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Location: Eastern Africa 
Capital: Kampala
Population (2011): 34,612,250
Surface area: 241,038 sq km
Currency: Ugandan Shilling
GDP per capita (2009): US $ 523
Historical background:
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved 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. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.
Economy – overview:
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals, and recently discovered oil. Uganda has never conducted a national minerals survey. 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. Since 1990 economic reforms ushered in an era of solid economic growth based on continued investment in infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, lower inflation, better domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Uganda has received about $2 billion in multilateral and bilateral debt relief. In 2007 Uganda received $10 million for a Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. The global economic downturn has hurt Uganda's exports; however, Uganda's GDP growth is still relatively strong due to past reforms and sound management of the downturn. Oil revenues and taxes will become a larger source of government funding as oil comes on line in the next few years. Instability in southern Sudan is the biggest risk for the Ugandan economy in 2011 because Uganda's main export partner is Sudan, and Uganda is a key destination for Sudanese refugees.
Human Development Index ranking (2010): 143 out of 169
Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (2009): US $ 1,786 million
Top Three Donors of gross ODA (2008-2009 average):
Untied States, IDA, EU Institutions
Total External Debt (2010): US $ 2.854 billion
HIPC Position (2011):Completion Point achieved
United Nations Membership date: 25 October 1962
New York Mission:
Address: Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations
336 East 45th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017
Telephone: (212) 949-0110, -0111, -0112, -0113
Telefax: (212) 687-4517
e-mail: ugandaunny@un.int
website: www.ugandamissionunny.net
Correspondence: English
National holiday: 9 October, Independence Day
Sources:
Updated October 2011
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