The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country located in the heart of Africa; it expands over a total area of: 236,040 sq. km (land: 199,710 sq. km; water: 36,330 sq. km).

Population: 23,317,560 (July 2000); 25,632,794 (July 2003 est.); Population growth rate: 2.72% (2000); 2.96% (2003 est.).

The bordering countries are: in the West The Democratic Republic of the Congo over 765 km; in the East: Kenya over 933 km; in the Southwest: Rwanda over 169 km; in the Southeast: Tanzania over 396 km; in the North: Sudan over 435 km.

Independence from United Kingdom: October, 9 1962
National holiday: October 9

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt.

Agriculture production: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry.

Industrial production: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement.
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1998), 6.3% (2002)

Uganda is endowed with a very generous climate; It has plentiful of freshwater resources: lakes Victoria, Albert and Edward. Rainfall is regular and fertile soils are abundant.

That is the reason why agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues.

Since 1987, the government launched an Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) backed by foreign countries - particularly the United States of America - and international financial agencies: IMF and the World Bank.

That rehabilitation programme helped the government to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by implementing currency reform, tax reform (introduction - July 1, 1996 - of VAT - Value Added Tax).

The stabilization and rehabilitation programme also helped the Uganda's government to be able to raise producer prices on export crops, increase prices of imported and refined petroleum products, and improve civil service wages.

The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings.

In 1990-99, the economy turned in a solid performance.

Since the launching of the Economic Recovery programme (ERP) in May 1987, the economy has been growing at an average of 6.5% per annum with a growth of 7.7% recorded in calendar year 1995. Inflation has been reduced from an annual rate of about 250% in 1987 to about 6.0% per annum currently. Per capita GDP has grown form -1.5% in 1985 to 4.5 % per annum in 1995.

IMF, in December 1999 approved the third-year programme under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for US$ 6.7 million to support the government's economic programme.

Uganda's three-year Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement was approved in 1997, with an original amount of US$ 138 million, of which $100.8 million has been disbursed. December 1999's approval of the third release provides Uganda with another US$ 36.5 million to be disbursed during the third year, with US$ 12.2 million available immediately.

However all that influx of money is not truly enough to alleviate rampant poverty. Because less than 10% annual growth rate is not enough to rekindle the economy and trigger the take off. Click here for more

On March 12, 2001, Mr. Museveni won the presidential ballot with a comfortable margin (69.3 percent of total ballots against 27.8 percent to Mr. Kizza Besigye, the main opponent) - amid uproars and suspicions of vote rigging expressed by political opponents and international observers - The US-based Human Rights Watch said that it had documented extensive government efforts to manipulate the polls - from arbitrary arrests to attacks and intimidation of supporters of Kizza Besigye. Click here for more

On February 2004, seven opposition parties join forces in a G7 coalition to prepare to challenge president Museveni's Movement Party in forthcoming 2006's ballot. Constitutionally Mr Museveni cannot seek a third-term, but his Movement have decided to seek the lifting of a two term limit for a serving president.

Now that Ugandan troops completely pulled out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a peace accord reached with local rebels groups operating since 23 years (Click here for a report by Will Ross, BBC, Kampala) Museveni has the opportunity to spend extra budgetary financial means for productive economic purposes.

The continuation of the "relative" good performance experienced by Uganda's economy in the 1990's is an imperative necessity. Some economic "successes" will help the authorities to further stabilize the country.

There are opportunities in agribusiness, food processing, tourism development and low cost housing schemes.

Click here for dynamic news headlines on Uganda. Here for Yahoo! Update on news.

MORE ON UGANDA 1- D&B Export Guide to Uganda Digital Delivery in PDF by D&B 2- Abayudaya The Jews of Uganda by Richard Sobol 3- Interesting Times Life In Uganda Under Idi Amin Dada by Peter A.P.J. Allen 4- The Chimpanzees of Kibale Forest A Field Study of Ecology and Social Structure by Michael Patrick Ghiglieri

5- Women and Politics In Uganda by Aili Mari Tripp 6- No Shurcuts to Power African Women In Politics and Policy Making by Anne Marie Goetz 7- Money Is the True Friend Economic Practice, Morality and Trust Amongst the Iganda Maize Traders in Uganda by Pernille Sorensen 8- More News On Uganda by Allafrica

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GNP: US$ 5.60 billion (2000); 5.93 billion (2001); 6.28 billion (2002); 6.63 billion (2003)
GNP-real growth rate: 5.5% (1999); 6% (2000); 6% (2001); 5.5% (2002); 6% (2003)
GNP-per capita: US$ 240 (2000); 258 (2003)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 43%
   

2. industry: 19%
   
3. services: 38%

Exports: US$ 500.1 million (f.o.b. 2000); 476 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: coffee 54%, gold, fish and fish products, cotton, tea, corn
Exports - partners: 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)

Imports: US$ 1.1 billion (f.o.b. 2000); $1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: transportation equipment, petroleum, medical supplies, iron and steel
Imports - partners: Kenya 45.3%, South Africa 6.8%, India 5.7%, UK 5.5% (2002)

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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A passport - valid for six months beyond intended period of sojourn and a visa are required for most nationalities. Tickets and documents for return or onward travel are often requested. Airport tax of US$20 is payable on arrival from international flights.

Below listed are few Uganda's diplomatic representations for entry / health policy inquiry:

USA Embassy of Uganda 5911 16th Street NW Washington, DC 20011 Tel: +(1) 202 7267100 Fax: +(1) 202 7261727	Canada Embassy of Uganda 231 Cobourg Street Ottawa, ON K1N 8J2 Tel: +(1) 613 2337797 Fax: +(1) 613 2326689
England High Commission of Uganda Uganda House, 58/5 Trafalgar Square, London Tel: +(44)171 8395783 Fax: +(44) 171 8398925	Uganda Tourist Board Tel: +(256) 41 342196/7 Fax: +(256) 41 342188 utb@starcom.co.ug

Uganda has dally connection with almost all its partners in the SADC organization; particularly with South-Africa through South Africa Airways. Due also to the development of tourism industry (more than 225,000 entries in 2003) connection with Europe are regular from United Kingdom.

Uganda, despite being a landlocked country, has three active ports and harbors: Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell located on Lake Victoria. They are useful transshipping ports for imported and exported goods going or transiting through Kenya roads and railways to and from Kenya harbors.

Uganda merchant marine totals: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT (1999).

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Below are listed some hotels in Kampala - the Capital City - and Entebbe. For more information about accommodation available throughout the country, please contact Chico Travel Bureau below listed.