A powerful earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale shook large parts of Uganda on Sunday night, startling residents and triggering concern across several regions. The tremor, which struck at approximately 9:19 p.m. local time, was felt far beyond its epicentre, making it one of the most noticeable seismic events experienced in the country in recent months.
According to preliminary readings from global monitoring agencies, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 4.5, while GeoTech recorded a closely aligned magnitude of 4.49. The epicentre was traced to the Nakasongola area in central Uganda, a region situated within the country’s active seismic corridor.
Experts noted that the earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth beneath the Earth’s surface. Such shallow seismic events often produce stronger ground shaking and can be felt across wider distances despite having only a moderate magnitude, helping explain why the tremor was experienced in multiple parts of the country.
Residents in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and surrounding districts reported feeling buildings vibrate and furniture shake. Similar reports emerged from eastern Uganda, including Jinja, while communities in western districts and sections of northern Uganda also experienced varying levels of ground movement.
Many eyewitnesses described moments of confusion and alarm as the shaking began unexpectedly. Some residents said they initially believed strong winds or structural problems were causing the movement, while others reported hearing unusual rumbling sounds moments before the tremors became noticeable.
Uganda’s location within the Albertine Rift places it along one of Africa’s most geologically active regions. The rift forms part of the larger East African Rift System, where tectonic forces continue to slowly pull the African continent apart, creating conditions that frequently generate earthquakes of varying strengths.
The country’s seismic history includes several significant earthquakes, the most powerful being the magnitude 7.2 earthquake recorded on May 20, 1990, near the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo border.
Although that event occurred far from densely populated urban centres, it remains the strongest earthquake associated with Uganda’s seismic zone.
While no major damage or casualties had been officially reported following Sunday’s earthquake, experts continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks. The latest tremor serves as another reminder of Uganda’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the ongoing geological forces shaping one of the world’s most active continental rift systems.
