2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 50.8% (male 6,528,724; female 6,486,736) 15-64 years: 46.8% (male 5,985,911; female 6,024,798) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 266,930; female 339,695) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

27 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m

7 (2002) Military Uganda

Area

land

199,710 sq km

total

236,040 sq km

water

36,330 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Background

Uganda achieved independence from the UK 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. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections. Geography Uganda

Birth rate

46.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)

revenues

$959 million

Capital

Kampala

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Uganda

conventional short form

Uganda

Currency

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Currency code

UGX

Death rate

16.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$2.8 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER

embassy

1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala

mailing address

P. O. Box 7007, Kampala

telephone

[256] (41) 234-142

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA

Disputes - international

Tutsi, Hutu, and other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; conflict in Sudan has extended rebel forces and refugees into Uganda This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.4 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.4 billion (2000)

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. Ongoing Ugandan involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth. 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. Prospects for 2003 are mixed, with probable strengthening of coffee prices yet with halting growth in the economies of major export customers.

Electricity - consumption

1.62 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

174 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.928 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.9%

hydro

99.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

lowest point

Lake Albert 621 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

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%

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,797.55 (2002), 1,755.66 (2001), 1,644.48 (2000), 1,454.83 (1999), 1,240.31 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators

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

election results

Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 27.8%

elections

president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note - first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president

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

Exports

$476 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Belgium 16.2%, Netherlands 13.7%, Germany 7.5%, Spain 5.5%, Hong Kong 4.9%, US 4.6%, UK 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Portugal 4.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1727

[256] (41) 258-451

telephone

[1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Uganda

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $30.49 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

43%

industry

19%

services

38% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

1,809 km

total

27,000 km

unpaved

25,191 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

84,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

21% (2000)

lowest 10%

4%

Imports

$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners

Kenya 45.3%, South Africa 6.8%, India 5.7%, UK 5.5% (2002)

Independence

9 October 1962 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (2002 est.)

Industries

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement

Infant mortality rate

female

80.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

95.41 deaths/1,000 live births

total

87.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ug

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

60,000 (2002) Transportation Uganda

Irrigated land

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

12 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

total

2,698 km

Land use

arable land

25.34%

other

65.89% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

8.77%

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

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted

elections

last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held May or June 2006);

Life expectancy at birth

female

46.38 years (2003 est.)

male

43.42 years

total population

44.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

60.4% (2003 est.) Government Uganda

male

79.5%

total population

69.9%

Location

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

14.8 years (2002)

male

14.6 years

total

14.7 years

Merchant marine

note

these ships are in cargo and passenger (ferry) service on Uganda's inland waterways (2002 est.)

ships by type

roll on/roll off 3

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT

Military branches

Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (including Army, Marine unit, Air Wing)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$124.7 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1% (FY02) Transnational Issues Uganda

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

5,476,612 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

2,974,259 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Nationality

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2001, Uganda was host to 178,815 refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including: Sudan 155,996, Rwanda 14,375, and Democratic Republic of the Congo 7,459 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the NRM)[President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered; note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a political party, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans

note

the constitution requires the suspension of political parties while the Movement organization is in governance; of the political parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton OBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

25,632,794

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 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

35% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.96% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

5 million (2001)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

1,241 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular systems for short-range traffic

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

international

satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Telephones - main lines in use

50,074; however, 80,868 main lines have been installed (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

500,000 (2001)

Terrain

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Total fertility rate

6.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward, Victoria Nile, Albert Nile