Republic of Uganda
Capital: Kampala Nationality: Ugandan Population: 35,873,253
Currency: Ugandan shillings (UGX) Off. Lang: English Area: 71,740 sq km
Internet DM: ug GDP: $45.9 bil. Life Exp: 53.45 yrs
Literacy: 66.8% Location: 1 00 N, 32 00 E Calling Code: 256

Uganda (juːˈɡændə) is an east African country bordered by Sudan to the north, Congo to the west, Kenya to the east, Rwanda,
Tanzania to the south, with an exact location of 1 00 N, 32 00 E. Uganda has an area of 241,038 sq km. Kampala is the capital. English is the official language.


The population is 33,398,682, with a life expectancy of 52.98 years. Uganda is 16.9% Baganda, 9.5% Banyakole, 8.4% Basoga,  6.9% Bakiga, 6.4% Iteso, 6.1%  Langi, 4.7% Acholi, 4.6% Bagisu, 4.2%  Lugbara, 2.7% Bunyoro, and 29.6%  other. The religious affiliation is 41.9% Roman Catholic, 42% Protestant, 12.1% Muslim, 3.1% other, and  0.9%  none.


Uganda was inhabited since the 4th Century B.C., the general region and Lake Victoria area. The region was inhabited by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralist. They were able to smelt iron and steel. Later powerful kingdoms developed-- Bunyoro, Buganda, Ankole, and Toro kingdoms and empires.

In 1894, the British declared the region a protectorate. Via the Buganda Kingdom and indirect rule, they were able to maintain power. Farming cotton and coffee was a major economic activity. Large cotton plantation were maintained by Bugandan chiefs, who became wealthy. Since the soil was more fertile in the south than the north, economic differientiation and division began to take root. By the 1950s, Buganda pressed for independence, joining the african nationalist movements in the rest of the continent.

Uganda became independent in 1962. An alliance between Milton Obote's Uganda's People Congress, base in the north and the Yekka Movement of the Buganda Kingdom. The presidency rotated from Obote in 1962 to the Bugandan kibaka in 1963. In 1966, Obote staged a coup, sending the Buganda king Mutesa II into exile. In 1971, colonel Idi Amin overthrew Milton Obote.

Idi Amin's coup was initially welcomed, but Idi Amin's administration turned out to be just as corrupt, repressive, and dictatorial as Obote's regime. Amin is known for his infamous expelling of 55,000 Indian Ugandan from Uganda calling them "parasites", his invasion of Tanzania, and assisting the PLO with the hijacking of a Air France airliner. The opposition with assistance from Tanzanian troops were able to depose him in 1978.

Milton Obote, by vote rigging, was able to return to power in 1980. Yoweri Museveni leading the National Resistance Army sought the overthrow of the Obote government, which it felt was illegitimate. In 1985, Obote was removed by his military, under Gen. Tito Okello. Okello was later overthrown by the NRA in 1986.

On assuming power, Yoweri Museveni made Uganda a one party state, invited Indian expatriates to return home, and re-instated the banned Bugandan monarchy. Resistance still continues from the north of the infamous Lord's Resistance Army, known for recruiting child soldiers.    

Works Cited

CIA, Factbook, Uganda

Ofcansky, Thomas P.(1996)Uganda:Tarnished Pearl of Africa.  Westview Press. pp. 17-21. ISBN 0813310598, 9780813310596