Uganda

Republic of Uganda

republicIndependence 9 October 1962 (from UK)

Uganda as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 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
31.37 million July 2008 est. · 17.96m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.603% 2008 est. · 2.69% in 1993
Median ageyears
15 years 2008 est. · 14.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.34 years 2008 est. · 38.4 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.81 children per woman 2008 est. · 7.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
65.99 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,000 2007 est. · $300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6% 2007 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

20 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%)
per capita:
10 cu m/yr (2002)

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

22 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

284,122
65 and over2.2%
392,112
7,528,073
15-6447.8%
7,469,938
7,903,935
0-1450%
7,789,792
MaleFemale
Population
31,367,972
growth rate: 3.603% (2008 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
48.15Death
12.32Net migration
0.21

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)52.34
51.31 · 53.4Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)65.99
69.65 · 62.21Literacy (2002 census)66.8%
76.8% · 57.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)15
14.9 · 15.1School life expectancy years (2004)10
11 · 10
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2002 census)

Baganda 16.9%Banyakole 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)

Religions(2002 census)

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)

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:
0.72 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.81 children born/woman (2008 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:
chikungunya, malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis (2008)

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

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2004)

Government

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

National Assembly, 332 seats, elected 23 February 2006seats by party

NRM 191FDC 37UPC 9DP 8CP 1JEEMA 1independents 36other 49

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 ten 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 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Apolo 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

unicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members 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; to 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, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other 49

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 Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI];
  • Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI];
  • 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

  • Lord's Resistence Group or LRA [Joseph KONY];
  • Young Parliamentary Association [Henry BANYENZAKI];
  • Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO;
  • National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON];
  • The Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Wormen or COPAW

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

chief of mission:
Ambassador Steven BROWNING
embassy:
1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address:
P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone:
[256] (414) 259, 306-001
FAX:
[256] (414) 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, cobalt, gold, and other minerals.

51 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$29.13billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $11.23 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,000
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
6%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 5.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 30.2%industry 24.7%services 45.1% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

Kenya
31.8%
10.2%
Netherlands
9.8%
Belgium
7.9%
Germany
China
7.8%
UAE
7.7%
7.2%
France
South Africa
5.9%
5.6%
Rwanda
India
5.2%
Japan
4.8%
Exports $1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $2.983 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$2.211 billionExpenditures
$2.443 billion (2007 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production
1.161 billion (2006 est.)Electricity consumption
899.7 million (2006 est.)Electricity exports
180 million (2006)

Economy - overview

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals. 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.

Growth continues to be solid, despite variability in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export, and a consistent upturn in Uganda's export markets. 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.

Labor force

14.02 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.3%
highest 10%:
37.7% (2002)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

14.68% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19.11% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.363 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.302 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$907.3 million (31 December 2007)

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 (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

115.2 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

11,540 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance

-$744.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$2.983 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Currency (code)

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 1,685.8 (2007), 1,834.9 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005), 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
4.195 million
(2007)
Internet users
1,090
(2008)
Fixed lines
162,300
(2007) · country code .ug

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • seriously inadequate;
  • mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient;
  • 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 1 repeater) (2001)

Internet users

2 million (2007)

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
9
Paved 5Unpaved 27

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 (2006)

Airports

32 (2007)

Railways

total:
1,244 km
narrow gauge:
1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

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

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Air Force (2007)

6 fields
Military expenditures
2.2%of GDP
(2006)

Military branches

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Air Force (2007)

Military service age and obligation

  • 18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty;
  • 18-30 years of age for professionals;
  • 9-year service obligation;
  • the government has stated that recruitment below 18 years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces";
  • Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
6,532,894
females age 16-49:
6,352,416 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
3,856,365
females age 16-49:
3,769,120 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
384,638
female:
381,990 (2008 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 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

refugees (country of origin):
  • 215,700 (Sudan);
  • 28,880 (Democratic Republic of Congo);
  • 24,900 (Rwanda)
IDPs:
1.27 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following ongoing peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda) (2007)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Uganda.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/uganda/2008.