A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Uganda on Sunday night, sending tremors across large parts of the country and alarming residents who described it as one of the strongest seismic events felt in recent months.

According to preliminary data from international monitoring agencies, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale. GeoTech reported a similar magnitude of 4.49. The quake occurred at approximately 9:19 PM local time, with its epicentre located near Nakasongola District in central Uganda.

Experts say the earthquake was relatively shallow, a factor that contributed to its widespread impact. Shallow earthquakes often produce stronger ground shaking that can be felt over greater distances compared to deeper seismic events.

Residents in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja, and parts of western and northern Uganda reported feeling the tremors. Many described hearing rumbling sounds moments before the ground began shaking.

“The entire house shook for several seconds. At first, we thought it was a strong wind or an explosion,” one resident said.

Uganda is situated within the Albertine Rift, a branch of the East African Rift System, where tectonic activity frequently generates earthquakes. Although Sunday’s earthquake caused concern, no major damage or casualties had been reported by the time of publication.

Geologists continue to monitor the area for possible aftershocks while authorities assess whether any infrastructure was affected by the seismic event.