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.

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N 32 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 236,040 km²
Land: 199,710 km²
Water: 36,330 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 2,698 km
Border countries: (5) Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km; , Kenya 933 km; , Rwanda 169 km; , Sudan 435 km; , Tanzania 396 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains

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

Natural resources: copper cobalt hydropower limestone salt arable land

Land use
Arable land: 21.57%
Permanent crops: 8.92%
Other: 69.51% (2005)

Irrigated land: 90 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 66 km³ (1970)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: landlocked; fertile well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

Population
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.)
Growth rate: 3.603% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Ugandan
Adjective: Ugandan

Ethnic groups: 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)

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

Religions: 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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 50% (male 7,903,935/female 7,789,792)
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 7,528,073/female 7,469,938)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 284,122/female 392,112) (2008 est.)

Median age
Total: 15 years
Male: 14.9 years
Female: 15.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.603% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 48.15 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 12.32 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.21 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 est.)

Environment
Current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 65.99 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 69.65 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 62.21 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 52.34 years
Male: 51.31 years
Female: 53.4 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 530,000 (2001 est.)
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)

Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2004)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 66.8%
Male: 76.8%
Female: 57.7% (2002 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 10 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 10 years (2004)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
Conventional short form: Uganda

Government type: republic

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
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

Legal system: 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: 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
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
Note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's transition to a multi-party political system

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
In the us chancery: 5,911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,011
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 726-7,100 through 7,102, 0416
In the us fax: [1] (202) 726-1727
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Steven BROWNING
From the us embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 7,007, Kampala
From the us telephone: [256] (414) 259, 306-001
From the us 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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $29.13 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $1000 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 30.2%
Industry: 24.7%
Services: 45.1% (2007 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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 14.02 million (2007 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 82%
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 13% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.3%
Highest 10: 37.7% (2002)

Distribution of family income gini index: 45.7 (2002)

Budget
Revenues: $2.211 billion
Expenditures: $2.443 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2007 est.)

Public debt: 20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: 14.68% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 19.11% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit: $907.3 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $103.4 million (2005)

Current account balance: -$744.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports: $1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: coffee fish and fish products tea cotton flowers horticultural products; gold
Partners: Netherlands 10.2% Belgium 9.8% Germany 7.9% France 7.2% Rwanda 5.6% (2007)

Imports: $2.983 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: capital equipment vehicles petroleum medical supplies; cereals
Partners: Kenya 31.8% China 7.8% UAE 7.7% South Africa 5.9% India 5.2% Japan 4.8% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 1685.8 (2007) 1834.9 (2006) 1780.7 (2005) 1810.3 (2004) 1963.7 (2003)

Electricity
Production: 1.161 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Consumption: 899.7 million kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 180 million kWh (2006)
Imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2006 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 162,300 (2007)
Mobile cellular: 4.195 million (2007)

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

Internet
Country code: .ug
Hosts: 1090 (2008)
Users: 2 million (2007)

Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2006)

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)

Airports: 32 (2007)
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 27
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 9 (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

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)