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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. A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics and lifted presidential term limits.
Geography
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Location: East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area: total: 241,038 sq km
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km country comparison to the world:
81
border countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km, Kenya 814 km, Rwanda 172 km, South Sudan 475 km, Tanzania 391 km
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Land use: agricultural land: 71.2% arable land 34.3%; permanent crops 11.3%; permanent pasture 25.6%
forest: 14.5% other: 14.3% (2011 est.)
total: 0.32 cu km/yr (41%/16%/43%) per capita: 12.31 cu m/yr (2005)
Environment - current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
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
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People and Society :: UGANDA
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noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Baganda 16.9%, Banyankole 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)
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
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)
37,101,745
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 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
360-14 years: 48.47% (male 8,966,494/female 9,015,302)
15-24 years: 21.16% (male 3,892,004/female 3,958,998)
25-54 years: 25.91% (male 4,808,534/female 4,803,040)
55-64 years: 2.43% (male 431,112/female 470,359)
65 years and over: 2.04% (male 332,724/female 423,178) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 102.3%
youth dependency ratio: 97.3%
elderly dependency ratio: 5%
potential support ratio: 19.9% (2015 est.)
total: 15.6 years
male: 15.6 years
female: 15.7 years (2015 est.)
3.24% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
543.79 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
310.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
36-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
143urban population: 16.1% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
KAMPALA (capital) 1.936 million (2015)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 59.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 68.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
21total population: 54.93 years
male: 53.54 years
female: 56.36 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2115.89 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
530% (2011)
9.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
580.12 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
improved:
urban: 95.5% of population
rural: 75.8% of population
total: 79% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.5% of population
rural: 24.2% of population
total: 21% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 28.5% of population
rural: 17.3% of population
total: 19.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 71.5% of population
rural: 82.7% of population
total: 80.9% of population (2015 est.)
7.25% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
101,486,600 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
732,900 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
10degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
3.9% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
16714.1% (2011)
country comparison to the world:
513.3% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world:
131definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.4%
male: 85.3%
female: 71.5% (2015 est.)
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2011)
total number: 117,266
percentage: 25%
note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2010 est.)
total: 5.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world:
125
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Government :: UGANDA
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conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
republic
name: Kampala
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
111 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwa, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995; amended many times, last in 2005 (2011)
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); Vice President Edward SSEKANDI (since 24 May 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Amama MBABAZI (since 24 May 2011); note - the prime minister assists the president in supervising the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (limited to 2 terms); election last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 68.4%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 26.0%, other 5.6%
description: unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (375 seats; 238 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 112 for women directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 25 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5; there are 13 ex-officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 263, FDC 34, DP 12, UPC 10, UPDF 10, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independent 43, vacant 1; note - UPDF is the Uganda People's Defense Force
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and 7 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (a 9-member independent advisory body) and with approval of the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also sits as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 10 High Court Circuits and 7 High Court Divisions); Chief Magistrate, Grade One and Grade Two Courts
Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]
Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]
Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Muntu MUGISHA]
Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA]
National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]
Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]
Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Olara OTUNNU]
Activists for Change or A4C
National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON]
Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO
Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Women or COPAW
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Oliver WONEKHA (since 6 June 2013)
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI (since 29 September 2012)
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (414) 259 791 through 93, 95
FAX: [256] (414) 259-794
six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK
grey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red
name: "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
note: adopted 1962
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Economy :: UGANDA
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Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently discovered oil. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over two-thirds 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. Since 1990 economic reforms ushered in an era of solid economic growth based on continued investment in infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, lower inflation, better domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. The global economic downturn in 2008 hurt Uganda's exports; however, Uganda's GDP growth has largely recovered due to past reforms and sound management of the downturn. Oil revenues and taxes will become a larger source of government funding as oil comes on line in the next few years, although lower oil prices since 2014 and protracted negotiations and legal disputes between the Ugandan government and oil companies may prove a stumbling block to further exploration and development. Instability in South Sudan is a risk for the Ugandan economy because Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees and South Sudan is Uganda's main export partner. Unreliable power, high energy costs, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and corruption inhibit economic development and investor confidence. During 2014 to 2015 the Uganda shilling depreciated against the dollar, and this, coupled with increased public debt, has severely impeded production, especially since Uganda imports most of its capital goods.
$76.94 billion (2014 est.)
$73.35 billion (2013 est.)
$70.6 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
98$27.62 billion (2014 est.)
4.9% (2014 est.)
3.9% (2013 est.)
2.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
36$2,000 (2014 est.)
$1,900 (2013 est.)
$1,900 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
20924.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
22.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
112household consumption: 78.9%
government consumption: 8.8%
investment in fixed capital: 24.2%
investment in inventories: 0.2%
exports of goods and services: 21%
imports of goods and services: -33.2%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 21.9%
industry: 26.7%
services: 51.3% (2014 est.)
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
5218 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
34agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)
NA%
19.7% (2013 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.)
39.5 (2013)
45.7 (2002)
country comparison to the world:
46revenues: $3.434 billion
expenditures: $4.431 billion (2014 est.)
13.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
202-3.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13735.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
34.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1101 July - 30 June
4.7% (2014 est.)
5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
16714% (December 2014)
14.5% (31 December 2013)
country comparison to the world:
1020.7% (31 December 2014 est.)
22% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13$2.451 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.218 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
125$4.262 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.705 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
139$3.777 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.332 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
127$7.294 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$7.727 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$1.788 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
80-$2.082 billion (2014 est.)
-$1.696 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
150$2.66 billion (2014 est.)
$2.829 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
133coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold
Rwanda 10.1%, UAE 9.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9.3%, Kenya 9.1%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.7%, Italy 5.5%, China 5.3% (2014)
$4.714 billion (2014 est.)
$4.512 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
130capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Kenya 18.3%, UAE 14.3%, India 12.8%, China 11.3%, Japan 4.4% (2014)
$3.246 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.122 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
note: excludes gold
country comparison to the world:
103$4.095 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.594 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
125$NA
$NA
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
2,600.3 (2014 est.)
2,586.5 (2013 est.)
2,505.6 (2012 est.)
2,522.8 (2011 est.)
2,177.6 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: UGANDA
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3.045 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1332.821 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13870 million kWh (2012)
country comparison to the world:
8459 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
105711,400 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13221% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1920% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:
19559.9% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1919.2% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
650 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1370 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1960 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1342.5 billion bbl (2014)
country comparison to the world:
340 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
20322,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1350 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13922,160 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
990 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2010 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2020 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1970 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
14214.16 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
772.548 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
145
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Communications :: UGANDA
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total subscriptions: 320,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
114total: 20.4 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
57general assessment: mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient; work underway on a national backbone information and communications technology infrastructure; international phone networks and Internet connectivity provided through satellite and VSAT applications
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed-line and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic; mobile-cellular teledensity about 50 per 100 persons in 2010
international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania (2011)
public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; Uganda first began licensing privately owned stations in the 1990s; by 2007, there were nearly 150 radio and 35 TV stations, mostly based in and around Kampala; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available in Kampala (2007)
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)
.ug
total: 6 million
percent of population: 16.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
57
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Transportation :: UGANDA
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47 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
93total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
total: 42
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m:
7 (2013)
total: 1,244 km
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world:
83total: 20,000 km (excludes local roads)
paved: 3,264 km
unpaved: 16,736 km (2011)
country comparison to the world:
109(there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile that flow out of Lake Albert in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores) (2011)
lake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria)
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Military :: UGANDA
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Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2013)
18-26 years of age for voluntary military duty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; no conscription; 9-year service obligation; the government has stated that while recruitment under 18 years of age could occur with proper consent, "no person under the apparent age of 18 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2012)
males age 16-49: 7,249,271
females age 16-49: 7,025,439 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 4,313,068
females age 16-49: 4,200,901 (2010 est.)
male: 423,923
female: 420,236 (2010 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2013)
1.45% of GDP (2012)
3.73% of GDP (2011)
1.45% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
67
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Transnational Issues :: UGANDA
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Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders; 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 (country of origin): 191,512 (South Sudan); 187,838 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 29,053 (Somalia); 16,601 (Rwanda); 27,042 (Burundi) (2015)
IDPs: 30,136 (displaced in northern Uganda because of fighting between government forces and the Lord's Resistance Army; as of 2011, most of the 1.8 million people displaced to IDP camps at the height of the conflict had returned home or resettled, but many had not found durable solutions; intercommunal violence and cattle raids) (2014)