About Uganda
Uganda is situated in the centre of the African continent. Landlocked, it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya and Rwanda. Its official language is English, although many people use various native languages including Luganda.It has a population of approx 30 million people. The principal industry is agriculture, which employs 80 per cent of the workforce. In addition to its main export of coffee, Uganda produces tea, fish, cotton and horticultural products.
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. 35 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, and more than half of the people exist on less than £1 per day. Healthcare and education are poorly resourced, and there is no pension system. While the government does have policies for healthcare and education, it often falls to local people to provide the means to deliver these.
More than half the population is under 16 years old, and only half complete primary school. This has led to low literacy rates, with only 62 per cent of the population being able to read and write after age 15.
1.1 million people are living with HIV and AIDS, resulting in a life expectancy of just 44 years. There is also a high infant mortality rate.