Uganda
Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. During the 1990s
the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Population: 23,985,712

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February,
June to August); semiarid in northeast

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%,
indigenous beliefs 18%

Economy: Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral
deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the
government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize
the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum
products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and
boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-2000, the economy turned in a solid performance based on
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.

HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS Information): Estimated Adults with HIV, end of 2001 – 510,000 (five percent)
Estimated number of orphans under age 15 at the end of 2001 – 880,000.

Children playing on the campus of Rafiki Village Uganda

ROS serving in Uganda