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The Republic of Uganda is a country in east central Africa. It is
bordered in the southeast by Lake Victoria, in the east by Kenya, in the north by Sudan, by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and
Rwanda and Tanzania in the southwest.
History
Main article: History of Uganda
Little is known about the history of the region until the arrival of the first non-Africans, although humans are known to have
lived at least since the first millennium BC. When Arabs and Europeans arrived in the 19th century, they encountered
a number of kingdoms in the area, supposedly founded in the 16th century.
The largest and most important of these kingdoms was the still-existing Buganda.
The area was placed under the charter of the British East Africa Company in 1888, and
became a protectorate under the United Kingdom in 1894. Uganda was granted independence in 1962.
A 1971 coup saw Idi Amin take power,
ruling as a dictator for the coming decade. His rule cost an estimated 300,000
Ugandans' lives. His reign was ended by a Tanzanian invasion in 1979. The situation
improved little with the coming of Milton Obote, who was deposed in
1985, although rebels continued to fight long afterwards. Current president Yoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Uganda
The president, currently Yoweri Museveni is both head of state and
head of government. The president appoints a prime minister, who aids him in his tasks. The parliament is formed by the National
Assembly, which has 303 members. 81 of these members are nominated by interest groups, including women and the Ugandan army. The
remaining members are elected for five-year terms during general elections.
Districts
Main article: Districts of Uganda
Uganda is divided into 56 districts, listed below. The districts are all named after their chief town.
- CENTRAL:
- Kalangala
- Kampala
- Kayunga
- Kiboga
- Luwero
- Masaka
- Mpigi
- Mubende
- Mukono
- Nakasongola
- Rakai
- Sembabule
- Wakiso
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- EASTERN:
- Bugiri
- Busia
- Iganga
- Jinja
- Kaberamaido
- Kamuli
- Kapchorwa
- Katakwi
- Kumi
- Mayuge
- Mbale
- Pallisa
- Sironko
- Soroti
- Tororo
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- NORTHERN:
- Adjumani
- Apac
- Arua
- Gulu
- Kitgum
- Kotido
- Lira
- Moroto
- Moyo
- Nakapiripirit
- Nebbi
- Pader
- Yumbe
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- WESTERN:
- Bundibugyo
- Bushenyi
- Hoima
- Kabale
- Kabarole
- Kamwenge
- Kanungu
- Kasese
- Kibaale
- Kisoro
- Kyenjojo
- Masindi
- Mbarara
- Ntungamo
- Rukungiri
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Geography
Main article: Geography of Uganda
Although landlocked, Uganda has access to several large water bodies, including Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga and Lake Edward. The country is located on
a plateau, averaging about 900 m above sea level. Although generally tropical in
nature, the climate differs between parts of the country.
Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital Kampala and the nearby city of Entebbe.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Uganda
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 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. During 1990-2001, 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, corruption within the government, and slippage in the
government's determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for
enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million.
These amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion. Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite
continued decline in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Prospects for 2003 are mixed, with probable strengthening of
coffee prices yet with halting growth in the economies of major export customers.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Uganda
People from many different tribes live in Uganda, none of which has a significant majority. There are therefore also many
different languages spoken, although English is the country's
official language. Luganda is also widely spoken, and taught in schools throughout
Uganda.
Christian and muslim
missionaries first arrived in the 1860s, attempting to convert the Bugandan king. At
present, most of the population has converted to one of these religions.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Uganda
Due to the large number of tribes, many still living within their own kingdoms, culture within Uganda is diverse. A lot of the
Asians (mostly from India) who were expelled during
the regime of Amin are returning to Uganda.
- Music of Uganda
- List of writers
from Uganda
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Uganda
- Transportation in Uganda
- Military of Uganda
- Foreign relations of Uganda
- List of national parks of
Uganda
- List of cities in Uganda
External Links
See also
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