- Welcome to Uganda
- In the Commonwealth
- Facts and Figures
- Uganda became a member of the Commonwealth in 1962
- Uganda became an independent country on the 9th of October 1962
- Uganda has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1954, and has won 49 medals
- Ugandans won the Commonwealth Essay Competition in 1989 and 2007
- Doreen Baingana was a regional winner in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 2006
- Dorcas Inzikuru took the Commonwealth Games Women’s 3,000 metres Steeplechase record in the Melbourne Games in 2006
- Uganda is one of six landlocked Commonwealth countries, all of which are in Africa, though water, including swampland, covers nearly 20% of the country’s surface area
- With nearly half of its population under 15, Uganda has a higher proportion of young people than any other Commonwealth country
- Florence Mugasha, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General 2002-08
- Joel Kibazo, former Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Rachel Mayanja, UN Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women 2004-
- Praful Patel, Vice-President, South Asia, of the World Bank
- 2007 Eighth Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in Kampala
- 2007 CHOGM, resulting in the Kampala Declaration on Transforming Societies to Achieve Political, Economic and Human Development; the Lake Victoria Commonwealth Climate Change Action Plan; and the Munyonyo Statement on Respect and Understanding
His Excellency Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of Uganda
It is with great pride that I welcome you to the Uganda page of the Commonwealth website. Uganda, “The Pearl of Africa”, as aptly described by Winston Churchill, is a beauty to behold. With her warm climate, an altitude of 650 metres to 5,200 metres above sea level, we have permanent snow on the equator. The people of Uganda are very friendly and hospitable. We have a diversity of flora and fauna and a host of other attractive features.
Through the National Resistance Movement, Uganda has been turned around from a country of anarchy to democracy, with a now vibrant and fast growing economy. We now boast of sound economic policies and a good infrastructure. Strategically positioned within East and Central Africa, Uganda has easy access to a wide market within the great Lakes region.
We were privileged and most honoured to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007.
Through the pages, you will learn a lot about Uganda, her impressive development and strategies for further transformation.
Uganda in the Commonwealth
did you know?
Senior international officers
Commonwealth meetings hosted
Commonwealth Projects
Legislative Drafting Advisor (2004-08)
A legislative advisor, that had been commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat, continued for a forth year to assist legal staff deal with drafting work in the Directorate of Legal Affairs in Uganda. The expert provided on-the-job training for lawyers in the Directorate of the First Parliamentary Counsel (FPC) and completed drafting of important bills for legislation such as the Refugees Bill, the Mining Bill and the Public Service Bill.
Professors/Senior Lecturers, Education Management and Planning and Education Research Evaluation (2007-08)
Contracts for two professors assigned to the Department of Higher Education at the University of Makerere were extended. The advisors were able to continue teaching to strengthen the capacity of the Department and to consolidate the training of relevant counterpart staff. Since its inception, the Department has been running postgraduate training programmes at Masters and PhD degree level in higher education management as well as pedagogical programmes for academic staff of the University. The professors were initially posted to develop a PhD programme in Education Management, Research, Evaluation and Measurement.
Senior Trade Promotion Advisor (2005/06)
The term of the senior trade promotion advisor to the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) was extended for a second year to ensure the UEPB was able to strengthen the delivery of its export promotion service and to assist UEPB in developing innovative export development programmes. Guidelines for the establishment of Export Production Villages (EPV) were developed and a model EPV established for replication. During the extension period, the advisor provided assistance for the implementation of the Government’s Medium-term Competitive Strategy for the Private Sector, and managed the change process resulting from the merger of Uganda Investment Authority, UEPB and Uganda Tourist Board. Training programmes, seminars and workshops in export marketing techniques were also be delivered to staff and relevant public and private sector operatives.
Technical Assistance to the Uganda Investment Authority for the promotion of investments in organic agri-products (2001)
This Commonwealth funded project assisted Uganda to develop strategies and initiate practical action for enhanced production and more competitive management of processed and unprocessed organic agri-products for export.
Integrated Marketing Programme for Furniture to European Countries (1995)
This Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned project envisioned the export of furniture, especially high quality antique-type furniture, through an integrated marketing programme for wooden furniture in selected European markets. The project focused on providing selected furniture firms with up-to-date information on market requirements and training them in product adaptation and development, design, quality and packaging. The project also involved test marketing and market penetration.
Population
Total area: 236,000 sq. km
Population in thousands (2015): 39,032
Population density (2015): 195 per sq. km
Proportion of population under 18 (2015): 55%
Proportion of population over 60 (2015): 3.8%
Proportion of population living in urban areas (2015): 16%
Economy
GNI in thousands (2015): US$27,257,156
GNI per capita (2015): US$ 700
GDP average annual growth (2006-10): 8.0%
Inflation, average annual (2006-10): 8.4%
Education
Proportion of pupils completing primary school (2011): 39.3%
Net enrolment rate (2010): 90.9%
Adult literacy rate: 86.9%
Gross enrolment ratio all levels (2007-10): 4.2%
Primary pupil-teacher ratio (2007-10): 49
Secondary pupil-teach ratio (2007-10): 18
Public spending on education (2007-10): 3.2%
Gross tertiary enrolment ratio (2007-10): 4.2%
Health
Proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS aged 15-49 (2009): 6.5%
Under 5 mortality per 1,000 live births (2015): 85
Population with access to adequate sanitation facilities (2008): 48%
Population with access to an improved water source (2015): 79%
Life expectancy (2015): 59
Public spending on health per capita (2009): US$ 43
Public spending on health as a proportion of total public expenditure (2009): 2%
Medical doctors per 100,000 people (latest data): 12
Nurses and midwives per 100,000 people (latest data): 131
Environment
CO2 emissions per capita (2008): 0.1 tonnes
Overall change in annual CO2 emissions (1990-2008): 358.2%
Forest area as a proportion total land area: 15.2%
Overall deforestation since 1990 (2008): -37.1%
ICTs
Landline telephones per 1,000 people (2010): 10
Cumulative growth/decline in landline telephones (2005-10): 274.2%
PCs per 1,000 people (2009): 17
Mobile subscribers per 1,000 people (2010): 384
Overall growth in mobile subscribers (2005-10): 875.3%
Internet users per 1,000 (2010): 125
Uganda
in the Commonwealth Yearbook
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