About Uganda

Tourism

Uganda is popularly called to as the “the Pearl of Africa”, as was referred to by Sir Winston Churchill In 1909. It is home to: a large number of primates, including mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees; one of the rare animal species in the World; abundant and diverse biodiversity.

 It is home to the source of River Nile, the world’s longest river, which offers some of the best white-water rafting in the world. Uganda is also home to Lake Victoria – the world’s second largest freshwater lake. 

Investment opportunities

As a growing economy, Uganda has investment opportunities in almost all sectors. However, the priority sectors for investment are: Agro-processing and agri-business; energy (electricity generation); mining (mineral beneficiation); manufacturing; ICT.

 Prior to investing, prospective investors require: Incorporation of a company; an Investment License; and a Tax Identification Number. In addition, some sectors require a secondary license.

People and Culture

Ugandans are known for being some of the most hospitable and friendly people. The 1995 Constitution recognizes 56 tribes, and each tribe speaks its own dialect – although some the dialects are closely related and share common words and meaning.

 English is the official language but Swahili is also widely spoken and gaining traction due to the East African community integration process.

 

Economy

Uganda’s economy is liberalized and has been on an upward trajectory since 1986, underpinned by strong macro-economic policies. Over the years, the economy has seen progressive growth, contributing to the current GDP of    Shs. 109 trillion, equivalent to US$ 29.5 billion (2019).  Inter alia, it has been characterized by: increased average incomes for Ugandans to US$ 825 per person in Financial Year 2018/19; average annual growth in formal employment of 9.8% between 2010 and 2017; and growth in the share of industry to the economy to 21%, compared to 11.3% in 1986.

Geography

Uganda is a landlocked country located in East Africa across the equator, with a total area of 241,038sq km. The country is bordered by South Sudan (north); Kenya (East) Tanzania (South): Rwanda (South-West); and Democratic Republic of Congo (West). Lake Victoria, for which Uganda shares 46%, forms part of the South-Eastern frontier – joining both Kenya and Tanzania. Its territory consists of plains, hills, mountains, lakes and rivers. It is the source of the Nile – the longest river in Africa, and has other big fresh water lakes like Kyoga, Albert, Edward and George.

Uganda’s Foreign Policy

Uganda’s Foreign Policy is an aggregation of the domestic policies projected into the international arena. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government agency charged with the implementation of Uganda’s Foreign Policy, which is shaped around three core areas: regional and international peace and security; regional integration and international cooperation; and trade, tourism, investment and resource mobilization.

Brief Political History

When Arab traders travelled inland from their enclaves along the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa, and reached the interior of present-day Uganda in the 1830s, they found several African kingdoms with well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. These traders were followed in the 1860s by British explorers searching for the source of the River Nile. Protestant missionaries entered the country in 1877 followed by Catholic missionaries in 1879.

Political Leadership

Uganda is a multi-party democracy. Every five years, it carries out free, fair and transparent elections for office bearers, through a universal suffrage process – right from the President to lower administrative units.

H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the President of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is also the head of the Executive Branch of Government. Day-to-day, the President is supported in the running of executive functions by his appointed Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.

Political Leadership

Uganda is a multi-party democracy. Every five years, it carries out free, fair and transparent elections for office bearers, through a universal suffrage process – right from the President to lower administrative units.

H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the President of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is also the head of the Executive Branch of Government. Day-to-day, the President is supported in the running of executive functions by his appointed Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.

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