Uganda

Republic of Uganda

republicIndependence 9 October 1962 (from the UK)

Uganda as the 2010 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
Area241,038 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, west of Kenya
Populationas each edition published it
33.4 million July 2010 est. · 17.96m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.563% 2010 est. · 2.69% in 1993
Median ageyears
15 years 2010 est. · 14.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.98 years 2010 est. · 38.4 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.73 children per woman 2010 est. · 7.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
63.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 2010 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,200 2010 est. · $300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.8% 2010 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 241,038 sq km

arable land 21.57%permanent crops 8.92%other 69.51% (2005)irrigated 90 sq km (2003)
Area
241,038sq km
country comparison to the world: 80land: 197,100 sq kmwater: 43,938 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, gold

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

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)

286,693
65 and over2.1%
403,317
7,789,209
15-6447.9%
7,703,143
8,152,830
0-1450%
8,034,366
MaleFemale
Population
33,398,682
country comparison to the world: 37growth rate: 3.563% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 2
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 2010 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
47.55 (2010 est.)Death
11.9 (July 2010 est.)Net migration
-0.02 (2010 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2010 est.)52.98
51.92 · 54.07Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)63.7
67.31 · 59.98Literacy (2002 census)66.8%
76.8% · 57.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2010 est.)15
14.9 · 15.1School life expectancy years (2008)10
11 · 10
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 205 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 28 · Literacy 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)
Urban population
13%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
5.4%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 14

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:
0.7 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.73 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

940,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

HIV/AIDS - deaths

77,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2009)

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

3.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139

Government

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

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

59.3%
Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%Kizza BESIGYE 37.4%other 3.3%election last held on 23 February 2006 (next to be held on 18 February 2011)

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

NRM 205FDC 37UPC 9DP 8CP 1JEEMA 1independents 37other 34

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

80 districts; Abim, Adjumani, Amolatar, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bukedea, Bukwa, Bulisa, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Dokolo, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kiruhara, Kisoro, Kitgum, Koboko, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Lyantonde, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namutumba, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Oyam, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe

Independence

9 October 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Constitution

8 October 1995; amended in 2005 note: the amendments in 2005 removed presidential term limits and legalized a multiparty political system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 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 on 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; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 23 February 2006 (next to be held on 18 February 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; members to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held on 23 February 2006 (next to be held on 18 February 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 205, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 37, other 34

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];
  • Inter-Party Co-operation or IPC (a coalition of opposition groups);
  • 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 Resistance Army 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 Women 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, 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 Jerry P. LANIER
embassy:
1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
mailing address:
P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone:
[256] (414) 259 791 through 93, 95
FAX:
[256] (414) 258-794

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 red-crested 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 anthem

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

note: adopted 1962

Economy

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently discovered oil.

50 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$41.7billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 96$39.41 billion (2009 est.) · $36.76 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $17.12 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,200
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 207$1,200 (2009 est.) · $1,200 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
5.8%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 427.2% (2009 est.) · 8.7% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 6% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 53
Inflation, consumer prices
9.4%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 19614.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 23.6%industry 24.5%services 51.9% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

8.98%
Kenya
13.9%
13.47%
Sudan
India
12.79%
7.52%
UAE
11.16%
China
8.91%
7.5%
Rwanda
7.42%
Switzerland
6.85%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
5.67%
Netherlands
5.66%
Belgium
5.18%
Germany
South Africa
5.08%
France
4.6%
Japan
4.37%
4.33%
Italy
US
4.07%
Exports $2.941 billion (2010 est.)Imports $4.474 billion (2010 est.)(2009)

Electricity

Electricity production
2.256 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
2.068 billion (2007 est.)Electricity exports
30 million (2007)

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.

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 has hurt Uganda's exports; however, Uganda's GDP growth is still relatively strong 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 southern Sudan is the biggest risk for the Ugandan economy in 2011 because Uganda's main export partner is Sudan and Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees.

Labor force

15.51 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Labor force - by occupation

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.6%
highest 10%:
34.1% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.7 (2002) · 37.4 (1996) country comparison to the world: 39

Investment (gross fixed)

20.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Public debt

20.4% of GDP (2010 est.) · 20.2% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Central bank discount rate

9.65% (31 December 2009) · 19.42% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.96% (31 December 2009 est.) · 20.45% (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Stock of narrow money

$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est) · $1.603 billion (31 December 2009 est) country comparison to the world: 119

Stock of broad money

$3.905 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.322 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Stock of domestic credit

$1.882 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.716 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2009); $NA (31 December 2007); $116.3 million (31 December 2006)

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

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Oil - imports

13,090 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Current account balance

-$784 million (2010 est.) · -$451 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Exports

$2.941 billion (2010 est.) · $2.7 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$4.474 billion (2010 est.) · $3.844 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.743 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.995 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 note: excludes gold

Debt - external

$2.888 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.554 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 2,166 (2010), 2,038.9 (2009), 1,658.1 (2008), 1,685.8 (2007), 1,834.9 (2006)

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
9.384 million
(2009)
Internet users
19,927
(2010)
Fixed lines
233,500
(2009) · country code .ug

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 30 per 100 persons in 2009
international:
  • country code - 256;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat;
  • analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Broadcast media

  • public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and television 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 users

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

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
3
1 (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

over 3,047 m
1under 914 m
8

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 (2008)

Airports

46 (2010) country comparison to the world: 95

Railways

total:
1,244 km

country comparison to the world: 84

narrow gauge:
1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total:
70,746 km

country comparison to the world: 68

paved:
16,272 km
unpaved:
54,474 km (2003)

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 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Military

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2010)

6 fields
Military expenditures
2.2%of GDP
(2006)country comparison to the world: 67

Military branches

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2010)

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 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 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
6,972,134
females age 16-49:
6,752,005 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
4,138,180
females age 16-49:
4,028,125 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
412,640
female:
408,521 (2010 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 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/uganda/2010.