2015 Edition

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. A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics and lifted presidential term limits.

Area

land

197,100 sq km

total

241,038 sq km

water

43,938 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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; 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

12.31 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.32 cu km/yr (41%/16%/43%)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

144.2 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km, Kenya 814 km, Rwanda 172 km, South Sudan 475 km, Tanzania 391 km

total

2,729 km

Land use

arable land 34.3%; permanent crops 11.3%; permanent pasture 25.6%

agricultural land

71.2%

forest

14.5%

other

14.3% (2011 est.)

Location

East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Total renewable water resources

66 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

48.47% (male 8,966,494/female 9,015,302)

15-24 years

21.16% (male 3,892,004/female 3,958,998)

25-54 years

25.91% (male 4,808,534/female 4,803,040)

55-64 years

2.43% (male 431,112/female 470,359)

65 years and over

2.04% (male 332,724/female 423,178) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

43.79 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 5-17 (2010 est.)

percentage

25%

total number

117,266

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30% (2011)

Death rate

10.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5%

potential support ratio

19.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

102.3%

youth dependency ratio

97.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.5% of population

rural: 75.8% of population

total: 79% of population

urban: 4.5% of population

rural: 24.2% of population

total: 21% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Baganda 16.9%, Banyankole 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)

Health expenditures

9.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

7.25% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

32,900 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,486,600 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

49.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

68.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

59.21 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

56.36 years (2015 est.)

male

53.54 years

total population

54.93 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

71.5% (2015 est.)

male

85.3%

total population

78.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness)

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

KAMPALA (capital) 1.936 million (2015)

Median age

female

15.7 years (2015 est.)

male

15.6 years

total

15.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Ugandan

noun

Ugandan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.9% (2014)

Physicians density

0.12 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

37,101,745

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

3.24% (2015 est.)

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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 28.5% of population

rural: 17.3% of population

total: 19.1% of population

urban: 71.5% of population

rural: 82.7% of population

total: 80.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2011)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.89 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total

5.4% (2009 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5.43% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

16.1% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

111 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwa, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo

Capital

geographic coordinates

0 19 N, 32 33 E

name

Kampala

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995; amended many times, last in 2005 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Uganda

conventional short form

Uganda

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Scott H. DELISI (since 29 September 2012)

embassy

1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala

FAX

[256] (414) 259-794

mailing address

P. O. Box 7007, Kampala

telephone

[256] (414) 259 791 through 93, 95

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Oliver WONEKHA (since 6 June 2013)

FAX

[1] (202) 726-1727

telephone

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); Vice President Edward SSEKANDI (since 24 May 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 68.4%, Kizza BESIGYE (FDC) 26.0%, other 5.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (limited to 2 terms); election last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Amama MBABAZI (since 24 May 2011); note - the prime minister assists the president in supervising the cabinet

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 grey crowned 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

Government type

republic

Independence

9 October 1962 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and 7 justices)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (a 9-member independent advisory body) and with approval of the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal (also sits as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 10 High Court Circuits and 7 High Court Divisions); Chief Magistrate, Grade One and Grade Two Courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (338 seats; 238 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 112 for women - directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 25 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5; there are 13 ex-officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 263, FDC 34, DP 12, UPC 10, UPDF 10, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independent 43, vacant 1; note - UPDF is the Uganda People's Defense Force

elections

last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in March 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

name

"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!"

note

adopted 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

National symbol(s)

grey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]

Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]

Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Muntu MUGISHA]

Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA]

National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]

Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Bidandi SSALI]

Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Olara OTUNNU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Activists for Change or A4C

National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON]

Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO

Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Women or COPAW

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$4.431 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$3.434 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

14% (December 2014)

14.5% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.7% (31 December 2014 est.)

22% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.082 billion (2014 est.)

-$1.696 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$4.095 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.594 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.5 (2013)

45.7 (2002)

Economy - overview

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently discovered oil. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over two-thirds 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. The global economic downturn in 2008 hurt Uganda's exports; however, Uganda's GDP growth has largely recovered 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, although lower oil prices since 2014 and protracted negotiations and legal disputes between the Ugandan government and oil companies may prove a stumbling block to further exploration and development. Instability in South Sudan is a risk for the Ugandan economy because Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees and South Sudan is Uganda's main export partner. Unreliable power, high energy costs, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and corruption inhibit economic development and investor confidence. During 2014 to 2015 the Uganda shilling depreciated against the dollar, and this, coupled with increased public debt, has severely impeded production, especially since Uganda imports most of its capital goods.

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

2,600.3 (2014 est.)

2,586.5 (2013 est.)

2,505.6 (2012 est.)

2,522.8 (2011 est.)

2,177.6 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.66 billion (2014 est.)

$2.829 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Rwanda 10.1%, UAE 9.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9.3%, Kenya 9.1%, Netherlands 6%, Germany 5.7%, Italy 5.5%, China 5.3% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

21%

government consumption

8.8%

household consumption

78.9%

imports of goods and services

-33.2%

investment in fixed capital

24.2%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

21.9%

industry

26.7%

services

51.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2014 est.)

$1,900 (2013 est.)

$1,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2014 est.)

3.9% (2013 est.)

2.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.62 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$76.94 billion (2014 est.)

$73.35 billion (2013 est.)

$70.6 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

24.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

22.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.1% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

$4.714 billion (2014 est.)

$4.512 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners

Kenya 18.3%, UAE 14.3%, India 12.8%, China 11.3%, Japan 4.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2014 est.)

Industries

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2014 est.)

5.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

18 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

82%

industry

5%

services

13% (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.294 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$7.727 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.788 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2013 est.)

Public debt

35.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

34.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.246 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.122 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

excludes gold

Stock of broad money

$4.262 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.705 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.777 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.332 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.451 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.218 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.548 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.5 billion bbl (July 6, 1905)

Electricity - consumption

2.284 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

70 million kWh (2011)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

21% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

59.9% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

19.2% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - imports

36 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

711,400 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

2.493 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,180 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

22,990 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV 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 country code

.ug

Internet users

percent of population

16.8% (2014 est.)

total

6 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed-line and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic; mobile-cellular teledensity about 50 per 100 persons in 2010

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

international

country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

320,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

57 (2014 est.)

total

20.4 million

Television broadcast stations

8 (plus 1 repeater) (2001)

Airports

47 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

3

total

5

Airports - with unpaved runways

7 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

8

914 to 1,523 m

26

over 3,047 m

1

total

42

Ports and terminals

lake port(s)

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

total

1,244 km

Roadways

paved

3,264 km

total

20,000 km (excludes local roads)

unpaved

16,736 km (2011)

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) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

7,025,439 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,249,271

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

4,200,901 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,313,068

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

420,236 (2010 est.)

male

423,923

Military branches

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2013)

Military expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2013)

1.45% of GDP (2012)

3.73% of GDP (2011)

1.45% of GDP (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 while recruitment under 18 years of age could occur with proper consent, "no person under the apparent age of 18 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2012)

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; 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

IDPs

30,136 (displaced in northern Uganda because of fighting between government forces and the Lord's Resistance Army; as of 2011, most of the 1.8 million people displaced to IDP camps at the height of the conflict had returned home or resettled, but many had not found durable solutions; intercommunal violence and cattle raids) (2014)

refugees (country of origin)

190,612 (South Sudan); 187,838 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 28,005 (Somalia); 16,601 (Rwanda); 26,106 (Burundi) (2015)