Uganda 31816 225418736 2008-07-13T16:13:41Z Nsaa 113357 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/75.68.114.25|75.68.114.25]] to last version by Guaka (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{tooshort|date=July 2008}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = ''Jamhuri ya Uganda'' <small>{{sw icon}}</small><br/>Republic of Uganda |common_name = Uganda |image_flag = Flag of Uganda.svg |image_coat = Uganda coa.png |image_map = LocationUganda.svg |national_motto = "For God and My Country" |national_anthem = "[[Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty]]" |nickname = The Pearl of Africa |official_languages = [[English language|English]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]] |demonym = Ugandan |capital = [[Kampala]] |latd=0 |latm=19 |latNS=N |longd=32 |longm=35 |longEW=E |largest_city = Kampala |government_type = [[Democracy|Democratic]] [[republic]] |leader_title1 = [[President of Uganda|President]] |leader_name1 = [[Yoweri Museveni]] |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Uganda|Prime Minister]] |leader_name2 = [[Apolo Nsibambi]] |area_rank = 81st |area_magnitude = 1 E11 |area_km2 = 236,040 |area_sq_mi = 91,136 |percent_water = 15.39 |population_estimate_year = 2007 <ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm Uganda (01/08)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |population_estimate_rank = 38th |population_estimate = 30,900,000 |population_census = 24,442,084 |population_census_year = 2002 |population_density_km2 = 119 |population_density_sq_mi = 308 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 82nd<sup>1</sup> |GDP_PPP_year = 2006 |GDP_PPP = $52.93 billion<ref name="ciagdp">{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html#Econ| title=Uganda: Economy| publisher=CIA World Factbook| accessdate=2007-11-08}}</ref> |GDP_PPP_rank = 83rd<ref name="ciarank1">{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html| title=Rank Order - GDP (purchasing power parity)| publisher=CIA World Factbook| accessdate=2007-11-08}}</ref> |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $900<ref name="ciagdp"/> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 186th<ref name="ciarank2">{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html| title=Rank Order - GDP - per capita (PPP)| publisher=CIA World Factbook| accessdate=2007-11-08}}</ref> |HDI_year = 2007 |HDI = 0.505 |HDI_rank = 154th |HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font> |Gini = 43 |Gini_year = 1998 |Gini_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font> |FSI = 96.4 {{decrease}} 0.1 |FSI_year = 2007 |FSI_rank = 15th |FSI_category = <font color="#FF0000">Alert</font> |sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |sovereignty_note = from the [[United Kingdom]] |established_event1 = Republic |established_date1 = [[October 9]] [[1962]] |currency = [[Ugandan shilling]] |currency_code = UGX |time_zone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] |utc_offset = +3 |time_zone_DST = ''not observed'' |utc_offset_DST = +3 |cctld = [[.ug]] |calling_code = 256 |calling_code_note = <sup>2</sup> |footnotes = .<br/><sup>1</sup>Rank based on 2005 figures.<!--Source?--><br/><sup>2</sup> 006 from [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]]. }} The '''Republic of Uganda''' is a [[landlocked country]] in [[East Africa]], bordered on the east by [[Kenya]], the north by [[Sudan]], on the west by the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], on the southwest by [[Rwanda]], and on the south by [[Tanzania]]. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of [[Lake Victoria]], within which it shares borders with [[Kenya]] and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the [[Buganda]] kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country including the capital [[Kampala]]. ==History== {{main|History of Uganda}} The earliest known human inhabitants in contemporary Uganda were [[Hunter-gatherer|hunter gatherers]]. Between about 2000 and 1500 years ago [[Bantu]] speaking populations, who were probably from [[Central Africa|central]] and [[West Africa|western Africa]], migrated to the southern parts of the country.<ref name="living_enc">[http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/uethnic.htm "East Africa Living Encyclopedia - Ethnic Groups"], ''African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania''</ref><ref name="phil">Phyllis Martin and Patrick O'Meara. ''Africa. 3rd edition''. Indiana University Press, 1995.</ref> These groups brought and developed ironworking skills and new ideas of social and political organization. The [[Empire of Kitara]] in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries represents the earliest forms of formal organization, followed by the kingdom of [[Bunyoro|Bunyoro-Kitara]], and in later centuries, [[Buganda]] and [[Ankole]] .<ref name=Mwambutsya>Mwambutsya, Ndebesa, "[http://www.ossrea.net/eassrr/jan91/mwambuts.htm Pre-capitalist Social Formation: The Case of the Banyankole of Southwestern Uganda.]" ''Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review'' 6, no. 2; 7, no. 1 (June 1990 and January 1991): 78-95.</ref> [[Nilotic]] people including [[Luo (family of ethnic groups)|Luo]] and [[Ateker]] entered the area from the north, probably beginning about [[Anno Domini|A.D.]]&nbsp;120. They were cattle herders and subsistence farmers who settled mainly the northern and eastern parts of the country. Some Luo invaded the area of Bunyoro and assimilated with the Bantu there, establishing the Babiito dynasty of the current ''[[Omukama of Bunyoro|Omukama]]'' (ruler) of Bunyoro-Kitara.<ref name="babito">[http://www.bunyoro-kitara.com/history2.htm#The%20Babiito "Origins of Bunyoro-Kitara Kings"], ''Bunyoro-Kitara website''</ref> Luo migration proceeded until the 16th century, with some Luo settling amid Bantu people in Eastern Uganda, with others proceeding to the western shores of [[Lake Victoria]] in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]]. The Ateker ([[Karimojong]] and [[Teso]]) settled in the north-eastern and eastern parts of the country, and some fused with the Luo in the area north of [[Lake Kyoga]]. [[Arab]] traders moved inland from the [[Indian Ocean]] coast of [[East Africa]] in the 1830s. They were followed in the 1860s by British explorers searching for the source of the [[Nile]]. [[Protestantism|Protestant]] missionaries entered the country in 1877, followed by [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] missionaries in 1879.<ref name="state_dept">[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm#history "Background Note: Uganda"], ''[[U.S. State Department]]''</ref> The [[United Kingdom]] placed the area under the charter of the [[British East Africa Company]] in 1888, and ruled it as a [[protectorate]] from 1894. As several other territories and chiefdoms were integrated, the final protectorate called Uganda took shape in 1914. [[Image:Uganda-Amin-10-Shillings-cr.jpg|thumb|left|[[Idi Amin]] on a ten shilling note]]Uganda became an independent nation in 1962, with [[Milton Obote]] as Executive [[Prime Minister of Uganda|Prime Minister]]. The constitution was changed in 1963 to satisfy an alliance between the [[Uganda People's Congress]] and the [[Kabaka Yekka]] Party, during the elections in 1962. This created a post of a titular Head of State called the President and a position of a Vice President. The UPC government appointed [[Mutesa II of Buganda|Edward Muteesa II]], ''[[Kabaka of Buganda|Kabaka]]'' (King) of Buganda, as the President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. William Wilberforce Nadiope, the Kyabazing of Busoga (paramount chief), was appointed Vice President. In 1966, Obote overthrew the king. A UPC-dominated Parliament changed the constitution, and Obote became president. The elections were suspended, ushering in an era of [[coup]]s and counter-coups, which would last until the mid-1980s. Obote was deposed twice from office, both times by military coup. [[Idi Amin]] [[1971 Ugandan coup d'état|took power]] in 1971, ruling the country with the military for the coming decade.<ref name="loc">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ugtoc.html "A Country Study: Uganda"], ''[[Library of Congress]] Country Studies''</ref> Idi Amin's rule cost an estimated 300,000 Ugandans' lives. He forcibly removed the entrepreneurial [[India]]n minority from Uganda, decimating the economy. His reign was ended after the [[Uganda-Tanzania War]] in 1979 in which Tanzanian forces aided by Ugandan exiles invaded Uganda. This led to the return of Obote, who was deposed once more in 1985 by General [[Tito Okello]]. Okello ruled for six months until he was deposed after the so called "[[Ugandan Bush War|bush war]]" by the [[National Resistance Army]] (NRM) operating under the leadership of the current president, [[Yoweri Museveni]], and various rebel groups, including Federal Democratic Movement of Andrew Kayiira, and another belonging to John Nkwanga. Museveni has been in power since 1986. In the mid to late 1990s, he was lauded by [[Western world|the West]] as part of a [[new generation of African leaders]]. His presidency has included involvement in the [[Second Congo War|civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo]] (DRC) and other conflicts in the [[Great Lakes (Africa)|Great Lakes region]], as well as the civil war against the [[Lord's Resistance Army]]. In 2007, Uganda deployed soldiers to the [[African Union]] peacekeeping mission in [[Somalia]]. ==Government== {{main|Politics of Uganda}}<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series--> [[Image:Yoweri Museveni.jpg|thumb|left|[[Yoweri Museveni]], [[President of Uganda]].]] The [[President of Uganda]], currently [[Yoweri Museveni]], is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]]. The president appoints a [[Prime Minister of Uganda|prime minister]], currently [[Apolo Nsibambi]], who aids him in governing. The parliament is formed by the [[National Assembly of Uganda|National Assembly]], which has 303 members. Eighty-six of these members are nominated by interest groups, including women and [[Uganda People's Defence Force|the army]]. The remaining members are elected for five-year terms during [[elections in Uganda|general elections]]. In a measure ostensibly designed to reduce sectarian violence, [[political party|political parties]] were restricted in their activities from 1986. In the [[non-partisan democracy|non-party]] "Movement" system instituted by Museveni, political parties continued to exist, but they could only operate a headquarter office. They could not open branches, hold rallies or field candidates directly (although electoral candidates could belong to political parties). A [[Uganda 2005|constitutional referendum]] canceled this nineteen-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005. The presidential elections were held in February 2006. Museveni ran against several candidates, the most prominent of whom was exiled Dr. [[Kizza Besigye]]. Museveni was declared the winner in the elections, but international election observers did not condemn the election results or endorse the electoral process.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Despite technically democratic elections, harassment of opposition had started months earlier in the form of a disturbing opposition campaign, detention of activists, rape and other criminal allegations against Besigye, and use of state funds for electoral campaigning.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Museveni's tenure in office has been marred by allegations of massive corruption, embezzlement of public funds by a small section of the population and continued uncontrollable demonstrations of recent PRA suspects in court and Mabira Forest give-aways.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} ==Geography== {{main|Geography of Uganda}} [[Image:Ug-map.png|thumb|right|220px|Map of Uganda]] [[Image:Kabale landscape.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Kabale District]] in southwestern Uganda]] The country is located on the East African [[plateau]], averaging about 1100 metres (3,250&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) above sea level, and this slopes very steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the North. However, much of the south is poorly drained, while the centre is dominated by [[Lake Kyoga]], which is also surrounded by extensive marshy areas. Uganda lies almost completely within the [[Nile]] basin. The Victoria Nile drains from the lake into Lake Kyoga and thence into [[Lake Albert]] on the Congolese border . It then runs northwards into [[Sudan]]. One small area on the eastern edge of Uganda is drained by the Turkwel river, part of the internal drainage basin of [[Lake Turkana]]. Although generally equatorial, the climate is not uniform as the altitude modifies the climate. Southern Uganda is wetter with rain generally spread throughout the year. At [[Entebbe]] on the northern shore of [[Lake Victoria]], most rain falls from March to June and the November/December period. Further to the north a dry season gradually emerges; at Gulu about 120km from the Sudanese border, November to February is much drier than the rest of the year. The north eastern Karamoja region has the driest climate and is prone to droughts in some years. [[Ruwenzori]] in the south west on the border with Congo (DRC) receives heavy rain all year round. The south of the country is heavily influenced by one of the world's biggest lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands. It prevents temperatures from varying significantly and increases cloudiness and rainfall. Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital [[Kampala]] and the nearby city of [[Entebbe]]. Although landlocked, Uganda contains many large lakes, besides Lake Victoria and [[Lake Kyoga]], there is [[Lake Albert]], [[Lake Edward]] and the smaller Lake George. ==Districts and counties== {{main|Districts of Uganda|Counties of Uganda|Sub-counties of Uganda}} {{seealso|List of cities and towns in Uganda}} [[Image:Uganda Districts.png||thumb|left|300px|Districts of Uganda]] Uganda is divided into 80 [[Districts of Uganda|districts]], spread across four administrative regions: Northern, Eastern, Central and Western. The districts are subdivided into [[Counties of Uganda|counties]]. A number of districts have been added in the past few years, and eight others were added on [[July 1]], [[2006]].<ref name="district">[http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/26/449320 "Can Uganda’s economy support more districts?"], ''[[New Vision]]'', 8 August, 2005</ref> Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns. Each district is divided into sub-districts, [[Counties of Uganda|counties]], [[Sub-counties of Uganda|sub-counties]], [[parish]]es and [[village]]s. Parallel with the state administration, five traditional [[Bantu]] kingdoms have remained, enjoying some degrees of mainly cultural autonomy. The kingdoms are [[Toro Kingdom|Toro]], [[Ankole]], [[Busoga]], [[Bunyoro]] and [[Buganda]]. {{Districts of Uganda}} ==Economy== {{main|Economy of Uganda|Energy in Uganda}} Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable [[mineral]] deposits of [[copper]] and [[cobalt]]. The country has largely untapped reserves of both [[crude oil]] and [[natural gas]]. [[Agriculture]] is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with [[coffee]] accounting for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government (with the support of foreign countries and international agencies) has acted to rehabilitate an economy decimated during the regime of [[Idi Amin]] and subsequent civil war. During 1990 - 2001, the economy grew because of continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs between 1990 and 2001. Ongoing Ugandan involvement in the [[Second Congo War|war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]], corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for the enhanced [[Heavily Indebted Poor Countries]] (HIPC) debt relief initiative worth $1.3 billion and [[Paris Club]] debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion. Growth for 2001 - 2002 was solid despite continued decline in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export.<ref name="factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html "The World Factbook - Uganda"], ''[[CIA]]'', 2006</ref> According to IMF statistics, in 2004 Uganda's GDP per-capita reached $300, a much higher level than in the Eighties but still at half of Sub-Saharan African average income of 600 dollars per year. Total GDP crossed the 8 billion dollar mark in the same year. With the Uganda securities exchange established in 1996, several equities have been listed. The Government has used the stock market as an avenue for privatisation. All Government treasury issues are listed on the securities exchange. The Capital Markets Authority has licensed 18 brokers, asset managers and investment advisors including names like African Alliance, AIG Investments, Renaissance Capital and SIMMS. As one of the ways of increasing formal domestic savings, Pension sector reform is the centre of attention (2007).(http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/631429, also http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=3040). It is widely expected that on 12th June 2008 the Minister of Finance will make proposals to set up a separate pension sector regulator. Previous delays have been attributed to the need to set up a proper regulatory framework before liberalising the sector. Uganda's long term capital is not properly intermediated at this time. The NSSF (www.nssfug.org) has more than 53% of its long term liability- driven investment in Short term bank fixed deposits. The crediting rate is not reflective of market conditions and can only be changed with prior approval from the minister of Finance, according to the 1985 NSSF Act. As a result members currently get 7% on their savings yet 364 day Treasury Bill rates yield 12% to 14% and equity returns range from 30% to 100% with about 40% in a moderate year. Only about 300,000 workers out of an estimated labour force of 12 million contribute to any regular formal savings, the bulk of this is forced savings under the NSSF Act. Long term infrastructure projects seek financing from external sources. Although Uganda is facing crippling energy shortage estimated at 400MW (about 50% of potential demand). The Bujagali Hydro electric project under construction in Jinja had to seek financing from World Bank, yet the US$ 650Million in pension money could have funded that project. This project will then use local currency income streams to service foreign currency loan obligations - a potential financial nightmare in a market where currency forward agreements only go as far as 12 months and a contract is not likely to be bigger than US$ 20M on the interbank OTC market. Pension sector reform could change all that by introducing competition. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Foreign capital inflows have risen recently. There are private equity inflows and remittances from Ugandans abroad which have helped stabilised the foreign exchange rate for recent two years. {{Fact|date=January 2008}} Recent floods in Uganda have devastated the local farmers. Destroying predictions of increased food productions, the heavy rains created landslides that destroyed the crops and also wet the stored food supply. The result has been a big hit to the economy which had been growing steadily.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} during the budget June 12th speech the minister announced that infrastructure will take center stage with Government spending about 26% of its revenues on mainatainance and development of the road network, currently in appalling condition. {{Fact|date=June 2008}} Uganda's economic growth greatly depends on her neighboring country Kenya.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} The country was plunged into an economic major distraction after Kenya was plunged into unrest following the December 2007 presidential elections.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ==Demographics== {{main|Demographics of Uganda}} [[Image:Languages of Uganda.png|thumb|250px|right|Ethnolinguistic map of Uganda.]] {{seealso|Languages of Uganda|Religion in Uganda}} Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups, none of whom form a majority of the population. Around forty different languages are regularly and currently in use in the country. [[English language|English]] became the official language of Uganda after independence. The most widely spoken local language in Uganda is [[Luganda language|Luganda]], spoken predominantly in the urban concentrations of Kampala, the capital city, and in towns and localities in the [[Buganda]] region of Uganda which encompasses [[Kampala]]. The [[Lusoga language|Lusoga]] and [[Runyankore language|Runyankore]] languages follow, spoken predominantly in the south-eastern & south-western parts of Uganda respectively. [[Swahili language|Swahili]], a widely used language throughout eastern and central Africa, was approved as the country's second official national language in 2005,<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200507/07/eng20050707_194660.html "Ugandan parliament approves Swahili as second official language"], ''[[Xinhua]]'' (hosted by the ''[[People's Daily]]''), [[July 7]], [[2005]]</ref> though this is somewhat politically sensitive. Though the language has not been favoured by the Bantu-speaking populations of the south and southwest of the country, it is an important ''[[lingua franca]]'' in the northern regions. It is also widely used in the police and military forces, which may be a historical result of the disproportionate recruitment of northerners into the security forces during the colonial period. The status of Swahili has thus alternated with the political group in power.<ref name=UCLA>[http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=17&menu=004 Swahili] in the UCLA Language Materials Project</ref> For example, Amin, who came from the northwest, declared Swahili to be the national language.<ref>[http://www.glcom.com/hassan/swahili_history.html "A Brief History of the Swahili Language"], glcom.com</ref> According to the census of 2002, [[Christians]] made up about 84% of Uganda's population.<ref name="Census 2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/2002%20Census%20Final%20Reportdoc.pdf|title=2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census - Main Report|publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics|accessdate=2008-03-26|format=PDF}}</ref> The [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic Church]] has the largest number of adherents (41.9%), followed by the [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[Church of Uganda]] (35.9%). The next most reported religion of Uganda is [[Islam]], with Muslims representing 12% of the population.<ref name="Census 2002"/> The Census lists only 1% of Uganda's population as following Traditional Religions, and 0.7% are classified as 'Other Non-Christians,' including [[Hinduism|Hindus]]. [[Judaism]] is also practised in Uganda by a small number of native Ugandans known as the [[Abayudaya]]. One of the seven [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]] [[Bahá'í House of Worship|Houses of Worship]] is located on the outskirts of Kampala. See also [[Bahá'í Faith in Uganda]]. Uganda has a very young population, with a [[median age]] of 15 years<ref name="factbook" /> According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Uganda hosted a population of [[refugees]] and asylum seekers numbering 235,800 in 2007. The majority of this population came from [[Sudan]] (162,100 persons), but also included refugees and asylum seekers from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (41,800), [[Rwanda]] (21,200), [[Somalia]] (5,700) and [[Burundi]] (3,100).<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref> ==HIV/AIDS== {{Main|HIV/AIDS in Uganda}} Uganda has seen one of the most effective national responses to the [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] pandemic on the African continent. Following the end to the civil war in 1986, the new government created and implemented comprehensive policies that dramatically slowed the rate of new infections. It has been estimated that the HIV prevalence stood at 18.5% in the early 1990s while it declined to 5% in 2002. The latest figures show, however, that the prevalence has increased somewhat to some 7%. In recent years, a U.S.-sponsored [[abstinence]]-only strategy has drawn criticism while critics have also questioned the statistics underlying the Ugandan success story. ==Culture and sport== {{main|Culture of Uganda}} Due to the large number of ethnic communities, culture within Uganda is diverse. Many [[Asia]]ns (mostly from [[Kottar-Nagercoil]], [[India]]) who were expelled during the regime of Amin have returned to Uganda. [[Cricket]] has experienced massive rapid growth and is the most popular sport in Uganda. Recently in the Quadrangular Tournament in Kenya, Uganda came in as the underdogs and went on to register a historic win against arch rivals Kenya. Uganda also won the [[World Cricket League]] Division 3 and came fourth place in the [[World Cricket League]] Division 2. [[Rugby Union]] has also experienced rapid growth in Uganda over the last decade. {{Fact|date=January 2008}} This development produced a major result when Uganda were victorious in the [[2007 Africa Cup]], beating [[Madagascar national rugby union team|Madagascar]] in the final. *[[Music of Uganda]] *[[List of African writers (by country)#Uganda|List of writers from Uganda]] *[[List of Ugandans]] ==Human rights== {{main|Human rights in Uganda}} [[Image:Two Ugandan men.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Two Ugandan men]] [[Image:Labujecamp1.jpg|left|300px]] Respect for [[human rights]] in Uganda has been advanced significantly since the mid-1980s. There are, however, numerous areas which continue to attract concern. Conflict in the northern parts of the country continues to generate reports of abuses by both the rebel [[Lord's Resistance Army]] and the [[Uganda People's Defence Force|Ugandan army]]. The number of [[internally displaced persons]] is estimated at 1.4 million. Torture continues to be a widespread practice amongst security organizations. Attacks on political freedom in the country, including the arrest and beating of opposition Members of Parliament, has led to international criticism, culminating in May 2005 in a decision by the British government to withhold part of its aid to the country. The arrest of the main opposition leader [[Kizza Besigye]] and the besiegement of the [[High Court (Uganda)|High Court]] during a hearing of Besigye's case by a heavily armed security forces{{ndash}} before the [[Ugandan general election, 2006|February 2006 elections]]{{ndash}} led to condemnation.<ref name="hrw1">[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/12/19/uganda12321.htm "Uganda: Respect Opposition Right to Campaign"], ''[[Human Rights Watch]]'', [[19 December]] [[2005]]</ref> Recently, grassroots organizations have been attempting to raise awareness about the children who were kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army to work as soldiers or be used as wives. Thousands of children as young as eight were captured and forced to kill. The documentary film [[Invisible Children]] illustrates the terrible lives of the children, known as [[Night Commuters#Night Commuters|night commuters]], who left their villages and walked many miles each night to avoid abduction.<ref name="invisChildren">[http://www.invisiblechildren.com/ "Invisible Children of Uganda film website"]</ref> Freedom for homosexual relationships continues to be a matter of contention. Such relationships are illegal and denounced as a foreign import, despite the well known native traditions which predated the European colonization, such as those openly practised at the court of the [[Buganda]] royalty.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants reported several violations of refugee rights in 2007, including forcible deporations by the Ugandan government and violence directed against refugees.<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref> ==See also== {{Uganda topics}} *[[The Uganda Scouts Association]] *[[List of national parks of Uganda]] *[[Invisible Children]] *[[Kisiizi]] *''[[War/Dance]]'' ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{portal|Uganda|Flag of Uganda.svg}} {{sisterlinks}} *[http://www.ugpulse.com UGPulse.com: The Pulse of Uganda] *[http://www.ugee.com Ugee - Everything Uganda] *[http://www.visituganda.com/home.html Uganda Tourism Board] *[http://www.ugandaonline.net Uganda Online - Web Directory] *{{CIA World Factbook link|ug|Uganda}} *{{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Uganda}} *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1069166.stm BBC News Country Profile - ''Uganda''] *[http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/ug/ US State Department - ''Uganda''] includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports *{{wikitravel}} *{{wikia|world:Uganda|Uganda}} *{{wikiatlas|Uganda}} {{Template group |title = Geography and language |list = {{Countries of Africa}} {{Niger-Congo-speaking}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Member states of the African Union}} {{OIC}} {{Commonwealth of Nations}} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Uganda| ]] [[Category:East Africa]] [[Category:African Union member states]] [[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Landlocked countries]] [[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Least Developed Countries]] <!--Other languages--> [[af:Uganda]] [[als:Uganda]] [[am:ዩጋንዳ]] [[ar:أوغندا]] [[an:Uganda]] [[frp:Oganda]] [[ast:Uganda]] [[az:Uqanda]] [[bm:Uganda]] [[bn:উগান্ডা]] [[zh-min-nan:Uganda]] [[be-x-old:Уганда]] [[bo:ཝུ་གན་ད]] [[bs:Uganda]] [[br:Ouganda]] [[bg:Уганда]] [[ca:Uganda]] [[cs:Uganda]] [[cy:Wganda]] [[da:Uganda]] [[de:Uganda]] [[dv:ޔުގެންޑާ]] [[et:Uganda]] [[el:Ουγκάντα]] [[es:Uganda]] [[eo:Ugando]] [[eu:Uganda]] [[fa:اوگاندا]] [[fo:Uganda]] [[fr:Ouganda]] [[fy:Uganda]] [[ga:Uganda]] [[gv:Ooganda]] [[gd:Uganda]] [[gl:Uganda]] [[ko:우간다]] [[hy:Ուգանդա]] [[hi:युगांडा]] [[hr:Uganda]] [[io:Uganda]] [[ilo:Uganda]] [[bpy:উগান্ডা]] [[id:Uganda]] [[ia:Uganda]] [[ie:Uganda]] [[is:Úganda]] [[it:Uganda]] [[he:אוגנדה]] [[jv:Uganda]] [[pam:Uganda]] [[kn:ಉಗಾಂಡ]] [[ka:უგანდა]] [[kk:Ұғанда]] [[kw:Ouganda]] [[sw:Uganda]] [[kg:Uganda]] [[ht:Ouganda]] [[ku:Uganda]] [[la:Uganda]] [[lv:Uganda]] [[lt:Uganda]] [[lij:Uganda]] [[ln:Uganda]] [[lg:Uganda]] [[lmo:Uganda]] [[hu:Uganda]] [[mk:Уганда]] [[ml:ഉഗാണ്ട]] [[ms:Uganda]] [[nah:Uganda]] [[nl:Oeganda]] [[ja:ウガンダ]] [[no:Uganda]] [[nn:Uganda]] [[nov:Uganda]] [[oc:Oganda]] [[uz:Uganda]] [[pa:Uganda]] [[ps:يوګانډا]] [[pms:Uganda]] [[nds:Uganda]] [[pl:Uganda]] [[pt:Uganda]] [[crh:Uganda]] [[ro:Uganda]] [[rm:Uganda]] [[qu:Uganda]] [[ru:Уганда]] [[se:Uganda]] [[sq:Uganda]] [[scn:Uganna]] [[simple:Uganda]] [[szl:Ůganda]] [[sk:Uganda]] [[sl:Uganda]] [[so:Ugaandha]] [[sr:Уганда]] [[sh:Uganda]] [[fi:Uganda]] [[sv:Uganda]] [[tl:Uganda]] [[ta:உகாண்டா]] [[th:ประเทศยูกันดา]] [[vi:Uganda]] [[tg:Уганда]] [[tr:Uganda]] [[uk:Уганда]] [[ur:یوگنڈا]] [[vec:Uganda]] [[vo:Lugandayän]] [[wo:Ugandaa]] [[yo:Uganda]] [[diq:Uganda]] [[zh:乌干达]]