20 Ugandan Shillings Banknote (Modern Architecture)

20 Shillings / Shili Ugandan Shilling (Issued 1987)

The 1987 issue of the Ugandan twenty shillings banknote arrived during one of the most consequential moments in the country’s monetary history, marking the currency reform period in which Uganda redenominated its currency to stabilise the economy following years of severe inflation and financial instability. The Bank of Uganda introduced this new shilling series to restore confidence in the national monetary system, replacing the previous currency at a rate of one hundred old shillings to one new shilling. This reform represented a decisive effort by the post-Obote government to rebuild Uganda’s financial infrastructure under President Yoweri Museveni, who had come to power in January 1986. The note therefore carries considerable historical significance as a tangible artefact of Uganda’s economic reconstruction.

On the front, the note is dominated by a vivid palette of purple and violet tones overlaid with fine guilloché patterning that fills the background in an intricate geometric weave, with softer pink and lilac tints visible in the corner quadrants. The issuing authority is stated prominently at the top centre in bold serif lettering reading “BANK OF UGANDA”, with the denomination numeral “20” appearing in each of the four corners of the note. At the centre-left of the design sits the Ugandan national coat of arms, rendered in detailed intaglio engraving: it features two crested cranes as supporters flanking a shield, with a drum at the crest and the national motto “FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY” inscribed on a ribbon below. To the right of the coat of arms, a stylised outline map of Uganda is printed in a deeper violet, set within a diamond-shaped geometric frame. The denomination is stated in both English and Luganda in bold capital lettering: “TWENTY SHILLINGS” above and “SHILINGI ISHIRINI” below, with the additional legal tender declaration “LEGAL TENDER FOR TWENTY SHILLINGS FOR BANK OF UGANDA” printed in smaller text beneath. The serial number BC 555820 appears twice on the front — once in the lower left and once to the right of centre — printed in dark ink. Two facsimile signatures appear at the bottom of the note, attributed to the Governor and the Secretary to the Treasury respectively, with their titles printed beneath each signature. The year 1987 is printed in the lower right quadrant. A smaller rendition of the coat of arms appears in the lower right corner as a secondary security motif.

The reverse of the note continues the purple and violet colour scheme, with the background filled with fine repetitive guilloché microprinting and geometric latticework. Flanking the central design on both the left and right sides are large, bold “X” shaped geometric forms rendered in deep purple, creating a strong visual symmetry. At the centre of the reverse is a detailed vignette depicting what appears to be the Bank of Uganda headquarters building complex in Kampala, rendered in fine line engraving. The illustration shows a multi-storey modernist building with a rectangular block structure and a distinctly cylindrical or curved tower element visible behind it, with additional lower-level buildings and structures surrounding the central edifice, suggesting the broader civic and financial district setting. The denomination numerals “20” appear in the upper left, upper right, and lower right positions on the reverse. The text “BANK OF UGANDA” is printed at the top centre, and the bilingual denomination inscription “TWENTY SHILLINGS” and “SHILINGI ISHIRINI” is displayed prominently at the lower centre of the reverse in matching bold capital lettering.

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• Indicate the quantity of 20 Shillings / Shili Ugandan Shilling banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Exchange foreign coins and banknotes the easy way — Webuyallcurrency.com buys Ugandan Shillings banknotes, current or discontinued, and combines them with the rest of your leftover currency for one simple payment.

Other Ugandan Shillings you can exchange: 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000.