Uganda

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 hosts

32,683 (2012) country comparison to the world: 106

Internet users

3.2 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 66

Telephone system

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 domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic; mobile-cellular teledensity about 50 per 100 persons in 2010 international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Telephones - main lines in use

464,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 103

Telephones - mobile cellular

16.697 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 52

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.909 billion expenditures: $3.627 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Central bank discount rate

14% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 9.65% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.7% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 21.83% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.28 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 -$1.631 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$4.126 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $3.486 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 46 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. 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 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. Rising food and fuel prices in 2011 led to protests. Instability in South Sudan is a risk for the Ugandan economy because Uganda's main export partner is Sudan, and Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees.

Exchange rates

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 2,493.4 (2012 est.) 2,522.8 (2011 est.) 2,177.6 (2010 est.) 2,030 (2009) 1,658.1 (2008)

Exports

$2.735 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $2.519 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Kenya 11.6%, Rwanda 9.7%, UAE 9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.8%, Netherlands 7%, Germany 6.7%, Belgium 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.46 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$50.59 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $48.56 billion (2011 est.) $46.2 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 23.9% industry: 26.1% services: 49.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $1,400 (2011 est.) $1,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 5.1% (2011 est.) 6.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.)

Imports

$5.528 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $5.002 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners

Kenya 14.9%, UAE 14%, India 11.1%, China 9.3%, South Africa 5.6%, Japan 4.4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 18.7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Labor force

16.55 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.727 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 99 $1.788 billion (31 December 2010) $3.745 billion (31 December 2010)

Population below poverty line

24.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

26.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 27.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.705 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $2.617 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: excludes gold

Stock of broad money

$4.162 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $4.058 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.296 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $2.927 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.283 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $1.831 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.014 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Crude oil - proved reserves

1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - consumption

2.217 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - exports

75 million kWh (2010) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - from fossil fuels

37.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

59.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - imports

29 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - installed generating capacity

529,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - production

2.445 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Refined petroleum products - consumption

16,930 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Refined petroleum products - imports

23,950 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Area

total: 241,038 sq km country comparison to the world: 81 land: 197,100 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

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

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%) per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

90 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 21.57% permanent crops: 8.92% other: 69.51% (2005)

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 (1970)

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, Bulisa, 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, Kibale, 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, Mitoma, 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

name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

8 October 1995; amended 2005 note: the amendments in 2005 removed presidential term limits and legalized a multiparty political system

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (414) 259 791 through 93, 95 FAX: [256] (414) 258-794

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. 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 head of government: President Lt. Gen. 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 the supervision of the cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 68.4%, Kizza BESIGYE 26.0%, other 5.6%

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 with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (375 seats; 238 members elected by popular vote, 112 women directly elected, 25 nominated by legally established special interest groups [army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], additional ex-officio members may be nominated by the President; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 18 February 2011 (next to be held in 2016) 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, independents 43, vacant 1; note - UPDF is the Uganda People's Defense Force

National anthem

name: "Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty!" lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA note: adopted 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

National symbol(s)

grey crowned crane

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Muntu MUGISHA]; Inter-Party Co-operation or IPC (a coalition of opposition groups); 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] note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's transition to a multi-party political system

Political pressure groups and leaders

Lord's Resistance Army or LRA [Joseph KONY]; Parliamentary Advocacy Forum or PAFO; National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda or NAWOU [Florence NEKYON]; The Ugandan Coalition for Political Accountability to Women or COPAW

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 7,249,271 females age 16-49: 7,025,439 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,313,068 females age 16-49: 4,200,901 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 423,923 female: 420,236 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF): Army (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force (2010)

Military expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 66

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 recruitment under 18 years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 49.1% (male 8,229,045/ female 8,280,499) 15-64 years: 48.8% (male 8,158,822/ female 8,252,120) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 320,237/ female 400,110) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

45.8 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.4% (2006) country comparison to the world: 51

Death rate

11.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 123

Ethnic 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%, other 29.6% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

HIV/AIDS - deaths

64,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Health expenditures

8.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 51

Hospital bed density

0.39 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 64.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 22 male: 73.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

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

total population: 53.45 years country comparison to the world: 205 male: 52.4 years female: 54.54 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.8% male: 76.8% female: 57.7% (2002 census)

Major cities - population

KAMPALA (capital) 1.535 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

310 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 36

Median age

total: 15.1 years male: 15 years female: 15.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan

Net migration rate

-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Physicians density

0.117 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

33,640,833 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 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

Population growth rate

3.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

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

improved: urban: 38% of population rural: 49% of population total: 48% of population unimproved: urban: 62% of population rural: 51% of population total: 52% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.14 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Urbanization

urban population: 13% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese, 27,560 Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while 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

refugees (country of origin): 81,487 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 18,268 (Sudan); 12,998 (Rwanda) (2011); 23,678 (Somalia) (2013) IDPs: 30,000 (displacement 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) (2011)

Airports

46 (2012) country comparison to the world: 95

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 41 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 7 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Railways

total: 1,244 km country comparison to the world: 83 narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 70,746 km country comparison to the world: 66 paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

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)