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Uganda

Region: Africa

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Introduction

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. A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics.

Geography

Location
East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 241,038 sq km
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 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, South 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, gold
Land use
arable land: 27.94%
permanent crops: 9.11%
other: 62.95% (2011)
Irrigated land
144.2 sq km (2010)
Total renewable water resources
66 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 0.32 cu km/yr (41%/16%/43%)
per capita: 12.31 cu m/yr (2005)
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 and Society

Nationality
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups
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)
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
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)
Population
35,918,915
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 2014 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 48.7% (male 8,714,354/female 8,765,900)
15-24 years: 21.2% (male 3,775,679/female 3,833,574)
25-54 years: 25.7% (male 4,618,088/female 4,615,616)
55-64 years: 2.4% (male 405,740/female 447,118)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 327,771/female 415,075) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 102.4 %
youth dependency ratio: 97.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 %
potential support ratio: 20.5 (2014 est.)
Median age
total: 15.5 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 15.6 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate
3.24% (2014 est.)
Birth rate
44.17 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate
10.97 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 15.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 5.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
KAMPALA (capital) 1.659 million (2011)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
310 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate
total: 60.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 54.46 years
male: 53.1 years
female: 55.86 years (2014 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
30% (2011)
Total fertility rate
5.97 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures
9.5% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density
0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
Hospital bed density
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 71% of population
total: 74.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 29% of population
total: 25.2% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 32.8% of population
rural: 34.1% of population
total: 33.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 67.2% of population
rural: 65.9% of population
total: 66.1% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
7.2% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1,549,200 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
63,300 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree 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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.3% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.1% (2011)
Education expenditures
3.3% of GDP (2012)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.2%
male: 82.6%
female: 64.6% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2009)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.9
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 5.4% (2009)
Child labor - children ages 5-14
total number: 117,266
percentage: 25 %
note: data represents children ages 5-17 working in the (2010 est.)

Government

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type
republic
Capital
name: Kampala
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
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
Independence
9 October 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution
several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995; amended many times, last in 2005 (2011)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. 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 Lt. Gen. 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 legislators
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI re-elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 68.4%, Kizza BESIGYE 26.0%, other 5.6%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (375 seats; 238 members elected by popular vote, 112 women directly elected, 25 nominated by legally established special interest groups [army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], additional ex-officio members may be nominated by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 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, independents 43, vacant 1; note - UPDF is the Uganda People's Defense Force
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and 5 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
Political parties and leaders
Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]
Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]
Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Muntu MUGISHA]
Inter-Party Co-operation or IPC (a coalition of opposition groups)
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]
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
Lord's Resistance Army or LRA [Joseph KONY]
Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO
National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON]
The Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Women or COPAW
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI (since 18 July 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
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 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
National symbol(s)
grey crowned crane
National anthem
name: "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
note: adopted 1962

Economy

Economy - overview
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently discovered oil. Uganda has never conducted a national minerals survey. 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. 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 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. Instability in South Sudan is a risk for the Ugandan economy because Uganda's main export partner is Sudan, and Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees. Unreliable power, high energy costs, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and corruption inhibit economic development and investor confidence.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$54.37 billion (2013 est.)
$51.47 billion (2012 est.)
$50.08 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$22.6 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.6% (2013 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
6.2% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,500 (2013 est.)
$1,400 (2012 est.)
$1,500 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving
17.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
13.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 82.3%
government consumption: 7.6%
investment in fixed capital: 25.5%
investment in inventories: 0.2%
exports of goods and services: 22.8%
imports of goods and services: -38.3%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 23.1%
industry: 26.9%
services: 50% (2013 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (manioc, 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
3.8% (2013 est.)
Labor force
17.4 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line
24.5% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
44.3 (2009)
45.7 (2002)
Budget
revenues: $3.2 billion
expenditures: $3.803 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
14.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-2.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt
30.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.2% (2013 est.)
14% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate
14% (31 December 2010 est.)
9.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
23.7% (31 December 2013 est.)
26.31% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$2.455 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.015 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$4.049 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.293 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$3.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$7.294 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$7.727 billion (31 December 2011)
$1.788 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance
-$1.908 billion (2013 est.)
-$2.232 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$3.156 billion (2013 est.)
$2.811 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold
Exports - partners
Kenya 12.3%, Rwanda 10.3%, UAE 10.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9.4%, Netherlands 6.1%, Germany 5.6%, Italy 4.4% (2012)
Imports
$4.858 billion (2013 est.)
$5.187 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners
Kenya 15.6%, UAE 15.4%, China 12.8%, India 11.7%, South Africa 4.1%, Japan 4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.579 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.167 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note: excludes gold
Debt - external
$5.223 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$4.461 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Exchange rates
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
2,604.6 (2013 est.)
2,505.6 (2012 est.)
2,177.6 (2010 est.)
2,030 (2009)
1,658.1 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production
2.406 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption
2.192 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports
75 million kWh (2010)
Electricity - imports
29 million kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
539,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
31.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
65.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
3.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
16,930 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
22,990 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
3.244 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use
315,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
16.355 million (2012)
Telephone system
general 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 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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.ug
Internet hosts
32,683 (2012)
Internet users
3.2 million (2009)

Transportation

Airports
47 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
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)
Railways
total: 1,244 km
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways
total: 20,000 km (does not include local roads)
paved: 3,264 km
unpaved: 16,736 km (2011)
Waterways
(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)
Ports and terminals
lake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria)

Military

Military branches
Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2013)
Military service age and obligation
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)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 7,249,271
females age 16-49: 7,025,439 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 4,313,068
females age 16-49: 4,200,901 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 423,923
female: 420,236 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
1.45% of GDP (2012)
3.73% of GDP (2011)
1.45% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

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; 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): 155,742 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 13,376 (Rwanda); 10,578 (Burundi) (2013); 137,844 (South Sudan); 18,534 (Somalia) (2014)
IDPs: up to 29,800 (displacement 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) (2011)

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.