Uganda Country Report
The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked developing country located in central East Africa. The country has been relatively stable since 1986, with the political situation dominated by President Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM). Uganda has made significant progress in the past two decades and has become one of the strongest economies in the region. It is still poor by world standards. The country is rich in natural resources, including copper and cobalt deposits, but systemic corruption undermines foreign investment.
Dissatisfaction with Museveni’s rule led to episodes of deadly insecurity. Although urban areas are rarely affected, tribal and ethnic tensions remain a prominent source of violence. The major threats to foreign tourists are petty criminal activities, health hazards, and road accidents. The western border remains subject to rebel activity from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the northern border continues to be affected by environmental degradation and the presence of armed groups from neighboring South Sudan. Despite recent investments, infrastructure remains relatively underdeveloped in most parts of the country.
Last updated: April 13, 2022
Security
The western, northwestern, and northeastern border areas of Uganda are prone to insecurity related to insurgents active in neighboring countries, armed robbery, and communal tensions. Although there have been no major attacks against mainland Uganda since 2010, there are still potential terrorist threats in Uganda.
Opportunistic non-violent crime is the main threat to foreign tourists, but armed robbery is a problem in remote areas along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Kenya. Riots, usually motivated by socio-economic and political issues, occur with some frequency in the country’s major urban centers and are often met with an aggressive response by security forces, and the level of violence usually peaks during this period.
Last updated: May 16, 2022
Infrastructure
There are no major air travel concerns in Uganda and the country’s main airports meet ICAO regulatory standards.
Uganda has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, and the country’s road network is generally poorly maintained, poorly marked, and poorly lit.
Uganda has no ports.
The country’s electrification rate is relatively low, and reliable access is mostly limited to the capital and other major urban centers. Despite experimental improvements, Internet penetration is also low and connections are concentrated in urban centers.
The country is considered an attractive target for cyber attacks. Defenses against such attacks are considered weak.
Last updated: April 3, 2023
Environment
Uganda is located in an active seismic zone, with several low to moderate tremors reported each year, but the western and northern regions are also vulnerable to stronger earthquakes. Flooding, especially in the central and eastern regions, is common during the rainy seasons from March to May and October to November, and during other periods of heavy rainfall. Drought is a major concern in Uganda, negatively affecting food security and exacerbating the country’s vulnerability to soil degradation and flooding during the rainy season. Landmines and unexploded ordnance also pose environmental hazards in some areas, especially in the northern border areas.
Last updated: March 17, 2022
Health and Medical
Traveler’s diarrhea is the most commonly reported illness among international travelers in Uganda, but malaria poses a more serious health risk in many parts of the country. The quality of health care in the country is generally poor and only a few hospitals in Kampala provide adequate services. While drug shortages are common throughout the country, they are not so severe in private centers in the capital. Tap water is not potable.
Last updated: April 1, 2022
Political
Ugandan politics continues to be dominated by President Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM), with an opposition party fractured by internal strife and government obstruction as it struggles to effectively challenge the ruling party. In December 2017, Museveni introduced a constitutional amendment that removed age limits for presidents, widely believed to pave the way for him to run for a sixth term in the 2021 elections. Corruption is a big problem in the country and it affects the national society. Government, bureaucracy and security apparatus. The rule of law is generally weak and the culture of impunity is problematic due to the selective enforcement of laws.
Last updated: March 30, 2022
