Research Library: Uganda

Last Updated Apr 06, 2009

Country Information

Government

• Uganda is a republic with a president, court of appeal, high court, and unicameral National Assembly. This legislative body is made up of 332 seats, 215 elected by popular vote and 104 nominated by legally established special interest group quotas.
• The president of Uganda, currently Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, acts as both the chief of state and the head of government.

Political Stability

• Since Museveni has gained power, the amount of human rights abuses have dramatically decreased.
• A major opponent of the current government is the Lord¿s Resistance Army (LRA), a Sudanese-supported group that wishes to overthrow Museveni. Though this group murders and kidnaps civilians in the North and West and harasses government forces, it does not threaten the overall stability of the government.

Current Government Policies

• The Museveni government is working toward economic liberalization, freedom of the press, and other economic reforms.
• The government of Uganda faces a serious issue that needs to be addressed with the 1.3 million internally displaced persons following conflict between the government and the LRA.

International Reputation

• The LRA has been the cause of many strained relationships with countries surrounding Uganda. Uganda has strained relations with Sudan over Sudan's support of the Lord's Resistance Army and various rebel groups.
• Uganda and Kenya have strained relationships over trade disagreements and security concerns since the LRA has attacked Kenyan villages across the border.

Economics

• Uganda has significant natural resources including fertile land, mineral deposits and regular rainfall, resulting in agriculture being the leading portion of its economy and employing over 80% of Uganda¿s work force.
• With the help of foreign countries, Uganda is attempting to rehabilitate and stabilize its economy through implementing currency reform, improving wages, raising export crop prices, and increasing the costs of petroleum products. These also help keep inflation low and increase earnings.

Foreign Aid

• Uganda is a net recipient of official development assistance. For more information see the OECD Aid at a Glance chart.

Politically-Active Ethnic Groups
Data provided by the Minorities at Risk Project of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management at the University of Maryland

• Acholi
• Bagandi

Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.

Web Resources

• Government of Uganda
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• Idi Amin: 'Butcher of Uganda'
  This CNN profile, written at the time of Idi Amin's death, provides insights into the history of Uganda.
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• Index on Africa - Uganda
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• Parliament of Uganda
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• The Monitor Newspaper
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• Uganda Bureau of Statistics
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005
• University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center: Uganda
  Added or modified on Feb 17, 2005