Geographical, social and economic background

Uganda lies in Africa's Sub-Saharan region. It is a landlocked country situated in the eastern part of Africa, bordering with Kenya to the East, Tanzania and Rwanda to the South, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West and Sudan to the North.

According to the preliminary report of the 2002 national population census, the country’s population size is estimated at 24.7 million people. Life expectancy at birth was estimated at an average of 43.2 at the end. Life expectancy without AIDS was estimated at an average of 54 years in 1998.

Literacy rates, 1999/2000 were estimated at 77% for males and 51% for females. The majority of Ugandans (about 87%) live in rural areas where subsistence agriculture is the major source of food and income

Uganda is categorised under the least developed and resource constrained countries in the world. The UNDP Human development report 2002 put the country's GDP at $8.676 million for 2001/2002 at a growth rate of 5.6 and the real GDP per capita at Uganda shillings 371, 300 for 2000/2001. The Human Poverty index was estimated at 37.5% in 2001 with a high proportion of the population without access to health care facilities at 51% of the general population.

The country is however perceived to be scoring in addressing poverty making gains in income poverty reduction and primary school enrolment but still burdened by the health vulnerability due to diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The country is partitioned into 56 local government authorities also known as districts. The decentralised system of governance adopted in 1995 devolved most functions and powers to districts which shoulder the task of service delivery to grassroots communities. The centre focuses on policy making, setting standards, support supervision and national security.

Useful Links

www.myuganda.co.ug/categories/about/
http://www.visituganda.com/
http://enteruganda.com/about/