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This page was last updated on 15 March, 2007


Map of Uganda



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Uganda Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 236,040 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 21.57%
permanent crops: 8.92%
other: 69.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
90 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
   People    Uganda Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
28,195,754
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 50% (male 7,091,763/female 6,996,385)
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,762,071/female 6,727,230)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 266,931/female 351,374) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 15 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.37% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
47.35 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 66.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 52.67 years
male: 51.68 years
female: 53.69 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.71 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
530,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
78,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%, Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi 2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
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 Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
   Government    Uganda Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
8 October 1995; in 2005 the constitution was amended removing presidential term limits and legalizing a multiparty political system
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo 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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly (332 members - 215 directly 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; members 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, CD 1, JEEMA 1, Independents 36, other 49
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]; National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; 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:
Definition Field Listing
Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. 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. 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. Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Growth in 2003-06 reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$51.89 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$8.502 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 29.4%
industry: 22.1%
services: 48.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.76 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
43 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.943 billion
expenditures: $1.994 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.2% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.894 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.596 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
165 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-423 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$961.7 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Belgium 11.4%, Netherlands 11.2%, France 8.2%, Germany 5.9%, Rwanda 4.6% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.945 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Kenya 34.7%, UAE 8.5%, South Africa 5.7%, India 5.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4%, US 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.4 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.456 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$959 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,834.9 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003), 1,797.6 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    Uganda Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100,800 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.525 million (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems have been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is essential; 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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ug
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,365 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
500,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Uganda Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,244 km
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 70,746 km
paved: 16,272 km
unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of Albert Nile (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
   Military    Uganda Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces (includes Army and Marine Unit), Air Wing (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; the government has stated that recruitment below that age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 5,012,620
females age 18-49: 4,855,858 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,889,808
females age 18-49: 2,780,135 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Uganda Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 212,857 (Sudan), 20,564 (Democratic Republic of Congo), 20,213 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 1.2-1.7 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda) (2006)

This page was last updated on 15 March, 2007


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