Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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 at least another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.
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Location:
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Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 00 N, 32 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 236,040 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Oregon
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
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Terrain:
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mostly plateau with rim of mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
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Natural resources:
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copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 25.34%
permanent crops: 8.77%
other: 65.89% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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90 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
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Population:
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25,632,794
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 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 50.8% (male 6,528,724; female 6,486,736)
15-64 years: 46.8% (male 5,985,911; female 6,024,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 266,930; female 339,695) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 14.7 years
female: 14.8 years (2002)
male: 14.6 years
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Population growth rate:
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2.96% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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46.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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16.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2001, Uganda was host to 178,815 refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including: Sudan 155,996, Rwanda 14,375, and Democratic Republic of the Congo 7,459 (2003 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 87.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 95.41 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 44.88 years
male: 43.42 years
female: 46.38 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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6.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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5% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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600,000 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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84,000 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
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Ethnic groups:
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Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%, Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi 2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%
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Languages:
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English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Kampala
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Administrative divisions:
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56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
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Independence:
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9 October 1962 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
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Constitution:
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8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
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Legal system:
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in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI (since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note - first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 27.8%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly elected by popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interest groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 ex officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held May or June 2006);
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the NRM)[President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered; note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a political party, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans
note: the constitution requires the suspension of political parties while the Movement organization is in governance; of the political parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton OBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (41) 234-142
FAX: [256] (41) 258-451
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Flag description:
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six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side
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Economy - overview:
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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.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $30.49 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.5% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 43%
industry: 19%
services: 38% (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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35% (2001 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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37.4 (1996)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.1% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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12 million (2001 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $959 million
expenditures: $1.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
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Industries:
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sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.3% (2002 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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1.928 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0.9%
hydro: 99.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.62 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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174 million kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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1 million kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, cut flowers
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Exports:
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$476 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers, horticultural products
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Exports - partners:
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Belgium 16.2%, Netherlands 13.7%, Germany 7.5%, Spain 5.5%, Hong Kong 4.9%, US 4.6%, UK 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Portugal 4.1% (2002)
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Imports:
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$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
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Imports - partners:
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Kenya 45.3%, South Africa 6.8%, India 5.7%, UK 5.5% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$2.8 billion (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$1.4 billion (2000)
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Currency:
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Ugandan shilling (UGX)
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Currency code:
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UGX
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Exchange rates:
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Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,797.55 (2002), 1,755.66 (2001), 1,644.48 (2000), 1,454.83 (1999), 1,240.31 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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50,074; however, 80,868 main lines have been installed (1998)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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9,000 (1998)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems have been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is essential; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular systems for short-range traffic
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
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Television broadcast stations:
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8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)
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Internet country code:
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.ug
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000)
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Internet users:
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60,000 (2002)
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Railways:
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total: 1,241 km
narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 27,000 km
paved: 1,809 km
unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward, Victoria Nile, Albert Nile
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Ports and harbors:
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Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
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Merchant marine:
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total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT
ships by type: roll on/roll off 3
note: these ships are in cargo and passenger (ferry) service on Uganda's inland waterways (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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27 (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
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Disputes - international:
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Tutsi, Hutu, and other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; conflict in Sudan has extended rebel forces and refugees into Uganda
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This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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