Location of Butaleja (capital Kampala shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

24,000

Rank in Uganda

#81

Coordinates

0.91°N, 33.95°E

~1,067 m elevation · Africa/Kampala

Distance to capital (Kampala)

166 km

103 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Eastern Region

City	Population	Rank in Uganda
Mbale	111,300	#20
Jinja	93,061	#24
Kamuli	67,800	#31
Iganga	65,500	#33
Busia	64,900	#34
Soroti	60,900	#36
Kapchorwa	51,200	#41
Tororo	48,500	#45

Cities near Butaleja

Busolwe16,800 people · ~7 km away
Budaka29,100 people · ~11 km away
Namutumba22,600 people · ~31 km away
Mbale111,300 people · ~31 km away
Nakaloke33,700 people · ~34 km away
Tororo48,500 people · ~35 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Butaleja?

Butaleja has a population of 24,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #81 biggest city in Uganda.

What region is Butaleja in?

Butaleja is located in Eastern Region, Uganda.

Is Butaleja the capital of Uganda?

No, the capital of Uganda is Kampala, about 166 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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