BACKGROUND: Data on non-communicable disease (NCD) burden are often limited in developing countries in Africa but crucial for planning and implementation of prevention and control strategies. We assessed the prevalence of related cardiovascular disease risk factors (hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure and obesity) in a longstanding population cohort in rural Uganda. METHODS: Trained field staff conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey of cardiovascular disease risk indicators using a questionnaire and simple measurements of body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist/hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure and random plasma glucose. All members of the population cohort aged ≥13 years were eligible to participate in the survey. RESULTS: Of the 4801 males and 5372 females who were eligible, 2719 (56.6%) males and 3959 (73.7%) females participated in the survey. Male and female participants had a mean standard deviation (SD) age of 31.8 (18.4) years and 33.7 (17.6) years, respectively. The observed prevalences of probable diabetes (glucose >11.0 mmol/l) and probable hyperglycaemia (7.0-11.0 mmol/l) were 0.4 and 2.9%, respectively. Less than 1% of males and 4% of females were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m(2)), with 3.6% of males and 14.5% of females being overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)). However, in women, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was high (71.3% as measured by WHR and 31.2% as measured by waist circumference). The proportions of male and female current regular smokers were low (13.7 and 0.9%, respectively). The commonest cardiovascular disease risk factor was high blood pressure, with an observed prevalence of 22.5% in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Population-based data on the burden of related cardiovascular disease risk factors can aid in the planning and implementation of an effective response to the double burden of communicable diseases and NCDs in this rural population of a low-income country undergoing epidemiological transition.