Region: East Africa
Population: 31.9 million (UN, 2008)
Capital: Kampala
Major languages: English, Luganda/Ganda, Ateso, Rutoro. Other languages include Arabic, Swahili and several other indigenous languages
Major religions: Christianity, Islam
Terrain: Inland water and swamp-land, national parks, forests, game reserves and grassland
Climate: Semi-arid in the northeast. Two dry seasons: December-February and June-July
Background
The democratic reforms that have been introduced in Uganda since the late 1980s have helped it move towards peace and stability, after years of civil war and dictatorship.
While Uganda’s climate offers a great potential for food production, prolonged and frequent droughts in many parts of the country, particularly the northeast, have led to a heavy dependency on food aid. Uganda is currently ranked 200 out of 219 countries for life expectancy. There were seven droughts between 1991 and 2000, with a particularly long and severe drought in 1999/2000. In recent decades the Ugandan climate has become wetter and more variable.
Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the workforce. The “cattle corridor” or drylands, running from northeast to southwest Uganda, is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in Uganda to land degradation, and is also home to some of the poorest families.
Potential impacts of climate change
A recent report by the Global Humanitarian Forum, led by Kofi Annan, labels Uganda one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The projected consequences include increased rain variability, more extreme weather, and longer droughts, with stark effects on agriculture and therefore food security.
Coffee accounts for the bulk of Uganda’s export revenue, and even a 2 degree rise in temperature would probably wipe out most of the country’s coffee production.
An increased malaria risk in some areas is expected, while tick-borne diseases have already become rampant in semi-arid areas. Lower water levels, especially in Lake Victoria, may negatively affect the power supply, and with dwindling resources there is also a heightened possibility of ethnic violence.
(Sources: Global Humanitarian Forum Human Impact Report, LTS International, Oxfam, CIA World Factbook)
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