Republic of Uganda

Political Status: Independent member of the Commonwealth since October 9, 1962; republican constitution adopted on September 8, 1967; personal military rule (instituted on January 25, 1971) overthrown with establishment of provisional government on April 11, 1979; military regime installed on January 29, 1986; present constitution adopted on September 22,1995, with effect from October 8.

Area: 93,104 sq. mi. (241,139 sq. km.).

Population: 24,442,084 (2002C); 29,637,000 (2008E).

Major Urban Center (2005E): KAMPALA (metropolitan area, 1,337,000).

Official Language: English (Swahili and Luganda are widely used).

Monetary Unit: New Shilling (principal rate December 1, 2009: 1,872.50 new shillings = $1US).

President: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI; sworn in on January 29, 1986, following the overthrow of Lt. Gen. Tito OKELLO Lutwa on January 27; popularly elected on May 9, 1996, and inaugurated ...