Uganda

Republic of Uganda

republicIndependence 9 October 1962 (from UK)

Uganda as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKampala, UTC+3
Position1 00 N, 32 00 E
Area236,040 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, west of Kenya
Populationas each edition published it
28.2 million July 2006 est. · 17.96m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.37% 2006 est. · 2.69% in 1993
Median ageyears
15 years 2006 est. · 14.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.67 years 2006 est. · 38.4 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.71 children per woman 2006 est. · 7.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
66.15 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,800 2005 est. · $300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4% 2005 est. · 4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

18 fields

Land useshare of 236,040 sq km

arable land 21.57%permanent crops 8.92%other 69.51% (2005)irrigated 90 sq km (2003)
Area
236,040sq km
land: 199,710 sq kmwater: 36,330 sq kmslightly smaller than Oregon
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Highest point
5,110m
Margherita Peak on Mount Stanleylowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
Land boundaries
2,698km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

Location

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Natural resources

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

Environment - current issues

  • draining of wetlands for agricultural use;
  • deforestation;
  • overgrazing;
  • soil erosion;
  • water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria;
  • poaching is widespread

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

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

266,931
65 and over2.2%
351,374
6,762,071
15-6447.8%
6,727,230
7,091,763
0-1450%
6,996,385
MaleFemale
Population
28,195,754
growth rate: 3.37% (2006 est.)
Note
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.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth
47.35Death
12.24Net migration
-1.4

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2006 est.)52.67
51.68 · 53.69Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)66.15
69.51 · 62.69
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)69.9%
79.5% · 60.4%Median age years (2006 est.)15
14.9 · 15.1
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Roman Catholic 33%Protestant 33%Muslim 16%indigenous beliefs 18%

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:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.71 children born/woman (2006 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:
malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis (2005)

Nationality

noun:
Ugandan(s)
adjective:
Ugandan

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

Government

Republic; President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

59.3%
Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%Kizza BESIGYE 37.4%other 3.3%election last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Country name

conventional long form:
Republic of Uganda
conventional short form:
Uganda

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 nine 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

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 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI (since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; 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 (303 members - 214 directly elected by popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interest groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 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 - NA;
  • note - election results had not been posted as of March 2006

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 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

Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Edith G. SSEMPALA
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William FITZGERALD
embassy:
1577 Ggaba Rd., 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 has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt.

42 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$47.76billion
(2005 est.)official exchange rate: $7.909 billion (2005 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,800
(2005 est.)
Real growth rate
4%
(2005 est.)industrial production growth: 9% (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 31.1%industry 22.2%services 46.9% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

15.1%
Kenya
32%
9.9%
Belgium
9.7%
Netherlands
UAE
8.6%
7.1%
France
South Africa
6.4%
India
5.7%
China
5.2%
5.1%
Germany
UK
4.4%
US
4.1%
4%
Rwanda
Japan
4%
Exports $768 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)Imports $1.608 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues
$1.845 billionExpenditures
$1.904 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production
1.729 billion (2003)Electricity consumption
1.448 billion (2003)Electricity exports
160 million (2003)

Economy - overview

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 2003-05 reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.

Labor force

13.17 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
4%
highest 10%:
21% (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Public debt

64.3% of GDP (2005 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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance

$-355 million (2005 est.)

Exports

$768 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.608 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.286 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$4.973 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$959 million (2003)

Currency (code)

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003), 1,797.6 (2002), 1,755.7 (2001)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
1.525 million
(2005)
Internet users
1,365
(2006)
Fixed lines
100,800
(2005) · country code .ug

Telephone system

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

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)

Internet users

500,000 (2005)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

3
over 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
6
1
914 to 1,523 m
11
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
under 914 m
8
Paved 5Unpaved 26

Networkskm

Roadways
70,746Railways
1,244
Roadways: paved: 16,272 km · unpaved: 54,474 km (2003) · Railways: narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Airports

31 (2006)

Railways

total:
1,244 km
narrow gauge:
1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

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

Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air Wing

5 fields

Military branches

Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air Wing

Military service age and obligation

  • 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

males age 18-49:
5,012,620
females age 18-49:
4,855,858 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49:
2,889,808
females age 18-49:
2,780,135 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces;
  • Ugandan refugees have fled the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) into the southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
  • LRA forces have attacked Kenyan villages across the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
214,673 (Sudan) 18,902 (Rwanda) 14,982 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs:
1,330,000-2,000,000 note - ongoing Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebellion, mainly in the north; LRA frequently attacks IDP camps (2005)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Uganda.” The World Factbook 2006. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/uganda/2006.