Government: Republic – Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni since 1986. Head of Government : Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi since 1999.
Language : English is the official language, with Luganda and Swahili also widely spoken.
Religion : 60 per cent Christian, 32 per cent animist and 5 per cent Muslim.
Time : GMT + 3.
Electricity : 240 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications :
Telephone : IDD is available to and from principal towns in Uganda. Country code: 256. Service for local calls is unreliable.
Mobile telephone : GSM 900/1800 network. Main network operators are Cellular Celtel (website: http://www.uganda.celtel.com/ ), MTN-Uganda (website: http://www.mtn.co.ug/ ) and Uganda Telecom Ltd (website: http://www.utl.co.ug/ ). Coverage extends to all major towns .
Fax : Service is available at the Postal & Telecommunications Office, 35 Kampala Road, Kampala; in central post offices in Jinja and Mbale between 0800-1600; and in some hotels.
Internet : ISPs include InfoCom (website: www.imul.com) and MTN Uganda (website: www.mtn.co.ug). There are Internet cafes in Kampala.
Telegram : Available in main towns.
Post: Airmail to Europe can take from three days to several weeks. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1400-1730. Some post offices are open Sat 0830-1300.
Press : The English-language papers include The Economy, Financial Times, Guide, The Monitor, New Vision and The Star.
Radio : BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. There are also a number of FM Radio stations in the country which one can listen to for information and news.
Government
2015 – 1986
Government of Uganda
Country name:Long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Government type:
republic
Capital:
Kampala
Administrative divisions:
112 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
Independence:
9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:
8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
Legal system:
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Head of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); note – the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Rugunda (since 2014); note – the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet
Cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president from among elected legislators
Elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note – first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president.
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (over 300 members – directly elected by popular vote and those nominated by legally established special interest groups [ army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 ex officio members; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 2011 (next to be held May or June 2016);
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO