Country profile: Uganda

Since the late 1980s Uganda has rebounded from the abyss of civil war and economic catastrophe to become relatively peaceful, stable and prosperous.

But the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the north remain blighted by one of Africa's most brutal rebellions.

In the 1970s and 1980s Uganda was notorious for its human rights abuses, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971-79 and then after the return to power of Milton Obote, who had been ousted by Amin.

Overview

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During this time up to half a million people were killed in state-sponsored violence.

AT-A-GLANCE Politics: Multi-party politics restored in 2005 Security: Government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have signed a truce aimed at ending a 19-year conflict Economy: Uganda is vulnerable to changes in the world price of coffee, its main export earner International: Uganda has been actively involved in the DR Congo conflict. LRA leaders are wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes Timeline

Since becoming president in 1986 Yoweri Museveni has introduced democratic reforms and has been credited with substantially improving human rights, notably by reducing abuses by the army and the police.

In addition, Western-backed economic reforms produced solid growth and falls in inflation in the 1990s. However, Mr Museveni has bemoaned his country's failure to industrialise.

The president came under fire for Uganda's military involvement, along with five other countries, in neighbouring DR Congo's 1998-2003 civil war. DR Congo accuses Uganda of maintaining its influence in the mineral-rich east of the country. Uganda says DR Congo has failed to disarm Ugandan rebels on its soil.

At home, the cult-like Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has perpetrated massacres and mutilations in the north for nearly two decades.

The group's leader has said he wants to run the country along the lines of the biblical ten commandments. The violence has displaced more than 1.6 million people and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or kidnapped. The UN estimates that the group has abducted 20,000 children.

The LRA and government signed a permanent cease-fire in February 2008 aimed at ending the long-running conflict.

However, a final peace agreement remained elusive throughout 2008, with rebel leader Joseph Kony repeatedly failing to attend signing ceremonies.

The armies of Uganda, Southern Sudan and DR Congo launched a coordinated offensive against LRA bases in December, with the rebels requesting a ceasefire the following month.

Uganda has won praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids. This has helped to reduce the prevalence of the virus - which reached 30% in the 1990s - to single-digit figures.

Facts

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• Full name: Republic of Uganda
• Population: 31.9 million (UN, 2008)
• Capital: Kampala
• Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles)
• Major languages: English (official), Swahili (official), Luganda, various Bantu and Nilotic languages
• Major religions: Christianity, Islam
• Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 52 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Ugandan shilling = 100 cents
• Main exports: Coffee, fish and fish products, tea; tobacco, cotton, corn, beans, sesame
• GNI per capita: US $340 (World Bank, 2007)
• Internet domain: .ug
• International dialling code: +256

Leaders

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President: Yoweri Museveni

Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's leader since 1986, was declared the winner of elections in February 2006, the first multi-party poll in 25 years.

Uganda's veteran leader, Yoweri Museveni

Officials said he took 59% of the vote versus the 37% share of his main rival, Kizza Besigye from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change.

Observers said the conduct of the poll was an improvement on the 2001 vote, but critics accused the government of intimidating the opposition in the run-up. Dr Besigye has faced treason and rape charges - as well as terrorism charges in a military court - which his supporters say are politically motivated.

Parliament abolished a constitutional limit on presidential terms in 2005, paving the way for Mr Museveni to seek a third elected term and alarming some Western donors.

Severe restrictions on multi-party politics were imposed by Mr Museveni in 1986; only the president's "Movement" system was allowed to take part in elections.

Ugandans voted to lift the curbs in 2005, with the president maintaining that the country's factional rifts had been healed.

Born in western Uganda in 1944, Yoweri Museveni studied political science in Tanzania. There he became involved with the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) and picked up the techniques of guerrilla warfare.

After a brief spell in the Ugandan government, Mr Museveni fled to Tanzania in 1971 when Idi Amin toppled Milton Obote, returning in 1980.

But when his party was defeated in elections which he said had been rigged, he formed the National Resistance Army which brought him to power in 1986. Ten years later he won Uganda's first direct presidential election and was re-elected in 2001.

Media

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Uganda is a pioneer in the liberalisation of the media in Africa. Private radio and TV have mushroomed since the government loosened controls in 1993.

By late 2006 the central region around Kampala was home to more than 40 FM radio stations and 10 TV stations. Rural radio stations serve various ethnic groups and there is a cluster of faith-based radios.

But the state sometimes criticises the conduct of private broadcasters. Some have been accused of raising ethnic tensions and of being negative in their reporting.

The authorities suspended broadcasts of a popular private station KFM for a time in August 2005 after it broadcast a debate about the death of a Sudanese former rebel leader.

Radio is the most popular medium. Public UBC Radio can be heard across the country in English and vernacular languages. BBC World Service is widely available on FM (101.3 in Kampala), and Radio France Internationale broadcasts on FM in the capital.

Although the print media are led by the state-owned New Vision newspaper, it enjoys considerable independence and often publishes articles which criticise the government.

The press

• New Vision - state-owned daily, as are its sister vernacular papers, Bukedde, Etop, Rupiny and Orumuri
• The Monitor - privately-owned daily
• The Weekly Observer - privately-owned

Television

• UBC TV - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation
• WBS - private, operated by Wavah Broadcasting Service
• Pulse TV - private
• Nation TV (NTV) - private
• East Africa TV - private

Radio

• UBC Radio - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, operates five stations including commercial Star FM
• Radio Simba - private
• Capital Radio - private
• KFM - private, operated by Monitor Publications
• Radio One - private
• Sanyu FM - Uganda's first private station
• Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) - private, operated by Buganda Kingdom
• City FM - private, operated by ruling National Resistance Movement