Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Uba Debretsehay is bordered on the south and west by the Debub Omo Zone, on the north by Oyda and Demba Gofa, on the northeast by Zala, and on the east by Kemba.
Towns in Uba Debretsehay include Beto.
Uba Debretsehay was part of former Zala Ubamale woreda.
The highest point in this woreda was Mount Argun (3418 meters), which lies near the border with the Debub Omo Zone.
The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 44.43% of the population reporting that belief, 32.53% practiced traditional beliefs, 10.41% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and 1.82% were Muslim.