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.

East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Africa

total: 241,038 sq km
country comparison to the world: 81
land: 197,100 sq km
water: 43,938 sq km

slightly smaller than Oregon

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

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold

arable land: 27.94%
permanent crops: 9.11%
other: 62.95% (2011)

144.2 sq km (2010)

66 cu km (2011)

total: 0.32 cu km/yr (41%/16%/43%)
per capita: 12.31 cu m/yr (2005)

NA

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

landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

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)

34,758,809 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
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

0-14 years: 48.9% (male 8,467,172/female 8,519,723)
15-24 years: 21.2% (male 3,658,564/female 3,707,462)
25-54 years: 25.5% (male 4,431,852/female 4,432,393)
55-64 years: 2.3% (male 383,364/female 427,512)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 323,508/female 407,259) (2013 est.)

total dependency ratio: 103.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 98.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 %
potential support ratio: 20.3 (2013)

total: 15.5 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 15.5 years (2013 est.)

3.32% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

44.5 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

-0.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

urban population: 15.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 5.74% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

KAMPALA (capital) 1.535 million (2009)

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: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

18.9
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)

310 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37

total: 62.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 53.98 years
country comparison to the world: 208
male: 52.65 years
female: 55.35 years (2013 est.)

6.06 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

30% (2011)

9.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 32

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

6.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

1.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

64,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

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)

4.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 167

16.4% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 46

3.3% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 134

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.2%
male: 82.6%
female: 64.6% (2010 est.)

total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2009)

total number: 117,266
percentage: 25 %
note: data represents children ages 5-17 working in the (2010 est.)

total: 5.4% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 136

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, Bulisa, 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, Kibale, 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, Mitoma, 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 with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

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 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 on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 68.4%, Kizza BESIGYE 26.0%, other 5.6%

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

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

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]
note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's transition to a multi-party political system

Lord's Resistance Army or LRA [Joseph KONY]

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

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 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

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

name: "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
note: adopted 1962

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. Uganda has received about $2 billion in multilateral and bilateral debt relief. In 2007 Uganda received $10 million for a Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. 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. Rising food and fuel prices in 2011 led to protests. 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.

$50.77 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

$20.96 billion (2012 est.)

2.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

$1,400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

household consumption: 80.8%
government consumption: 7.8%
investment in fixed capital: 24.9%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 22.3%
imports of goods and services: -36.1%

agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 27.2%
services: 49.3% (2012 est.)

coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

3.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

16.83 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)

NA%

24.5% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.)

44.3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 46

revenues: $3.098 billion
expenditures: $3.701 billion (2012 est.)

14.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

1 July - 30 June

14% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

14% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

26.31% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

$2.015 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

$4.162 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

$7.727 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 99

$-2.232 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

$2.811 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold

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)

$5.187 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Kenya 15.6%, UAE 15.4%, China 12.8%, India 11.7%, South Africa 4.1%, Japan 4% (2012)

$3.167 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
note: excludes gold

$4.461 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

$NA

$NA

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

2.406 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

2.192 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

75 million kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 78

29 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

539,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

31.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

65.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

3.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 es)
country comparison to the world: 34

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

16,930 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

22,990 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 79

3.244 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

315,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 113

16.355 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 58

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)

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)

.ug

32,683 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 106

3.2 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66

47 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 93

total: 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:

total: 1,244 km
country comparison to the world: 83
narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total: 20,000 km (does not include local roads)
country comparison to the world: 109
paved: 3,264 km
unpaved: 16,736 km (2011)

(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)

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.)

1.45% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 39

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