Republic of Uganda

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart (upper-middle)

World Factbook: "Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues."

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 13%

Literacy, Age 15 and Older
2002 census: males 76.8%, females 5t.5%

Religion
2002 census: 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%

Geography

South of Sudan and north of Rwanda and Tanzania. West of Kenya and East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Landlocked. Equivalent to 486 by 486 kilometers or 304 by 304 miles. Capital: Kampala, on the northern shore of Lake Victoria.

Government

The president appoints the prime minister.

The Parliament of Uganda has 215 Constituency Representatives, 79 District Woman Representatives, 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces Representatives, 5 Representatives of the Youth, 5 Representatives of Persons with Disabilities, 5 Representatives of Workers, and 13 Ex-officio Members.

Recent History

Achieved independence from Britain in 1962. Dictatorial rule by Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979. The military in the person of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni seized power in 1986. Elected to a five-year term as President in 1996 -- the country's first popular presidential election. Museveni re-elected on 12 March 2001 with 69.3% of the votes. He said he would stand down at the next election, but he changed his mind and ran again, and was re-elected. The Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that the 2006 election was marred by intimidation, violence, voter disenfranchisement, and other irregularities. But the Court voted 4-3 to uphold the results.

Museveni was re-elected again on 11 February 2011.

Dec 23, 2008: The gay community in Uganda is estimated by gay activists to number around 500,000 -- about one-thirtieth of the population above the age of fifteen.