UGANDA. Republic of Uganda
A state in East Africa. Area — 236,000 km². Capital — Kampala (800,000), largest cities: Jinja, Mbale, Entebbe. Administrative division — 4 regions (Western, Buganda, Eastern, and Northern). Population - 24.6 million (2004), 99% — Africans; ethnic groups of the Bantu (about 70%) inhabit the central and southern regions, ethnic groups of East Sudanese and Nilotic (about 30%) live in the northern part of the country. There is a small layer of citizens of Asian descent. The official language is English. Religion: about 65% of Ugandans practice Christianity (44.5% - Catholics, 39.2% - Protestants), over 15% — Islam, the rest adhere to local traditional beliefs. The currency is the Ugandan shilling.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on December 13, 1962).
National holiday - October 9 - Independence Day (1962).
Uganda is a republic. The head of state is the president (Y. Museveni), elected by universal direct suffrage for a term of 5 years. Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Assembly (276 deputies; 214 are elected by universal direct suffrage, 62 by an electoral college). Executive power is exercised by the government, headed by the president. The Prime Minister is A. Nsibambi.
It is a member of the Commonwealth, headed by Great Britain. Member of the UN (since 1962), OAU (since 1963).
In the Middle Ages, several states existed on the territory of Uganda (Kitara, Unyoro, etc.). By the mid-19th century, the kingdom of Buganda, which had formed in the 14th century, became more powerful. Uganda, which was a protectorate of Great Britain from the 1890s to the early 20th century, gained dominion status upon declaring independence in 1962. The head of state became the kabaka (hereditary ruler) of Buganda, Mutesa II (the former kingdoms received autonomous rights). On October 9, 1962, Uganda became an independent sovereign state. It was declared a republic on September 8, 1967, after Mutesa II emigrated from the country, and a republican constitution was adopted, abolishing the kingdom of Buganda.
Until 1971, the president and head of government was M. Obote, who was replaced by General I. Amin Dada as a result of a military coup, who assumed dictatorial powers. In April 1979, Amin, who conducted mass repressions, was overthrown by the forces of the Uganda National Liberation Front, formed by Ugandan exile groups in Tanzania. In 1980, in the general elections in Uganda, the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) won, and its leader M. Obote became president again. In 1985, he was ousted by the Military Council led by General T. Okello. However, the Patriotic Movement of Uganda (PMU), led by Y. Museveni, which actively participated in the overthrow of Amin and later launched an armed struggle against Obote's government, continued military actions against the Military Council of T. Okello. On January 26, 1986, power in Uganda passed to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) - a political organization transformed from the PMU. Its chairman Y. Museveni was proclaimed president of the country on January 29, 1986.
In October 1995, a new constitution (the 4th since gaining independence) came into force in Uganda.
The constitution proclaims Uganda a unitary republic with a presidential form of government. In May 1996, Y. Museveni was elected president of the country. On June 27, 1996, elections to the National Assembly were held on a non-partisan basis (candidates ran as independents).
A referendum held in October 2005 allowed the activity of political parties. These include: the Uganda People's Congress, the Democratic Party, and the Conservative Party. In July 1988, a political organization called the Movement was created (chairman - Y. Museveni).
The trade union association is the National Organization of Trade Unions.
Uganda is an agrarian country with a poorly developed economy. Up to 80% of the economically active population is engaged in agriculture, which accounts for 41% of GDP. The main agricultural crops are coffee (2nd in Africa, 5th in the world by production; 70% of export value), tea, tobacco, cotton, sugar, maize, cassava, citrus fruits, and others. Active measures are being taken to develop animal husbandry, which accounts for 25% of all agricultural production. Fishing is conducted in internal waters.
Industry is mainly represented by enterprises for processing agricultural raw materials. There are factories for the production of cement, mineral fertilizers, plastics, shoes, and textile enterprises. In recent years, metallurgical production has begun, a pipe rolling plant is being built, and an enterprise for assembling radio equipment has started operations. The share of industry in GDP is about 19.4% (2004). Approximately 50% of production capacities are utilized.
Although the economic situation remains difficult, the Ugandan government has managed to halt negative processes and stabilize the economy as a whole. In the program documents of the NRM, priority is given to a mixed economy with an emphasis on private entrepreneurship. The government's activities, based on the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank, are aimed at stimulating private initiative and strict economy in the public sector. In 2004, GDP amounted to $6.8 billion.
The country has large reserves of mineral resources: iron, copper, columbite-tantalite ores, cobalt, tungsten, tin, gold, phosphates, apatites, kaolin. Uganda has rich reserves of valuable timber.
The country continues to be economically dependent on foreign sources of financing. The main donors are traditionally the IMF and the World Bank, Scandinavian countries, Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, and India.
Foreign trade turnover in 2004 amounted to $1,968 million; exports - $628 million (tea, coffee, cotton, tobacco), imports - $1,340 million (petroleum products, machinery and equipment, spare parts, chemical raw materials, medicines). Main trading partners: Great Britain, USA, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, India, Kenya.
The external debt at the end of 2004 was $4.6 billion. Income per capita - $330.
As the internal political situation stabilizes, tourism is reviving (up to $50 million a year).
The length of the road network is 26,500 km, of which 2,800 km are paved, and the railway network is 1,300 km. Navigation is well developed on Lake Victoria, Mobutu-Sese-Seko, and Kyoga. Export-import transportation is carried out through the ports of Kenya (Mombasa) and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), as well as through Entebbe International Airport.
Primary and secondary education in Uganda is free. The largest university is Makerere in Kampala, one of the oldest in East Africa.
Major newspapers: "The Star" (daily), "New Vision" (daily, government organ), "The Citizen" (weekly), "Weekly Topic" (weekly), "Munno" (daily Catholic newspaper in Luganda), "Taifa Empya" (daily, in Luganda).
The Ugandan News Agency - UNA, founded in 1972, is controlled by the government. Radio Uganda and the Uganda Television Service are also under government control.
