Uganda
Uganda is ready for a resurgence.
In 1986, the election of Yoweri Museveni as President of Uganda brought an end to decades of military dictatorship and insurgency. Over the last 20 years, Uganda has emerged from its troubled past and is now considered one of the top 15 fastest growing economies in the world. Uganda was one of the first countries in the region to begin liberalizing its economy and introducing pro-market reforms, and Uganda’s vast supply of natural resources, fertile soil, and regular rainfall further contribute to the growing stability and prosperity of the country.
Timeline
- 1962
- Independence from Britain
- 1971
- General Idi Amin seizes power of Uganda through a bloody military coup and his 8-year dictatorial rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations, including the mass killings of over 300,000 Ugandans.
- 1986
- Yoweri Museveni is installed as president of Uganda, ending years of military dictatorship and bloody warring for power.
- 2001
- East African Community (EAC) inaugurated in Tanzania, laying groundwork for common East African passport, flag, economic and monetary integration. Members are Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
- 2009
- The United Kingdom oil explorer Heritage Oil says it has made a major oil find in Uganda.
- 2015
- Uganda surpassed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on halving poverty, and has made significant progress in reducing the population that suffers from hunger, promoting gender equality and empowering women.
- 2016
- President Museveni wins re-election amid controversy, raising international concern about fairness and transparency.
Overview
Demographic + Economic Overview
Uganda has a young population, and is ethnically diverse with no one ethnic group holding large majority. Literacy among adults is 78%, and English is the official national language, and also the one taught in grade schools, used in courts of law, and most media.
Population
Age
Participation
- Income Level Classification:
- Low
- Lower Middle
- Higher Middle
- High
Outlook
Economic Outlook
Agriculture is the most important sector of Uganda’s economy, employing one third of the workforce. Recently discovered deposits of oil in Uganda only add to the rich array of natural resources in the country, including copper, gold, and other minerals. But it still faces many challenges, particularly in infrastructure development, regional instability and corruption within the public sector. However, with a positive track record of sound economic management, the outlook for Uganda is largely positive in the medium-term forecast.
GDP
GDP
Investments
Key Sectors
Key Sectors
Uganda’s economy has long depended on agriculture, specifically on the export crops of coffee, tea and cotton. But it continues to diversify, particularly given the recent discovery of oil, accompanied with small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. In the near future, oil will become a major source of revenue in the country, especially as private industry invests in the area to pursue oil-related activities.
by Sector