Jamhuri ya Uganda | |
Motto For God and My Country | |
Anthem Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty | |
Capital | Kampala |
Government | Republic |
President | |
- From 1986 | Yoweri Museveni |
Prime Minister | |
- From 1999 | Apolo Nsibambi |
Legislature | Parliament |
History | |
- October 9, 1963 | Established |
Commonwealth accession | October 9, 1962 |
Area | 236,040 km² |
Population | |
- 2009 | 32,369,558 |
Density | 137.1/km² |
GDP | 2009 (PPP) |
- Total | US$ 39.6 billion |
- Per capita | US$ 1,226 |
Currency | Ugandan shilling |
Uganda | |
v |
The Republic of Uganda is a republic in Eastern Africa.
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.[1]
Economy
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.[2]
President
- Yoweri Museveni (₩) (January 26, 1986 - )
Prime Minister
- Apolo Nsibambi (₩) (April 5, 1999 - )
Nation
Ugandan Polities
- Uganda (1962-1963)
Neighbouring Nations
- Congo (Kinshasa)
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
References
- Country Studies: Uganda (Library of Congress)
- Uganda: Guide to Law Online (Library of Congress)
- The World Factbook (CIA)
- Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments (CIA)
- U.S. Department of State
- Australian Government
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Inter-Parliamentary Union - Parliament
- BBC News Country Profile
- BBC News Time Line
- World Statesmen.org
- International Constitutional Law Project
- Psephos Election Archive
- Wikipedia