Facts About Life In Uganda

Population Population of 24.6 million (Census, 2002) Uganda has 1.7 million orphans, the highest number in the world Birth rate 47 per 1000 Death rate 20 per 1000 Life expectancy 42 years (UN, 1998) Infant mortality is 100.7 per 1000 live births Fertility rate is 7.1 children per woman Health At least 25% of all households look after at least one child orphaned by either HIV/AIDS or war. The number of children orphaned by AIDS is expected to rise to 3.5 million by 2010, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). AIDS is now the leading specific cause of death among adults followed by TB and malaria. In children, the main killers are malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea Pregnancy related health problems are serious and Uganda’s maternal mortality rate is over 12 times higher than is normal for developed countries. Education Majority of children enter primary school but only 49% of boys and 29% of girls complete this.  Almost 40% of primary teachers are untrained. Social & Economic The population of Uganda includes several hundred thousand temporary residents, particularly refugees from Rwanda and Sudan.  Insecurity remains widespread in the north where the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony,  still continues to operate.  In Kitgum and Gulu districts three quarters of the civilian population are compelled to live in camps, known as protected villages. Only 11% of Ugandans are urban dwellers and of these 40% live in Kampala. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy. History of Uganda Uganda became independent in 1962.  General Idi Amin came into power in 1971, his incompetence and violence brought society to collapse.  Amin was deposed in 1979 by the Tanzanian army. The Amin era and its aftermath resulted in the neglect of health infrastructure and a loss of resources.  Mr Obote was in power from 1980-1985  Presendent Yoweri Museveni assumed the presidency on January 30,1986.  He was faced with the reconstruction of a country virtually destroyed by a series of regimes which had left almost a million people dead, 2 million refugees, 600 000 injured and incurable property damage. Uganda re-elected President Musevani in 2006.