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Uganda is located astride the equator, on
the eastern part of the continent. It shares
boundaries with Kenya to the east, Tanzania
in the south, Rwanda in the South West,
the Democratic Republic of Congo to the
West and Sudan in the North. Within the
boundaries, one can experience a variety of
near-desert to arctic-like climate. It is a
land where snow can be found on the
Equator!!....[+]
Map of Uganda
Uganda is located in the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa and lies astride the Equator. The total area
of the country is about 241,039 square kilometers of which about 43,942 sq. km are covered by
fresh water bodies and swamps. Uganda is a country strategically positioned within East and
Central Africa, a region that includes some of Africa’s most economically important and
resource rich countries with a substantial market and great future potential.
The country is land-locked and borders the Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of
Congo to the west, Kenya to the east, and Tanzania and Rwanda to the south.
Country Data
Area
Land Area
197,097 Sq. Km
Water and Swamps
43,942 Sq. Km
Total Area
241,039 Sq. Km
Land Use
Arable Land
25%
Permanent Crops
9%
Permanent Pastures
9%
Forests and Woodland
28%
Other
29%
Demographics
Total Population (2002)
24.7 million
Female Population (2002)
12.6 million
Click to enlarge
Male Population (2002)
12.1 million
Percentage Urban (2002)
12%
Population of Kampala City (2002)
1,208,544
Female Population/Aged 15-54 (2002)
5.4 million
Male Population/Aged 15-54 (2002)
5 million
Young Adults/Aged 10-24 (2002)
7.9 million
Population/Aged under 5 years (2002)
3.83 million
Population/Aged 65+ (2002)
0.77 million
Population Density (2002)
126 persons/km
Inter-Censual Annual Population Growth Rate (1991-2002)
3.4% per year
Infant Mortality Rate (2000/01)
88 per 1000 live births
Life Expectancy (1991) 48.1 years
Male 45.7 years
Female
50.5 years
Population per Physician (Doctor)
18,575
Education
Literacy Rate (2002)
64%
Religions
Roman Catholic
33%
Protestant
33%
Muslim
16%
Indigenous Beliefs
18%
Form of State
Republic
President
H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Legal System
Based on English law and the new Constitution enacted in October 1995.
319 Elected members (by Adult Suffrage 284 & electoral colleges 35)
and 10 Ex-officio
Last Elections
Presidential, Parliamentary, Local Government February/March 2006
Official language
English
Other languages: Swahili, Luganda
Capital City
Kampala
Currency
Uganda Shilling
Time
GMT+ 3
)
Uganda's Flag and its Meaning
From the top, a total of six horizontal stripes of black, yellow, red, black, yellow, red. Black
symbolizes our African heritage and Uganda's fertile soil; yellow is for the glorious sunny days,
so characteristic of Uganda; red symbolizes the red blood that runs in our veins, forming a
common bond to all humankind. The majestic crested crane (Regulorum gibbericeps) is
Uganda's National Bird.
)
Click to enlarge
)
Uganda's Coat of Arms
REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
Click to enlarge
The National Anthem of Uganda.
"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty" is the Uganda National Anthem. It was adopted in 1962 with
words and music composed by George Wlberforce Kakoma.
Standing on a green mound is a shield and two crossed spears. The green symbolizes Uganda's
lush, green vegetation. Supporting the shield are the Uganda Kob (Adenota kob Thomasi),
symbolizing abundance of wildlife; and the Crested Crane (Regulorum gibbericeps), Uganda's
national bird. The shield and spears symbolize our readiness to defend our motherland against all
enemies. Across the top of the shield are the waves of Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh
water lake on earth. In the centre of the shield is the sun, representing Uganda's glorious sunny
days. At the bottom of the shield is the traditional African drum, used for dancing, ceremonial
rituals, and for summoning the people to rally. Coffee and cotton, Uganda's main cash crops, are
displayed on the green mound; together with the River Nile, the world's longest river; which
starts its 8000 km (5000 mile) journey in Uganda. The Uganda motto is "For God and My
Country".
)
)
Oh, Uganda! may God uphold thee,
We lay our future in thy hand;
United, free for liberty
together we'll always stand.
---------------------
Oh, Uganda! the land of freedom,
Our love and labour we give;
And with neighbours all
At our country's call
In peace and friendship we'll live.
----------------------
Oh, Uganda! the land that feeds us,
By sun and fertile soil grown;
For our own dear land,
We'll always stand,
The Pearl of Africa's Crown
Public Holidays
Jan 1 New Year’s Day.
Jan 10 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Jan 26 Liberation Day.
Mar 8 International Women’s Day.
Apr 14 Good Friday.
Apr 17 Easter Monday.
May 1 Labour Day.
Jun 3 Martyrs’ Day.
Jun 9 National Heroes’ Day.
Oct 9 Independence Day.
Oct 22-24 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Dec 25 Christmas Day.
Dec 26 Boxing Day.
Dec 31 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
A Brief Political History of Uganda
Independence through the 1960s
Uganda gained her independence on October 9th 1962. Since 1894 she was a British protectorate
that was put together from some very organized kingdoms and chieftaincies that inhabited the
lake regions of central Africa. At independence, Dr. Milton Apollo Obote, also leader of the
Uganda People's Congress (UPC) became the first Prime Minister and head of the government.
The Republican leaning UPC came into power through an "unholy" alliance with a pro-
mornarchy party called the Kabaka Yekka (KY), which had a stated aim of protecting the
institution and power of the kingdom of Buganda. The UPC had earlier on, one year before
independence, lost the first ever general election to the Democratic Party(DP) and now needed
the strategic partnership of allies to avoid another defeat.
In November 1963, Kabaka Mutesa II King of Buganda was elected ceremonial President of
Uganda thus seemingly sealing the political alliance of UPC and KY. However, this marriage of
political convenience was short lived since both Obote and Mutesa and their following had
differing agendas.
In 1964, Obote championed a bill in Parliament providing for a referendum on the belonging of
the counties of Buyaga, Bugangaizi and Buwekula then of Buganda but claimed by the
neigbouring kingdom of Bunyoro. This culminated in two of the counties opting to secede from
Buganda and revert back to the Bunyoro Kingdom. As Kabaka of Buganda and President of
Uganda, Sir Edward Mutesa II, was placed in an invidious position of signing the two acts
pertaining to the "lost counties". It was upon accusations of dereliction of duty by the President,
not to mention other fabricated reasons, that Obote suspended the 1962 constitution on 22nd
February 1966 and took over all powers of State, thus giving rise to what came to be known as
the 1966 Crisis.
On 15 April 1966, in a Parliament surrounded by troops, Obote introduced without notice a new
constitution to be voted upon that very day. It was passed without debate and the Prime Minister
informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that they would find their copies in their pigeonholes.
This constitution came to be known as the Pigeonhole Constitution. Amongst other things, the
federal constitutional status of kingdoms was abolished and the office of Prime Minister merged
with that of the President and all executive powers became vested in Obote. Uganda was
declared a Republic.
The Kabaka and his kingdom establishment at Mengo refused to recognize the supremacy of the
pigeonhole constitution, insisting on the 1962 version. This culminated in the 24th May 1966
storming of Kabaka's palace by the Uganda army under the command of General Idi Amin but
on the orders of Obote. Although the Kabaka managed to escape, he was exiled in Britain where
he later died.
In 1967 Obote abolished all monarchs. Parliament became the constituent assembly and later all
political parties were outlawed, except UPC. In a move to the left, Uganda became a one-party-
state.
Idi Amin
It was against this background that Idi Amin led a disgruntled section of the army to overthrow
Obote on 25th January 1971. This coup was met with great jubilation but was to begin an era of
terror and enormous tribulation for the people of Uganda. This dark period would last 8 long
years. It was also during this period that all Asians, mainly Indians, were expelled from Uganda.
As a result the economy of Uganda suffered tremendously. The fiscal mismanagement and
insecurity that followed dint help the situation.
An estimated 300,000 Ugandans lost their lives through indiscriminate extra judicial killings
during Idi Amin's regime.
The Fall of Idi Amin, the UNLF and Obote II
In April 1979, a combined force of Ugandan exiles, under the umbrella of Uganda National
Liberation Army (UNLF), and the Tanzania Peoples Defense Force (TPDF) overthrew Amin's
regime.
The UNLF was created through the patronage of President Nyerere of Tanzania at the Moshi
Conference. It brought together a disparate group of Ugandan organizations and individuals with
a common goal of ousting the Amin regime. The first UNLF government was led by Prof. Yusuf
Lule as President and though well liked only lasted 68 days.
President Lule was followed by President Godfrey Binaisa, and then Paulo Muwanga whoc
chaired the ruling Military Commission which organised the December 1980 general elections.
UPC was declared winner of those elections though they were marred by multiple irregularities
and generally considered rigged. For a second time, Obote became President of Uganda.
During Obote's second tenure as president, Ugandans went through a very trying period.
Insecurity, fuelled by the government's own security organs as well as an ongoing liberation
struggle devastated the country. An estimated 500,000 Ugandans lost their lives in just 5 years of
Obote's reign. The economy was shattered and so was the people's faith in government.
NRA liberation struggle
In direct protest against the marred elections of 1980, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, then Vice
Chairman of the Military Commission and President of the Uganda Patriotic Movement,
launched a liberation struggle. It was on February 6th, 1981 and with only 26 compatriots
organized under the banner of the National Resistance Army (NRA) that the war of liberation
started.
As the NRA made staggering advances towards Kampala, having already cut the country off into
two different administrative zones, elements of the UNLA on July 26th 1985 ousted Obote in a
bid to find better negotiating ground. The Military Junta of Generals Bazilio and Tito Okello
replaced Obote II's government.
By February 26th 1986 the "Okellos Junta" had fallen and shortly after the entire country was
under control of the NRA.
The NRA's struggle was unique in that, for the first time in post-colonial Africa, a home grown
insurgency, with no rear bases in a neighboring country and little external support, was
ultimately successful. It was essentially an uprising of oppressed Ugandan citizens.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Uganda. The audious
task of rebuilding the entire country and its human fabric from scratch began. To enable this task,
political parties were suspended and Uganda was governed by an all-inclusive Movement
system. A lot was to be achieved over the next eight to ten years.
The NRA/M however continued to face the challenge of reactionary UNLA forces especially in
the northern part of the country.
The Movement System of Government
In 1995, a new constitution was promulgated creating a non-party all inclusive Movement
System of government. Under this system, political parties remained in abeyance. Elections to
most political offices was by universal suffrage. Marginalised groups like the women, the
disabled, the youth and workers were given special slots on all administrative units of
Government. The military was also given representation in parliament. The aspect of keeping
this system was to be reviewed by referendum every 4 years.
General elections were held in 1996 under the Movement System and Yoweri Museveni was
returned as President of Uganda. By this election, he became the very first Ugandan to be
directly elected to the post by universal suffrage. In 2001, he was again returned by popular
mandate to the Office of President
Return to Multi Party Politics
In July 2005 a national referendum was held in which the people of Uganda resolved to return to
multi-party politics. The result of the referendum in effect marked an end to the Movement
System of government. On February 23rd 2006, multi-party elections were held for both the
office of president and for parliament. President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance
Movement (NRM) won the presidential elections and the NRM took the highest number of seats
in parliament.
Overview of the Economy
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.
The economic reforms implemented by the present government in Uganda since
1987, coupled with political stability, have contributed to economic growth
rates averaging 6% per annum in the last decade. This has made Uganda one of
the fastest growing countries in Africa. Inflation is under control and has
been maintained below 10% per annum for the last four years. Most economic
activities are fully liberalized and open to foreign investment. There are
no restrictions to 100% foreign ownership of investments and no barriers to
remittance of dividends.
The Uganda's shilling is fully convertible and has remained stable over the
last years. The foreign exchange market is now wholly liberalized following
a move by government, effective July 1997 to liberalize capital account
transactions. Uganda is now one of about only five countries in the whole of
Africa that have no restrictions on capital amount transfers. Within Africa
and the merging markets, Uganda enjoys a high status with donors and
lenders.
Taxes on imports and locally manufactured goods continue to fall in line
with the Government's commitment to support the growth of the manufacturing
sector. In general, the environment for private sector investment has
improved significantly with the formal economy growing in importance. As
well as pure growth, Uganda is seeing a shift from the firmly agricultural
based economy of 1986 towards construction manufacturing and regional
trade/distribution.
For more information on the economy go to:
· PEOPLE AND CULTURE
For more information About Uganda go to:
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