uganda
Some basic background:
Uganda is located in inland Eastern Africa, to the west of Kenya. It also shares borders with Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The nation is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon.
Uganda is located on the equator, but its tropical climate is moderated by altitude. The weather is generally rainy with two dry season (December to February, and June to August).
Uganda has a population of 28 million, nearly half of these are under the age of 15. There are many different ethnic groups and more than 30 distinct languages in Uganda. English, the language of the former colonial power, is generally used as the lingua franca.
Uganda has experienced a turbulent post-independence history (see: Idi Amin). Today, Uganda is considerably calmer and more stable, although some parts of the country still xperience rebel activity, particularly in the north and in theest along the border with Congo. Today’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power since 1986.
Uganda has been recognized as a success story in the fight against HIV and AIDS, widely being viewed as having the most effective national response to the pandemic in Africa. Adult HIV infection rates have been reduced by half over the past 10 years. Even so, over half a million Ugandans are living with HIV/AIDS, and the social, economic, and personal costs of the epidemic in Uganda have been great.
Uganda by the numbers: (compare to USA figures in parentheses)
- GDP per capita: $1,088 ($43,500)
- Infant mortality: 66.15 deaths/1,000 live births (6.43)
- Life expectancy: 48 for men, 51 for women (77.85)
- Birth rates: 6.71 children born/woman (2.09)
- HIV/AIDS prevalence: 4.1% (0.6%)
- Literacy: 69.9%–79.5% men, 60.4% women (99% for both men and women)
Links about Uganda:
Uganda entry in the CIA World Factbook
(I compiled information from these sources to write this page.)
