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| Uganda |

Introduction | Uganda

Background: | The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Geography | Uganda

Location: | Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates: | 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: | total: 2,698 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: | none (landlocked)
Climate: | tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: | mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources: | copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use: | arable land: 21.57% permanent crops: 8.92% other: 69.51% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 90 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 66 cu km (1970)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%) per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards: | NA
Environment - current issues: | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note: | landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

People | Uganda

Population: | 31,367,972 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 50% (male 7,903,935/female 7,789,792) 15-64 years: 47.8% (male 7,528,073/female 7,469,938) 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 284,122/female 392,112) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 15 years male: 14.9 years female: 15.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 3.603% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 48.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 12.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | 0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 65.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 69.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 52.34 years male: 51.31 years female: 53.4 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 6.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 530,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 78,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)
Nationality: | noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups: | Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census)
Religions: | Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)
Languages: | English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.8% male: 76.8% female: 57.7% (2002 census)

Government | Uganda

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda
Government type: | republic
Capital: | name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: | 56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe note: as of a July 2005, 13 new districts were reportedly added bringing the total up to 69; the new districts are Amolatar, Amuria, Budaka, Butaleja, Ibanda, Kaabong, Kabingo, Kaliro, Kiruhura, Koboko, Manafwa, Mityana, Nakaseke; a total of ten more districts are in the process of being added
Independence: | 9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution: | 8 October 1995; in 2005 the constitution was amended removing presidential term limits and legalizing a multiparty political system
Legal system: | in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Apolo NSIBAMBI (since 5 April 1999); note - the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 37.4%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members elected by popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special interest groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 13 ex officio members; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other 49
Judicial branch: | Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders: | Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP [Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza BESIGYE]; Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA]; National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]; Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Miria OBOTE] note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's transition to a multi-party political system
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Perezi Karukubiro KAMUNANWIRE chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Steven BROWNING embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 234-142 FAX: [256] (41) 258-451
Flag description: | six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side

Economy | Uganda

Economy - overview: | Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Growth continues to be solid, despite variability in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export, and a consistent upturn in Uganda's export markets. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $29.04 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $11.23 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 6.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 30.2% industry: 24.7% services: 45.1% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 14.02 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 82% industry: 5% services: 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: | NA%
Population below poverty line: | 35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.7% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 45.7 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 6.8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $2.248 billion expenditures: $2.506 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)
Public debt: | 20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
Industries: | sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate: | 5.8% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 1.983 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 0.9% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 1.674 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports: | 170 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 11,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 10,870 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | -$224 million (2007 est.)
Exports: | $1.626 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: | coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold
Exports - partners: | Belgium 9.8%, Netherlands 9.3%, France 7.8%, Germany 7.6%, Rwanda 5.6%, Sudan 5.5% (2006)
Imports: | $2.803 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: | capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners: | Kenya 34.1%, UAE 8.5%, China 7.1%, India 5.6%, South Africa 5.4%, Japan 4.2% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient: | $1.198 billion (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $2.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external: | $1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $103.4 million (2005)
Currency (code): | Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Currency code: | UGX
Exchange rates: | Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,685.8 (2007), 1,834.9 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003)
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Communications | Uganda

Telephones - main lines in use: | 108,100 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 2.009 million (2006)
Telephone system: | general assessment: seriously inadequate; mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient; e-mail and Internet services are available domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios: | 5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations: | 8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)
Televisions: | 500,000 (2001)
Internet country code: | .ug
Internet hosts: | 546 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)
Internet users: | 750,000 (2006)

Transportation | Uganda

Airports: | 32 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Railways: | total: 1,244 km narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways: | total: 70,746 km paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)
Waterways: | on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of Albert Nile (2005)
Ports and terminals: | Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Military | Uganda

Military branches: | Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Air Force (2007)
Military service age and obligation: | 18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; 9-year service obligation; the government has stated that recruitment below 18 years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces" (2007)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 6,532,894 females age 16-49: 6,352,416 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 3,856,365 females age 16-49: 3,769,120 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.2% (2006)

Transnational Issues | Uganda

Disputes - international: | Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese, 27,560 Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while Ugandan refugees as well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 215,700 (Sudan); 28,880 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 24,900 (Rwanda) IDPs: 1.27 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda) (2007)

This page was last updated on 19 June, 2008