Currently we do not buy Ugandan Shillings.

UGX – Ugandan Shilling

Issuer

Bank of Uganda (BOU)

Monetary System

1966: 1 Ugandan shilling (UGS) = 100 cents
1987: 1 Ugandan shilling (UGX) = 100 cents

Bank of Uganda

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) was established on 1 July 1966 and started using its own currency on 15 August 1966 after the collapse of the East African Currency Board.
For more information, visit www.bou.or.ug.

2010 – 2019 Issues

These notes feature a harmonized banknote design that depict Uganda’s rich historical, natural, and cultural heritage. They also bear improved security features. Five images appear on all the six denominations: Ugandan mat patterns, Ugandan basketry, the map of Uganda (complete with the equator line), the Independence Monument, and a profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress. Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile said the new notes did not constitute a currency reform, nor were they dictated by politics. The redesign, he said, was driven by the need to comply with international practices and to beat counterfeiters. “Uganda is the first country in Africa to introduce the ultra-modern security feature called SPARK,” an optical variable ink from SICPA first used on Kazakhstan’s 5,000-tengé commemorative of 2008.
These notes bear no printer imprint, though it is known that De La Rue was involved in the design of at least the 20,000-shilling note, and likely all the other denominations, too. However, a contract dated 26 July 2018 required Oberthur Fudiciaire to print 170 million 5,000-shilling notes and 130 million 10,000-shilling notes. The dates of these notes is unknown.
Each note has a 7-digit serial number and 2-letter prefix. The prefixes start at AA, and the second letter advances alphabetically over time before advancing the first letter. New date and signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.

Description: 1,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 131 x 64 mm

Orange. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; Nyero rock paintings in Kumi; savannah grasslands; purple-to-green OVI patch; coat of arms. Back: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; kob (antelope); National Independence monument in Kampala. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU I. Watermark: Crested crane, electrotype 1000, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 131 x 64 mm. Paper.

Description: 2,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 135 x 66 mm

Blue. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; Source of the Nile Monument in Njeru; Nile river; purple-to-green OVI patch; coat of arms. Back: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; talapia fish; National Independence monument in Kampala. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU II. Watermark: Crested crane, electrotype 2000, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 135 x 66 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 139 x 68 mm

Green. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; World War I and II memorial at Constitutional Square in Kampala; Rwenzori mountains; purple-to-green OVI patch; coat of arms. Back: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; bird’s nest; weaver birds; National Independence monument in Kampala. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU V. Watermark: Crested crane and electrotype 5000. Printer: (De La Rue). 139 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 143 x 70 mm

Purple and red. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; Key to Success monument at Kyambogo University; Sipi Falls at Mount Elgon; green-to-blue SPARK feature; coat of arms; jugs. Back: English and Swahili text; jugs; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; matoke plantains; National Independence monument in Kampala. Holographic stripe. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU X. Watermark: Crested crane and electrotype 10000. Printer: (De La Rue). 143 x 70 mm. Paper.

Description: 20,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 147 x 72 mm

Red. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; Socio Economic Growth of Kampala City monument in Centenary Park in Kam pala; trees and crater lake in Ndali; green-to-blue SPARK feature; coat of arms; drums. Back: English and Swahili text; drums; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; long-horned bull; National Independence monument in Kampala. Holographic stripe. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU XX. Watermark: Crested crane and electrotype 20000. Printer: (De La Rue). 147 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 50,000.00 UGX – Ugandan Shilling Size: 151 x 74 mm

Gold. Front: English and Swahili text; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; Stride monument of family with CHOGM flag; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; green-to-blue SPARK feature; coat of arms; shields. Back: English and Swahili text; shields; profile of a man wearing Karimojong headdress; sun; map; silver back mountain gorillas; National Independence monument in Kampala. Holographic stripe. Red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU L. Watermark: Crested crane and electrotype 50000. Printer: (De La Rue). 151 x 74 mm. Paper.

Extras

On 1 July 2010, the East African Community (www.eac.int)—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda launched the EAC Common Market for goods, labor, and capital within the region, with the goals of a common currency (the East African shilling) by 2012, and full political federation in 2015. The common currency has yet to come to pass.

According to an article on Daily Monitor dated 30 December 2010, the Bank of Uganda used an image of a sculpture on the front of the 20,000-shilling note issued 17 May 2010 without the permission of its creator, Sylivia Nabiteeko Katende, a senior lecturer at the Margaret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art at Makerere University. The artist is suing the bank for over 1 billion shillings (US$430,000), claiming fraudulent use of her intellectual property. Ms Katende claims she created the sculpture, named the Socio Economic Growth of Kampala City, to commemorate the city’s centenary celebrations in 2000.

According to an UGPulse article, Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile said the Bank of Uganda would consider introducing a 100,000-shilling banknote if inflation doesn’t ease from recent levels around 30 percent. Currently the largest denomination is the 50,000-shilling note issued on 17 May 2010.In a follow-up statement dated 11 November 2011, the Bank of Uganda clarified that it is not contemplating and has no immediate plans to introduce a 100,000-shilling note and that the bank has no intention of changing its currency structure at the moment.