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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ug

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,692 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

125,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular systems for short-range traffic international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

61,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

776,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.123 billion expenditures: $1.433 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.) (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

UGX

Current account balance [time series]

$-237 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.818 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37.4 (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$1.4 billion (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. 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. Solid growth in 2003 reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.62 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

174 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.928 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,963.72 (2003), 1,797.55 (2002), 1,755.66 (2001), 1,644.48 (2000), 1,454.83 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$495 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Kenya 14.7%, Switzerland 13.7%, Netherlands 9.2%, UK 6.4%, South Africa 5.6% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $36.1 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 36.1% industry: 21.2% services: 42.8% (2003 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 21% (2000)

Imports [time series]

$1.179 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners [time series]

Kenya 26%, India 7.4%, South Africa 7.2%, Japan 6.6%, UK 6.3%, UAE 5.8%, US 5.7%, China 5.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.9% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

12.09 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

35% (2001 est.)

Public debt [time series]

62.2% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$1.08 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,698 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 25.88% permanent crops: 10.65% other: 63.47% (2001)

Location [time series]

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Kampala

Constitution [time series]

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 [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 234-142 FAX: [256] (41) 258-451

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

Executive branch [time series]

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 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 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators 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 election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 27.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

9 October 1962 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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) elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held May or June 2006); election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air Wing

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$128.2 million (2003)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.1% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,678,649 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,085,053 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; the government has stated that recruitment below that age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 50.6% (male 6,696,193; female 6,653,764) 15-64 years: 47.1% (male 6,199,732; female 6,233,678) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 269,990; female 351,186) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

46.31 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

84,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

600,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 86.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 93.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 78.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 45.28 years male: 43.76 years female: 46.83 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.9% male: 79.5% female: 60.4% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 14.8 years male: 14.7 years female: 14.9 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan

Net migration rate [time series]

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 (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

26,404,543 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.97% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.64 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema, and other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, militias, 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; civil conflict in Sudan has extended Sudanese rebel forces and refugees into Uganda and given shelter to Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army soldiers in Sudan; Kenya and Uganda are working together to stem cattle rustling and violence by Lord's Resistance Army along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 184,731 (Sudan), 18,000 (Rwanda) IDPs: 1.4 million (ongoing LRA rebellion, mainly in the north; LRA frequently attacks IDP camps) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

27 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 25 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 27,000 km paved: 1,809 km unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/5,943 DWT by type: roll on/roll off 3 (2003 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Railways [time series]

total: 1,241 km narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

300 km (on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of Albert Nile) (2004 est.)