Uganda vs. Kenya
Introduction
Uganda | Kenya | |
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Background | British influence in Uganda began in the 1860s with explorers seeking the source of the Nile and expanded in subsequent decades with various trade agreements and the establishment of the Uganda Protectorate in 1894. The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences complicated the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. In December 2017, parliament approved the removal of presidential age limits, thereby making it possible for MUSEVENI to continue standing for office. Uganda faces numerous challenges, however, that could affect future stability, including explosive population growth, power and infrastructure constraints, corruption, underdeveloped democratic institutions, and human rights deficits. | Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel Arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA, the son of founding president Jomo KENYATTA, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which approximately 1,100 people died. African Union-sponsored mediation led by former UN Secretary General Kofi ANNAN in late February 2008 resulted in a power-sharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister. The power sharing accord included a broad reform agenda, the centerpiece of which was constitutional reform. In August 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly adopted a new constitution in a national referendum. The new constitution introduced additional checks and balances to executive power and devolved power and resources to 47 newly created counties. It also eliminated the position of prime minister. Uhuru KENYATTA won the first presidential election under the new constitution in March 2013, and was sworn into office the following month; he began a second term in November 2017 following a contentious, repeat election. |
Geography
Uganda | Kenya | |
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Location | East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania |
Geographic coordinates | 1 00 N, 32 00 E | 1 00 N, 38 00 E |
Map references | Africa | Africa |
Area | total: 241,038 sq km land: 197,100 sq km water: 43,938 sq km | total: 580,367 sq km land: 569,140 sq km water: 11,227 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon | five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada |
Land boundaries | total: 2,729 km border countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km, Kenya 814 km, Rwanda 172 km, South Sudan 475 km, Tanzania 391 km | total: 3,457 km border countries (5): Ethiopia 867 km, Somalia 684 km, South Sudan 317 km, Tanzania 775 km, Uganda 814 km |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 536 km |
Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Climate | tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast | varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior |
Terrain | mostly plateau with rim of mountains | low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m | highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 762 m |
Natural resources | copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold | limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower |
Land use | agricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.6% (2018 est.) forest: 14.5% (2018 est.) other: 14.3% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 48.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 37.4% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 140 sq km (2012) | 1,030 sq km (2012) |
Natural hazards | droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms | recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano |
Environment - current issues | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; water shortage and degraded water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note | landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda | the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda |
Total renewable water resources | 60.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 30.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Population distribution | population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated as shown in this population distribution map | population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
Uganda | Kenya | |
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Population | 44,712,143 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 54,685,051 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 48.21% (male 10,548,913/female 10,304,876) 15-24 years: 20.25% (male 4,236,231/female 4,521,698) 25-54 years: 26.24% (male 5,202,570/female 6,147,304) 55-64 years: 2.91% (male 579,110/female 681,052) 65 years and over: 2.38% (male 442,159/female 589,053) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 38.71% (male 10,412,321/female 10,310,908) 15-24 years: 20.45% (male 5,486,641/female 5,460,372) 25-54 years: 33.75% (male 9,046,946/female 9,021,207) 55-64 years: 4.01% (male 1,053,202/female 1,093,305) 65 years and over: 3.07% (male 750,988/female 892,046) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 15.7 years male: 14.9 years female: 16.5 years (2020 est.) | total: 20 years male: 19.9 years female: 20.1 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | 3.31% (2021 est.) | 2.15% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 41.6 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 26.78 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | -3.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 31.49 deaths/1,000 live births male: 34.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 28.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 68.58 years male: 66.34 years female: 70.9 years (2021 est.) | total population: 69.32 years male: 67.65 years female: 71.03 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 5.45 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 3.36 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 5.4% (2020 est.) | 4.2% (2020 est.) |
Nationality | noun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan | noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan |
Ethnic groups | Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.) | Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 1.4 million (2020 est.) | 1.4 million (2020 est.) |
Religions | Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.) | Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | 22,000 (2020 est.) | 29,000 (2020 est.) |
Languages | English (official language, taught in schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic | English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili) |
Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.5% male: 82.7% female: 70.8% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.5% male: 85% female: 78.2% (2018) |
Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Trypanosomiasis-Gambiense (African sleeping sickness) water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies |
Food insecurity | widespread lack of access: due to reduced incomes, and floods - in traditionally food secure urban areas, including the capital, Kampala, more than 600,000 people were food insecure due to the restrictive measures introduced to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus; the food security situation in urban areas was the most affected by the COVID-19-related restrictive measures, as poor households mainly rely on the daily wages obtained through casual labor, petty trading, food vending, construction activities and domestic work; despite the phasing out of some restrictive measures, the food security situation of the urban poor has not significantly improved, as the restrictions still in place on business operations are resulting in a slow recovery of the economic activities; in rural areas, torrential rains in April and May 2020 resulted in localized crop and livelihood losses (2021) | exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to poor seasonal rains, and desert locusts - about 2 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the March-May 2021 period, reflecting the poor performance of both the October-December 2020 "short-rains" and the March-May 2021 "long-rains" that affected crop and livestock production in northern and eastern pastoral, agro-pastoral and marginal agriculture areas; other limiting factors include the measures implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected off-farm income earning opportunities, including petty trade, charcoal and firewood sales, and to localized but significant locust-induced pasture losses (2021) |
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2011) | total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2009) |
Education expenditures | 2.1% of GDP (2018) | 5.3% of GDP (2018) |
Urbanization | urban population: 25.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 28.5% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Drinking water source | improved: urban: 92.9% of population rural: 77.2% of population total: 80.8% of population unimproved: urban: 7.1% of population rural: 22.8% of population total: 19.2% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 89% of population rural: 60.4% of population total: 68% of population unimproved: urban: 11% of population rural: 39.6% of population total: 32% of population (2017 est.) |
Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 67.8% of population rural: 26.6% of population total: 36.2% of population unimproved: urban: 32.2% of population rural: 73.4% of population total: 63.8% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 78.8% of population rural: 41.2% of population total: 51.2% of population unimproved: urban: 21.2% of population rural: 58.8% of population total: 48.8% of population (2017 est.) |
Major cities - population | 3.470 million KAMPALA (capital) (2021) | 4.922 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.341 million Mombassa (2021) |
Maternal mortality rate | 375 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 342 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 10.4% (2016) | 11.2% (2014) |
Health expenditures | 6.5% (2018) | 5.2% (2018) |
Physicians density | 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
Hospital bed density | 0.5 beds/1,000 population (2010) | 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2010) |
Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 5.3% (2016) | 7.1% (2016) |
Mother's mean age at first birth | 19.4 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 | 20.3 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 |
Demographic profile | Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world; its total fertility rate is among the world's highest at 5.8 children per woman. Except in urban areas, actual fertility exceeds women's desired fertility by one or two children, which is indicative of the widespread unmet need for contraception, lack of government support for family planning, and a cultural preference for large families. High numbers of births, short birth intervals, and the early age of childbearing contribute to Uganda's high maternal mortality rate. Gender inequities also make fertility reduction difficult; women on average are less-educated, participate less in paid employment, and often have little say in decisions over childbearing and their own reproductive health. However, even if the birth rate were significantly reduced, Uganda's large pool of women entering reproductive age ensures rapid population growth for decades to come. Unchecked, population increase will further strain the availability of arable land and natural resources and overwhelm the country's limited means for providing food, employment, education, health care, housing, and basic services. The country's north and northeast lag even further behind developmentally than the rest of the country as a result of long-term conflict (the Ugandan Bush War 1981-1986 and more than 20 years of fighting between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan Government forces), ongoing inter-communal violence, and periodic natural disasters. Uganda has been both a source of refugees and migrants and a host country for refugees. In 1972, then President Idi AMIN, in his drive to return Uganda to Ugandans, expelled the South Asian population that composed a large share of the country's business people and bankers. Since the 1970s, thousands of Ugandans have emigrated, mainly to southern Africa or the West, for security reasons, to escape poverty, to search for jobs, and for access to natural resources. The emigration of Ugandan doctors and nurses due to low wages is a particular concern given the country's shortage of skilled health care workers. Africans escaping conflicts in neighboring states have found refuge in Uganda since the 1950s; the country currently struggles to host tens of thousands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and other nearby countries. | Kenya has experienced dramatic population growth since the mid-20th century as a result of its high birth rate and its declining mortality rate. More than 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15 because of sustained high fertility, early marriage and childbearing, and an unmet need for family planning. Kenya's persistent rapid population growth strains the labor market, social services, arable land, and natural resources. Although Kenya in 1967 was the first Sub-Saharan country to launch a nationwide family planning program, progress in reducing the birth rate has largely stalled since the late 1990s, when the government decreased its support for family planning to focus on the HIV epidemic. Government commitment and international technical support spurred Kenyan contraceptive use, decreasing the fertility rate (children per woman) from about 8 in the late 1970s to less than 5 children twenty years later, but it has plateaued at just over 3 children today. Kenya is a source of emigrants and a host country for refugees. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kenyans pursued higher education in the UK because of colonial ties, but as British immigration rules tightened, the US, the then Soviet Union, and Canada became attractive study destinations. Kenya's stagnant economy and political problems during the 1980s and 1990s led to an outpouring of Kenyan students and professionals seeking permanent opportunities in the West and southern Africa. Nevertheless, Kenya's relative stability since its independence in 1963 has attracted hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping violent conflicts in neighboring countries; Kenya shelters more than 300,000 Somali refugees as of April 2017. |
Contraceptive prevalence rate | 41.8% (2018) | 59.7% (2019) |
Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 92.3 youth dependency ratio: 88.5 elderly dependency ratio: 3.8 potential support ratio: 26.2 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 69.8 youth dependency ratio: 65.5 elderly dependency ratio: 4.3 potential support ratio: 23.5 (2020 est.) |
Government
Uganda | Kenya | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda etymology: from the name "Buganda," adopted by the British as the designation for their East African colony in 1894; Buganda had been a powerful East African state during the 18th and 19th centuries | conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri ya Kenya local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words "kirinyaga," "kirenyaa," and "kiinyaa" - all of which mean "God's resting place" |
Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
Capital | name: Kampala geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the site of the original British settlement was referred to by its native name as Akasozi ke'Empala ("hill of the impala" [plural]); over time this designation was shortened to K'empala and finally Kampala | name: Nairobi geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters" and refers to a cold water stream that flowed through the area in the late 19th century |
Administrative divisions | 134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo | 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot |
Independence | 9 October 1962 (from the UK) | 12 December 1963 (from the UK) |
National holiday | Independence Day, 9 October (1962) | Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule |
Constitution | history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent ofthe president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2017 (2021) | history: previous 1963, 1969; latest drafted 6 May 2010, passed by referendum 4 August 2010, promulgated 27 August 2010 amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya's counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president |
Legal system | mixed legal system of English common law and customary law | mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in the new Supreme Court established by the new constitution |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986; re-elected for sixth term on 14 January 2021); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 21 June 2021); First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca KADAGA (since 24 June 2021); Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses ALI (since 21 June 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of the National Assembly or persons who qualify to be elected as members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Bobi WINE (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4% head of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); Vice President Jessica Rose Epel ALUPO (since 21 June 2021); note - the president is both head of state and head of government | chief of state: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Uhuru KENYATTA (since 9 April 2013); Deputy President William RUTO (since 9 April 2013); note - position of the prime minister was abolished after the March 2013 elections cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving an absolute majority popular vote, the presidential candidate must also win at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties to avoid a runoff; election last held on 26 October 2017 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Uhuru KENYATTA reelected president; percent of vote - Uhuru KENYATTA (Jubilee Party) 98.3%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 1%, other 0.7%; note - Kenya held a previous presidential election on 8 August 2017, but Kenya's Supreme Court on 1 September 2017 nullified the results, citing irregularities; the political opposition boycotted the October vote |
Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (445 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 112 for women directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote, and 25 "representatives" reserved for special interest groups - army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5; up to 18 ex officio members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 18 February 2016 (next to be held in February 2021) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NRM 292, FDC 37, DP 5, UPDF 10, UPC 6, independent 66 (excludes 19 ex-officio members) | description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (67 seats; 47 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 20 directly elected by proportional representation vote - 16 women, 2 representing youth, and 2 representing the disabled; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly (349 seats; 290 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 47 women in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote, and 12 members nominated by the National Assembly - 6 representing youth and 6 representing the disabled; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 8 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022) National Assembly - last held on 8 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Jubilee Party 24; National Super Alliance 28, other 14, independent 1; composition - men 46, women 41, percent of women is 31.3% National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Jubilee Party 165, National Super Alliance 119, other 51, independent 13; composition - men 273, women 76, percent of women 21.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women is 23% |
Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts | highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts |
Political parties and leaders | Alliance for National Transformation or ANT [Ms. Alice ALASO, acting national coordinator]; note - Mugisha MUNTU resigned his position as ANT national coordinator in late June 2020 to run in the 2021 presidential election Activist Party [Stephen BAMPIGGA] Democratic Party or DP [Norbert MAO] Conservative Party [Walyemera Daniel MASUMBA] Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Patrick Oboi AMURIAT] Justice Forum or JEEMA [Asuman BASALIRWA] National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI] Uganda People's Congress or UPC [James AKENA] National Unity Platform [Nkonge KIBALAMA] | Alliance Party of Kenya or APK [Kiraitu MURUNGI] Amani National Congress or ANC [Musalia MUDAVADI] Federal Party of Kenya or FPK [Cyrus JIRONGA] Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-K [Moses WETANGULA] Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-P [Henry OBWOCHA] Jubilee Party [Uhuru KENYATTA] Kenya African National Union or KANU [Gideon MOI] National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Charity NGILU] Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya or ODM [Raila ODINGA] Wiper Democratic Movement-K or WDM-K (formerly Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-K) [Kalonzo MUSYOKA] |
International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Mull Sebujja KATENDE (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727 email address and website: washington@mofa.go.ug; info@ugandaembassysus.org; ambauganda@aol.com https://washington.mofa.go.ug/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Lazarus Ombai AMAYO (since 17 July 2020) chancery: 1616 P Street NW, Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829 email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/# consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Natalie E. BROWN (since 17 November 2020) embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190 telephone: [256] (0) 312-306-001 FAX: [256] (0) 414-259-794 email address and website: KampalaUScitizen@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric W. Kneedler (since 20 January 2021) embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi mailing address: 8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900 telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000 FAX: [254] (20) 363-6157 email address and website: kenya_acs@state.gov https://ke.usembassy.gov/ |
Flag description | six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK | three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom |
National anthem | name: Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty! lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA note: adopted 1962 | name: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation) lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE note: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song |
International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
National symbol(s) | grey crowned crane; national colors: black, yellow, red | lion; national colors: black, red, green, white |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years |
Economy
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Economy - overview | Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country's export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption. Uganda's economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda's budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise. Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars' worth of highway projects to the oil region. Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government's failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas. | Kenya is the economic, financial, and transport hub of East Africa. Kenya's real GDP growth has averaged over 5% for the last decade. Since 2014, Kenya has been ranked as a lower middle income country because its per capita GDP crossed a World Bank threshold. While Kenya has a growing entrepreneurial middle class and steady growth, its economic development has been impaired by weak governance and corruption. Although reliable numbers are hard to find, unemployment and under-employment are extremely high, and could be near 40% of the population. In 2013, the country adopted a devolved system of government with the creation of 47 counties, and is in the process of devolving state revenues and responsibilities to the counties. Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP. About 75% of Kenya's population of roughly 48.5 million work at least part-time in the agricultural sector, including livestock and pastoral activities. Over 75% of agricultural output is from small-scale, rain-fed farming or livestock production. Tourism also holds a significant place in Kenya's economy. In spite of political turmoil throughout the second half of 2017, tourism was up 20%, showcasing the strength of this sector. Kenya has long been a target of terrorist activity and has struggled with instability along its northeastern borders. Some high visibility terrorist attacks during 2013-2015 (e.g., at Nairobi's Westgate Mall and Garissa University) affected the tourism industry severely, but the sector rebounded strongly in 2016-2017 and appears poised to continue growing. Inadequate infrastructure continues to hamper Kenya's efforts to improve its annual growth so that it can meaningfully address poverty and unemployment. The KENYATTA administration has been successful in courting external investment for infrastructure development. International financial institutions and donors remain important to Kenya's growth and development, but Kenya has also successfully raised capital in the global bond market issuing its first sovereign bond offering in mid-2014, with a second occurring in February 2018. The first phase of a Chinese-financed and constructed standard gauge railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi opened in May 2017. In 2016 the government was forced to take over three small and undercapitalized banks when underlying weaknesses were exposed. The government also enacted legislation that limits interest rates banks can charge on loans and set a rate that banks must pay their depositors. This measure led to a sharp shrinkage of credit in the economy. A prolonged election cycle in 2017 hurt the economy, drained government resources, and slowed GDP growth. Drought-like conditions in parts of the country pushed 2017 inflation above 8%, but the rate had fallen to 4.5% in February 2018. The economy, however, is well placed to resume its decade-long 5%-6% growth rate. While fiscal deficits continue to pose risks in the medium term, other economic indicators, including foreign exchange reserves, interest rates, current account deficits, remittances and FDI are positive. The credit and drought-related impediments were temporary. Now In his second term, President KENYATTA has pledged to make economic growth and development a centerpiece of his second administration, focusing on his "Big Four" initiatives of universal healthcare, food security, affordable housing, and expansion of manufacturing. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $96.838 billion (2019 est.) $90.669 billion (2018 est.) $85.406 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $227.638 billion (2019 est.) $216.046 billion (2018 est.) $203.206 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 4.8% (2017 est.) 2.3% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.) | 5.39% (2019 est.) 6.32% (2018 est.) 4.79% (2017 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $2,187 (2019 est.) $2,122 (2018 est.) $2,075 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $4,330 (2019 est.) $4,204 (2018 est.) $4,046 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 28.2% (2017 est.) industry: 21.1% (2017 est.) services: 50.7% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 34.5% (2017 est.) industry: 17.8% (2017 est.) services: 47.5% (2017 est.) |
Population below poverty line | 21.4% (2016 est.) | 36.1% (2015 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.) | lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 37.8% (2005) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.8% (2019 est.) 2.6% (2018 est.) 5.6% (2017 est.) | 5.1% (2019 est.) 4.6% (2018 est.) 8% (2017 est.) |
Labor force | 15.84 million (2015 est.) | 19.6 million (2017 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 71% industry: 7% services: 22% (2013 est.) | agriculture: 61.1% industry: 6.7% services: 32.2% (2005 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 9.4% (2014 est.) | 40% (2013 est.) 40% (2001 est.) |
Distribution of family income - Gini index | 42.8 (2016 est.) 45.7 (2002) | 40.8 (2015 est.) 42.5 (2008 est.) |
Budget | revenues: 3.848 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.928 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 13.95 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 19.24 billion (2017 est.) |
Industries | sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production | small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism, information technology |
Industrial production growth rate | 4.4% (2017 est.) | 3.6% (2017 est.) |
Agriculture - products | sugar cane, plantains, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, milk, vegetables, beans, bananas, sorghum | sugar cane, milk, maize, potatoes, bananas, camel milk, cassava, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas, cabbages |
Exports | $7.686 billion (2019 est.) $6.511 billion (2018 est.) $5.958 billion (2017 est.) | $10.078 billion (2019 est.) $10.1 billion (2018 est.) $9.723 billion (2017 est.) |
Exports - commodities | gold, coffee, milk, fish and fish products, tobacco (2019) | tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, titanium (2019) |
Exports - partners | United Arab Emirates 58%, Kenya 9% (2019) | Uganda 10%, United States 9%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 7%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Tanzania 5% (2019) |
Imports | $9.991 billion (2019 est.) $8.006 billion (2018 est.) $7.44 billion (2017 est.) | $18.729 billion (2019 est.) $19.116 billion (2018 est.) $18.653 billion (2017 est.) |
Imports - commodities | packaged medicines, aircraft, delivery trucks, cars, wheat (2019) | refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, wheat, iron products (2019) |
Imports - partners | China 19%, India 17%, Kenya 16%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Japan 5% (2019) | China 24%, United Arab Emirates 10%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (2019) |
Debt - external | $13.85 billion (2019 est.) $12.187 billion (2018 est.) $6.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $29.289 billion (2019 est.) $25.706 billion (2018 est.) |
Exchange rates | Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar - 3,680 (2020 est.) 3,685 (2019 est.) 3,735 (2018 est.) 3,234.1 (2014 est.) 2,599.8 (2013 est.) | Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 111.45 (2020 est.) 101.4 (2019 est.) 102.4 (2018 est.) 98.179 (2014 est.) 87.921 (2013 est.) |
Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June | 1 July - 30 June |
Public debt | 40% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 54.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $3.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.034 billion (31 December 2016 est.) note: excludes gold | $7.354 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.256 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Current Account Balance | -$1.212 billion (2017 est.) -$707 million (2016 est.) | -$57.594 billion (2019 est.) -$56.194 billion (2018 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $34.683 billion (2019 est.) | $95.52 billion (2019 est.) |
Credit ratings | Fitch rating: B+ (2015) Moody's rating: B2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B (2014) | Fitch rating: B+ (2007) Moody's rating: B2 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2010) |
Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 60 (2020) Starting a Business score: 71.4 (2020) Trading score: 66.7 (2020) Enforcement score: 60.6 (2020) | Overall score: 73.2 (2020) Starting a Business score: 82.7 (2020) Trading score: 67.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 58.3 (2020) |
Taxes and other revenues | 14.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -4.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 14.8% male: 12.7% female: 17.3% (2017 est.) | total: 7.4% male: 7.3% female: 7.4% (2016) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 74.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.1% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 79.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 13.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.5% (2017 est.) |
Gross national saving | 22.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 21.3% of GDP (2018 est.) 23.6% of GDP (2017 est.) | 8% of GDP (2019 est.) 8.6% of GDP (2018 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 3.463 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 9.634 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption | 3.106 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 7.863 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 121 million kWh (2015 est.) | 39.1 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 50 million kWh (2016 est.) | 184 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 12,550 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - proved reserves | 2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 1.02 million kW (2016 est.) | 2.401 million kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 19% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 68% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 33% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 13,960 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 32,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 109,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 173 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 31,490 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 90,620 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Electricity access | electrification - total population: 29% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 17% (2019) | electrification - total population: 85% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 79% (2019) |
Telecommunications
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 76,492 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 70,394 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 25,395,503 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.71 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 54,555,497 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104.22 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .ug | .ke |
Internet users | total: 9,620,681 percent of population: 23.71% (July 2018 est.) | total: 9,129,243 percent of population: 17.83% (July 2018 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: telecom infrastructure has developed through private partnerships; as of 2018, fixed-fiber backbone infrastructure is available in over half of Uganda's districts; mobile phone companies now provide 4G networks across all major cities and national parks, while offering 3G coverage in small cities and most rural areas with road access; price of commercial Internet services dropped substantially in 2019; consumers rely on mobile infrastructure to provide voice and broadband services as fixed-line infrastructure is poor; 5G migration is developing slowly; government commissioned broadband satellite services for rural areas in 2019 (2020) (2020) domestic: fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile- cellular systems teledensity about 57 per 100 persons; intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations (2019) international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog and digital links to Kenya and Tanzania note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: through increased competition, Kenya's telecom market has improved international bandwidth and experienced rapid development in mobile sector, including remote regions; four fiber-optic submarine cables reduced costs and increased service to population; government supported LTE and broadband, promising economic support of free WiFi; mobile operators progress with 5G tests; e-commerce interoperability; importer of broadcasting equipment, video displays, and computers from China (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line subscriptions stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of the market fostering a boom in mobile-cellular telephone usage with teledensity reaching 104 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 254; landing point for the EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE1, PEACE Cable, and SEACOM fiber-optic submarine cable systems covering East, North and South Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat; launched first micro satellites in 2018 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 9,485 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 491,183 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 less than 1 (2018 est.) |
Broadcast media | public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 operational FM stations | about a half-dozen large-scale privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; many private radio stations broadcast on a national level along with over 100 private and non-profit regional stations broadcasting in local languages; TV transmissions of all major international broadcasters available, mostly via paid subscriptions; direct radio frequency modulation transmissions available for several foreign government-owned broadcasters (2019) |
Transportation
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Railways | total: 1,244 km (2014) narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) | total: 3,819 km (2018) standard gauge: 485 km 1.435-m gauge (2018) narrow gauge: 3,334 km 1.000-m gauge (2018) |
Roadways | total: 20,544 km (excludes local roads) (2017) paved: 4,257 km (2017) unpaved: 16,287 km (2017) | total: 177,800 km (2018) paved: 14,420 km (8,500 km highways, 1,872 urban roads, and 4,048 rural roads) (2017) unpaved: 147,032 km (2017) |
Waterways | (there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile that flow out of Lake Albert in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores) (2011) | none specifically; the only significant inland waterway is the part of Lake Victoria within the boundaries of Kenya; Kisumu is the main port and has ferry connections to Uganda and Tanzania (2011) |
Ports and terminals | lake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria) | major seaport(s): Kisumu, Mombasa LNG terminal(s) (import): Mombasa |
Merchant marine | total: 1 by type: bulk carrier 1 (2019) | total: 24 by type: oil tanker 2, other 22 (2020) |
Airports | total: 47 (2013) | total: 197 (2013) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 5 (2019) over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | total: 16 (2017) over 3,047 m: 5 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 42 (2013) over 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 26 (2013) under 914 m: 7 (2013) | total: 181 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 107 (2013) under 914 m: 60 (2013) |
National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,537 (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 25 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 188 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,935,831 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 294.97 million mt-km (2018) |
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | 5X | 5Y |
Military
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Military branches | Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces, Air Forces, Marine Forces, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force (2021) | Kenya Defence Forces: Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force (2021) note: the National Police Service includes a paramilitary General Service Unit |
Military service age and obligation | 18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty (must be single, no children); 9-year service obligation (2019) | no conscription; 18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary service (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams), with a 9-year obligation (7 years for Kenyan Navy) and subsequent 3-year re-enlistments; applicants must be Kenyan citizens (2020) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2.1% of GDP (2019) 1.4% of GDP (2018) 1.5% of GDP (2017) 1.6% of GDP (2016) 1.4% of GDP (2015) | 1.3% of GDP (2019) 1.2% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) 1.3% of GDP (2015) |
Military - note | the UPDF, which is constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and the NRM to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates; during the 2020 election cycle, senior UPDF officer said that the military would not obey a non-NRM political leader the UPDF has conducted operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo against a Congo-based Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in March 2021 as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC; see the Terrorist Group Appendix); beginning in 2012, the UPDF also led regional efforts to pursue the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; the UPDF withdrew from the mission in 2017 after declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threat Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016 and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020 | the Kenya Coast Guard Service (established 2018) is under the Ministry of Interior, but led by a military officer and comprised of personnel from the military, as well as the National Police Service, intelligence services, and other government agencies (2020) |
Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies; approximately 45-50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel (2021) | the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) are comprised of approximately 24,000 personnel (20,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2020) |
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the UPDF's inventory is mostly older Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a limited mix of more modern Russian- and Western-origin arms; since 2010, the leading suppliers of arms to the UPDF are Russia and Ukraine (2020) | the KDF's inventory traditionally carried mostly older or second-hand Western weapons systems, particularly from France, the UK, and the US; however, since the 2000s it has sought to modernize and diversify its imports; suppliers since 2010 include China, France, Italy, Jordan, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, and the US (2020) |
Military deployments | 6,200 Somalia (AMISOM); 620 Somalia (UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (Jan 2021) | 3,650 Somalia (AMISOM) (2021) |
Transnational Issues
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Disputes - international | Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders; Ugandan refugees as well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across the border | Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; as of March 2019, Kenya provides shelter to nearly 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times; in 2018, Kenya signed an MoU with Uganda and South Sudan to help demarcate their borders |
Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 924,835 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 432,390 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 51,039 (Burundi), 47,581 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 17,750 (Rwanda), 17,658 (Eritrea) (2021) | refugees (country of origin): 269,870 (Somalia), 133,320 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 30,081 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 20,560 (Ethiopia), 7,081 (Burundi) (2021) IDPs: 190,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2020) stateless persons: 16,820 (2020); note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards |
Terrorism
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Terrorist Group(s) | al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T | al-Shabaab; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T |
Environment
Uganda | Kenya | |
---|---|---|
Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 48.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.68 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.24 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 25.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 17.91 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 37.65 megatons (2020 est.) |
Total water withdrawal | municipal: 328 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 495 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 303 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 7.32% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 1.3% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 7,045,050 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 422,703 tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2017 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,595,099 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 447,608 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2009 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook