General information

Government.

The country follows multiparty system of governance with the ruling party being the National Resistance movement headed by General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of Uganda. Other parties include; 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] Economy.

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.

Areas of Concern. Water pollution; deforestation; soil erosion, poaching and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria are Kenya’s primary environmental concerns. Growth of the economy to benefit all classes is an elusive goal. Managing interethnic violence has not been made easier with the influx of around 300,000 refugees. In addition, the effect of AIDs on 13% of the population will exert pressure.

Geography
Area: total: 236,040 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
Capital: Uganda (pop 1,208,544 (2002))
Environmental concerns: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching.
Geographical features: landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

People

Total of 31,367,972 million people live in Uganda. Both English and Swahili are official languages of Uganda, while numerous indigenous languages are spoken as well. Ethnically, Uganda is comprised primarily of Africans (99%) including the following 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%. The country's religious groups include 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% .

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)
Annual growth rate: 3.603% (2008 est.)
Major languages are English; Kiswahili; Luganda.
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)

Health and social issues

Life expectancy: Total population: 52.34 years, Male: 51.31 years, Female: 53.4 years
Infant mortality: Total: 65.99 deaths/1,000 live births ,Male: 69.65 deaths/1,000 live births, Female: 62.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS Rate in Adults: 4.1%
66.8% of adults are literate
Compulsory education (Ages): 6-18 years; free

Communication and transportation

108,100 main telephone lines
2.009 million Cellular line
750,000 Internet users
70,746 miles of highway
Air Port 1(Entebbe International airport)
31  airfields
3 Port & terminals (Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell all on lake Victoria)

Government
Uganda is a republic and gained its independence from the United Kingdom on December 9th of October 1962,
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the head of state.
7 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 18

Military

Military expenditures are 2.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders;

Economy

Currency: shillings
Per capita GDP: $900
GDP: $29.04 billion
GDP growth rate: 6.5%
Inflation rate: 11.2%
Labor force: 14.02 million (2007 est.)
Labor force by composition: agriculture: 82%, industry: 5%, services: 13% (1999 est.)

Resources and industry

Natural resources; copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land.
Agriculture: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry
Industry: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Exports: $1.626 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports: $2.803 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)