Conventional long form: The Republic of Uganda

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 another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s the government has promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Capital: Kampala

Population: 23,317,560

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E

Total Area: 236,040 sq km
Land Area: 199,710 sq km
Water Area: 36,330 sq km

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semi-arid in the northeast.

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains.

Lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m

Highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Environmental issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread.

Population growth rate: 2.72% (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 93.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy: 42.93 years

Ethnic groups: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%, Batobo 3%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 23%.

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 2000 est.)

Economic overview: 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 is the major export crop and 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. In 1990-99, 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. Ongoing Ugandan involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, growing corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth.

Population below poverty line: 55% (1993 est.)

Literacy: 61.8%

External debt: $3.1 billion (1998 est.)