|
|
|
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.
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.
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 percent of the votes.
The president appoints the prime minister.
The National Assembly has 303 seats, 214 of which are filled by popular vote, 81 nominated by legal special interest groups (women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5), and 8 others -- all serving 5-year terms.
Running for office as a member of a political party is prohibited.
Service in the military is compulsory, and no one under the apparent age of 13 is to be a member of the military.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
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."
Estimated per capita GDP:
2008 $1,100
2007 $1,100
2006 $1,100
As of 2001, 5 million radios (one for every 5.5 persons) and 500,000 television sets (one for every 55 persons). As of 2003, 776,200 cellular phones (one for every 358 persons, including infants).
Deaths: 12.32. Births: 48.15, up from 47.79 in 2005
Estimated in July 2008: 31.368 million, up from 27.269 million in 2005. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 3.603 percent per year. According to the BBC in 2006, 50 percent of the population was below the age of fourteen.
Density for 2005: 136 persons per square kilometer.
More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 0.21 persons per 1,000 population.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 65.99, down from 67.83 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).
Average life expectancy at birth estimated for 2008: 52.34, up from 51.59 in 2005.
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 4.1 percent -- one in 24.4 persons. (2003)
Males 79.5 percent
Females 60.4 percent
Roman Catholic 33 percent, Protestant 33 percent, indigenous beliefs 18 percent, Muslim 16 percent.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.