UGANDA
Also known as:
Republic of Uganda
Quick Facts
| Location | Eastern Africa, west of Kenya |
| Size | total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km |
| Capitals | Kampala |
| 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 |
| 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% |
| Population | 27,269,482 (July 2005 est.) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18% |
| Chief of State | President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986) |
| Government type | republic |
| GDP | $39.39 billion (2004 est.) |
| Industries | sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement, steel production |
| Currency | Ugandan shilling (UGX) |
| Internet country code | .ug |
| Time zone | UTC/GMT +3 hours |
On this page, you will find:
- Country- Map, Flag & Coat of Arms
- Introduction
- Journey Element 1: Nature & Wildlife (Natural Environment; Plants & Wildlife)
- Journey Element 2: Life & Society (History, Society & Culture, Government & Politics)
- Journey Element 3: Trade, Travel & Economy (Transportation, Communication, Economy, Tourism)
- Journey Element 4: Highlights, Current Events & Helpful Links (Highlights & amazing statistics, Current events, Other Helpful Links)
Country- Map, Flag & Coat of Arms
| Map | Map in context (From Wikipedia) |
| Flag | 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 |
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.
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Journey Element 1: Nature & Wildlife
Natural Environment
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Plants & Wildlife
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Journey Element 2: Life & Society
History Overview
Little is known about the history of the region now covered by Uganda until the arrival of the Arabs and Europeans in the mid 1800s. Humans are known to have lived in the area since at least the first millennium BC. When Arabs and Europeans arrived in the 19th century, they encountered a number of kingdoms in the area. They included Ankole, Buganda, Bunyoro, Busoga, and Toro. The largest of these kingdoms was Buganda, which exists as part of Uganda today. Islam and Christianity were introduced to these kingdoms. The area was placed under the charter of the British East Africa Company in 1888, and was ruled as a protectorate by the United Kingdom from 1894. As several other territories and chiefdoms were integrated, the final protectorate called Uganda took shape in 1914. By 1966, the first Prime Minister, Milton Obote, had overthrown the constitution and declared himself president, ushering in an era of coups and counter-coups which would last until the mid-1980s. 1971 saw Idi Amin take power, ruling the country with the military for the coming decade. Idi Amin on a ten shilling noteIdi Amin's rule cost an estimated 300,000 Ugandans' lives, and he forcibly removed the entrepreneurial East Indian minority from Uganda, decimating the economy. His reign was ended after an invasion by Tanzanian forces aided by Ugandan exiles in 1979. The situation improved little with the return of Milton Obote, who was deposed once more in 1985. The current president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power since 1986 and was viewed as being part of a new generation of African leaders. There is controversy, however, about the change to the constitution that allows him to run for a third term. Relative stability has been brought to the country with the exception of the North, which continues to struggle with a rebel insurgency. From Wikipedia. |
Significant dates & events
| year | event |
| 1500s | Nilotic-speaking immigrants from current southeastern Sudan discover Bito dynasties of Buganda, Bunyoro and Ankole. |
| 1700s | Buganda expands. |
| 1830s | When Arab traders moved inland from their enclaves along the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa and reached the interior of Uganda, they found several African kingdoms with well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. |
| 1860s | British explorers search for the source of the Nile River. |
| 1877 | Protestant missionaries entered the country. |
| 1879 | Catholic missionaries entered the county. |
| 1888 | Control of the emerging British "sphere of interest" in East Africa was assigned by royal charter to the Imperial British East Africa Company. |
| 1890 | Royal charter arrangement strengthened by an Anglo-German agreement confirming British dominance over Kenya and Uganda. |
| 1894 | The Kingdom of Buganda was placed under a formal British protectorate. |
| 1900 | Britain signs agreement with Buganda granting it autonomy. Buganda is turned it into a constitutional monarchy controlled mainly by Protestant chiefs. |
| 1902 | The Eastern province of Uganda transferred to the Kenya. |
| 1961 | Britain granted internal self-government to Uganda, with the first elections held on March 1. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party became the first Chief Minister. |
| 1962 | Uganda maintained its Commonwealth membership. A second round of elections in April elected members to a new National Assembly. Milton Obote, leader of the majority coalition in the National Assembly, became prime minister and led Uganda to formal independence on October 9. |
| 1966 | In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state vied with those in favor of a loose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political maneuvering climaxed in February, when Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the constitution, assumed all government powers, and removed the ceremonial president and vice president. |
| 1967 | In September, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms. |
| 1971 | On January 25, Obote's government was ousted in a military coup led by armed forces commander Idi Amin Dada. Amin declared himself president, dissolved the parliament, and amended the constitution to give himself absolute power. |
| 1978 | Idi Amin's 8-year rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations. The Acholi and Langi ethnic groups were particular objects of Amin's political persecution because they had supported Obote and made up a large part of the army. During this year, the International Commission of Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been murdered during Amin's reign of terror; some authorities place the figure much higher. In October, Tanzanian armed forces repulsed an incursion of Amin's troops into Tanzanian territory. The Tanzanian force, backed by Ugandan exiles, waged a war of liberation against Amin's troops and Libyan soldiers sent to help him. |
| 1979 | On April 11, Kampala was captured, and Amin fled with his remaining forces. After Amin's removal, the Uganda National Liberation Front formed an interim government with Yusuf Lule as president. This government adopted a ministerial system of administration and created a quasi-parliamentary organ known as the National Consultative Commission (NCC). The NCC and the Lule cabinet reflected widely differing political views. In June, following a dispute over the extent of presidential powers, the NCC replaced Lule with Godfrey Binaisa. |
| 1980 | In a continuing dispute over the powers of the interim presidency, Binaisa was removed in May. Thereafter, Uganda was ruled by a military commission chaired by Paulo Muwanga. December elections returned the UPC to power under the leadership of President Obote, with Muwanga serving as vice president. Under Obote, the security forces had one of the world's worst human rights records. In their efforts to stamp out an insurgency led by Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA), they laid waste to a substantial section of the country, especially in the Luwero area north of Kampala. |
| 1985 | Obote ruled until July 27, when an army brigade, composed mostly of ethnic Acholi troops and commanded by Lt. Gen. Basilio Olara-Okello, took Kampala and proclaimed a military government. Obote fled to exile in Zambia. The new regime, headed by former defense force commander Gen. Tito Okello (no relation to Lt. Gen. Olara-Okello), opened negotiations with Museveni's insurgent forces and pledged to improve respect for human rights, end tribal rivalry, and conduct free and fair elections. In the meantime, massive human rights violations continued as the Okello government murdered civilians and ravaged the countryside in order to destroy the NRA's support. |
| 1985 | Negotiations between the Okello government and the NRA were conducted in Nairobi in the fall, with Kenyan President Daniel Moi seeking a cease-fire and a coalition government in Uganda. |
| 1986 | Although agreeing in late 1985 to a cease-fire, the NRA continued fighting, seized Kampala in late January, and assumed control of the country, forcing Okello to flee north into Sudan. Museveni's forces organized a government with Museveni as president. Since assuming power, the government dominated by the political grouping created by Museveni and his followers, the National Resistance Movement (NRM or the "Movement"), has largely put an end to the human rights abuses of earlier governments, initiated substantial economic liberalization and general press freedom, and instituted economic reforms in accord with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and donor governments. |
| 1993 | Museveni restores the traditional kings, which includes the king of Buganda, but doesn't grant them political power. |
| 1995 | New constitution legalises political parties but maintains ban on political activity. |
| 1996 | Museveni elected in the first direct presidential election. |
| 1998 | Uganda deployed a sizable military force to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), ostensibly to prevent attacks from Ugandan rebel groups operating there. There were widespread allegations that Ugandan military and civilian officials were involved in the illegal exploitation of D.R.C. natural resources. |
| 2000 | A referendum was held in March on whether Uganda should retain the Movement system or adopt multi-party politics. Although 70% of voters endorsed retention of the Movement system, the referendum was widely criticized for low voter turnout and unfair restrictions on Movement opponents. |
| 2001 | Museveni was reelected to a second five-year term in March. Parliamentary elections were held in June, and more than 50% of contested seats were won by newcomers. Movement supporters nevertheless remained in firm control of the legislative branch. Observers believed that the 2001 presidential and parliamentary elections generally reflected the will of the electorate; however, both were marred by serious irregularities, particularly in the period leading up to the elections, such as restrictions on political party activities, incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and fraud. |
| 2002 | Sudan, Uganda sign agreement aimed at containing the LRA, active along common border. LRA wants to run Uganda along lines of biblical Ten Commandments. Led by "prophet" Joseph Kony they have kidnapped thousands of children and displaced many civilians. The Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF) launched "Operation Iron Fist" against LRA rebels in northern Uganda and conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern Sudan with the permission of the Sudanese Government. The Sudanese Government had previously given support to the LRA. In October, forces evacuated 400,000+ civilians as LRA continues its brutal attacks on villages. In Devember, peace deal signed with UNRF rebels. |
| 2003 | A Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) issued a report proposing comprehensive constitutional change in December. After much international pressure, Uganda withdrew its troops from D.R.C. in June. Tens of thousands of DR Congo civilians seek asylum in Uganda. |
| 2004 | The government, however, took issue with many CRC recommendations and made counter-proposals in September. In December, government and LRA rebels hold their first face-to-face talks. No major agreements result. |
| 2005 | In July, Ugandans voted in a national referendum to approve a multi-party system. In August, Parliament voted to change the constitution to lift presidential term limits. The elimination of term limits clears the way for Museveni to run again in 2006, and there are increasing signs that he wishes to to do so, despite significant controversy. In October the International Criminal Court in the Hague issues arrest warrants for five LRA commanders. |
Society & Culture
Africans of three main ethnic groups--Bantu, Nilotic, and Nilo-Hamitic--constitute most of the population. The Bantu are the most numerous and include the Baganda, which, with 18% of the population, constitute the largest single ethnic group. Individual ethnic groups in the southwest include the Banyankole and Bahima, 10%; the Bakiga, 8%; the Banyarwanda, 6%; the Bunyoro, 3%; and the Batoro, 3%. Residents of the north, largely Nilotic, include the Langi, 6%, and the Acholi, 4%. In the northwest are the Lugbara, 4%, and the Karamojong, 2%, occupy the considerably drier, largely pastoral territory in the northeast. The Basoga, 8%, are among ethnic groups in the east. Europeans, Asians, and Arabs make up about 1% of the population with other groups accounting for the remainder.
Uganda's population is predominately rural, and its population density highest in the southern regions. Until 1972, Asians constituted the largest nonindigenous ethnic group in Uganda. In that year, the Idi Amin regime expelled 50,000 Asians, who had been engaged in trade, industry, and various professions. In the years since Amin's overthrow in 1979, Asians have slowly returned and now number around 30,000. Other nonindigenous people in Uganda include Arabs, Western missionaries, NGO workers, diplomats and business people.
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Government & Politics
The 1995 constitution established Uganda as a republic with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The president of Uganda, who is the head of state and head of government, leads the executive branch. Legislative responsibility is vested in the 305-person Parliament, whose members were elected in June 2001. The Ugandan judiciary operates as an independent branch of government and consists of magistrate's courts, high courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.
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Journey Element 3: Trade, Travel & Economy
Uganda's economy has great potential. Endowed with significant natural resources, including ample fertile land, regular rainfall, and mineral deposits, it appeared poised for rapid economic growth and development at independence. However, chronic political instability and erratic economic management produced a record of persistent economic decline that left Uganda among the world's poorest and least-developed countries.
Since assuming power in early 1986, Museveni's government has taken important steps toward economic rehabilitation. The country's infrastructure--notably its transportation and communications systems which were destroyed by war and neglect--is being rebuilt. Recognizing the need for increased external support, Uganda negotiated a policy framework paper with the IMF and the World Bank in 1987. It subsequently began implementing economic policies designed to restore price stability and sustainable balance of payments, improve capacity utilization, rehabilitate infrastructure, restore producer incentives through proper price policies, and improve resource mobilization and allocation in the public sector. These policies produced positive results. Inflation, which ran at 240% in 1987 and 42% in June 1992, was 5.4% for fiscal year 1995-96 and 5.1% in 2003.
Investment as a percentage of GDP was estimated at 20.3% in 2003 compared to 13.7% in 1999. Private sector investment, largely financed by private transfers from abroad, was 14.9% of GDP in 2002. Gross national savings as a percentage of GDP was estimated at 6.4% in 2003. The Ugandan Government has also worked with donor countries to reschedule or cancel substantial portions of the country's external debts.
Agricultural products supply nearly all of Uganda's foreign exchange earnings, with coffee (of which Uganda is Africa's leading producer) accounting for about 19% and fish 17% of the country's exports in 2002. Exports of non-traditional products, including apparel, hides, skins, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, and fish are growing, while traditional exports cotton, tea, and tobacco continue to be mainstays.
Most industry is related to agriculture. The industrial sector is being rehabilitated to resume production of building and construction materials, such as cement, reinforcing rods, corrugated roofing sheets, and paint. Domestically produced consumer goods include plastics, soap, cork, beer, and soft drinks.
Transportation
Uganda has about 30,000 kilometers (18,750 mi.), of roads; some 2,800 kilometers (1,750 mi.) are paved. Most radiate from Kampala. The country has about 1,350 kilometers (800 mi.) of rail lines. A railroad originating at Mombasa on the Indian Ocean connects with Tororo, where it branches westward to Jinja, Kampala, and Kasese and northward to Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, and Kapwach, though the routes west of Kampala and north of Mbale currently are not in use. Uganda's important road and rail links to Mombasa serve its transport needs and also those of its neighbors-Rwanda, Burundi, and parts of Congo and Sudan. An international airport is at Entebbe on the shore of Lake Victoria, some 32 kilometers (20 mi.) south of Kampala.
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Communication
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Journey Element 4: Highlights, Current Events & Helpful Links
Highlights & amazing statistics
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Other Helpful Links
| Coming from the road! |
