Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 293 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1962 Population: 34,509,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$510 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 161 Geography Area: 236,000 sq km Coastline: none Capital: Kampala Uganda is a landlocked East African country lying astride the equator. It is bordered (clockwise from north) by Sudan, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Parliament of Uganda Independence: 9 October 1962 The present constitution was promulgated in October 1995, completing a process begun in 1989. It provided that until 2000, elections were to be held under the ‘movement system’ (introduced in 1986), whereby candidates stand as individuals to be elected on personal merit, and not as members of a political party. The ‘movement system’ ended in 2005 when the people voted in a constitutional referendum in favour of introduction of a multiparty political system. The constitution provides for a unitary republic, an executive President directly elected every five years by universal adult suffrage and Parliament which comprises 375 elected members, 238 directly elected every five years by universal adult suffrage and the rest elected from special interest groups by electoral colleges: women (112 members), the defence forces (10 members), youth (5), disabled people (5) and workers (5). The President appoints the cabinet. Since 2005 there has been no limit on the number of terms a President may serve. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court Ministry: Justice and Constitutional Affairs The constitution provides for independence of the judiciary. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and constitutional court. It is presided over by the chief justice and comprises no fewer than ten judges. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from the High Court. The High Court has unlimited jurisdiction in all branches of the law (civil, commercial, family, land, criminal, anti-corruption, international crimes, and execution and bailiffs). Its headquarters is in Kampala and it sits periodically in 12 other locations across the country. The magistrates’ courts have limited jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. Appeals arising from the magistrates’ courts are heard by the High Court. The chief justice is appointed by the President of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission. Uganda
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