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RELATED FACTS

The Republic of Uganda is located in east Africa, bordered by Kenya to the east, Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Rwanda to the southwest and Tanzania to the south. The capital city is Kampala and the country is divided into 56 districts all named after their major city or town. As of 2000, the population was 24,699,073.

Climate and geography
Despite its location on the equator, Uganda is more temperate than surrounding countries due to its altitude. The climate is tropical, warm and rainy with two dry seasons from December to February and June to August. The land is mostly plateau with some mountains, making it suitable for agriculture and less prone to tropical diseases than other nations in the region. Uganda is surrounded by three great lakes, but has no access to the ocean. Uganda includes several offshore islands in Lake Victoria, and many national parks.

Language and culture
Uganda's official language is English, followed by Ganda, Swahili and Arabic. The country encompasses a diverse range of tribes, each with its own music, art and traditions. Common instruments include the Ndigindi (lyre), entongoli (harp), amadinda (xylophone) and lukeme (thumb piano). Many tribes pass legends and history down through songs and storytelling.

There is also a wide audience for Ugandan and foreign popular music. Uganda's well-known Afrigo Band, which combines traditional and popular musical elements, regularly tours abroad and has produced a number of recordings.

Uganda enjoys a rich theatre tradition, ranging from the National Theatre in Kampala to hundreds of small, local groups. Theatre plays an important role in educating and informing the public on a range of issues from gender relations to sexually transmitted diseases.

Religion
Uganda's population is predominently Christian, with 33 per cent identifying as Catholic and 33 per cent as Protestent. Muslims account for about 16 per cent, while 18 per cent adhere to indigenous beliefs like animism. At one time, there were sizeable numbers of Sikhs and Hindus in the country until people of Asian ethnicity were expelled in 1972. Many are now returning following an invitation from the president.

HIV and AIDS
Uganda has been hailed as a rare success story in the fight against HIV and AIDS, widely praised as having the most effective national response to the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. A variety of approaches to AIDS education have been employed, including the promotion of condom use, and pushing abstinence only programs. According to the World Heath Organization, HIV infection rates among pregnant women, a key indicator of the progress of the epidemic, have been more than halved since 1993 and infection rates among men seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections have dropped by over a third.

The HIV/AIDS infection rate currently sits at about four per cent of the total adult population, down from 15 per cent in the early 1990s.

Government and politics
The President of Uganda, currently Yoweri Museveni, is both head of state and head of government and appoints a prime minister, currently Apolo Nsibambi. Parliament is formed by the National Assembly, which has 303 members, 86 of whom are nominated by interest groups, including women and the Ugandan army. The remaining members are elected for five-year terms in a general elections.

In an attempt to reduce sectarian violence, political parties were restricted in their activities in 1986. Under this new system introduced by Yoweri Museveni, political parties continued to exist but could not campaign in elections or field candidates directly. A constitutional referendum ended this 19-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005.

Poverty and economy
Uganda has many natural resources, including sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80 per cent of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues. Domestically produced consumer goods include plastics, soap, cork, beer, and soft drinks.

Since 1986, the government has been working to rehabilitate an economy destroyed during the regime of Idi Amin and the subsequent civil war. Measures have included currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages.

In 2000, Uganda qualified for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief initiative worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million.

About 35 per cent of Ugandans live below the poverty line and unemployment is as high as 50 per cent in some regions.

History
Uganda was a British colony in the early 20th century, and was granted internal self-government in 1961, with the first elections held in March of that year. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers and abolished the traditional kingdoms.

In 1971, the government of Prime Minister Milton Obote was ousted in a military coup lead by armed forces commander Idi Amin Dada, who declared himself president, dissolved parliament and amended the constitution to grant himself absolute power. His eight-year rule was marked by economic decline and human rights violations.

In 1978, Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles waged a war of liberation and captured the capital city of Kampula, removing Amin from power. Free elections resumed in 1980 until another military coup occurred in 1985, when an army brigade claimed a military government.

A new government formed by Yoweri Museveni and the followers of his National Resistance Army took power in 1986, largely ending the human rights abuses of previous governments. In some areas there is armed resistance against the Museveni government that continues today.