| De: |
"Mike Munabi" [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
Uganda: Country Profile.
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| Envoyé: |
Feb 12th, 2007 - 07:00:31 |
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Uganda: Country Profile:
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:*
During this time up to half a million people were killed in state-sponsored
violence.
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
1.6million 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 truce in August 2006 aimed at ending the
long-running conflicts.
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*:
- Full name: Republic of Uganda
- Population: 27.6 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Kampala
- Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles)
- Major languages: English (official), Swahili, Ganda, various Bantu
languages
- Major religions: Christianity, Islam
- Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 47 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 $280 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .ug
- International dialling code: +256
*Leaders:*
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.
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
Tanzaniain 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.
· Vice president: Gilbert Bukenya
· Prime minister: Apolo Nsibambi
· Foreign minister: Sam Kutesa
*Media*
Private radio and television stations have mushroomed since the government
loosened its control of the media in 1993.
But the state sometimes criticises the conduct of some the 100-or-so private
radio and TV stations. 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.
Public UBC Radio can be heard across the country in English and vernacular
languages. BBC World Service is widely available on FM, and Radio France
Internationale broadcasts on FM in Kampala.
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 Orumiri
· The Monitor - privately-owned daily
*Television*
· UBC TV - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation
· WBS - private
· Channel Television - private
*Radio*
· UBC Radio - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, operates five
stations including commercial Star FM
· Radio Simba - private
· Capital Radio - private
· K FM - private, operated by Monitor Publications
· Radio One - private
· Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) - private
· Dembe FM - private
*News agency*
· Uganda News Agency
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