In 2015, the population of Uganda was estimated to be around 37 million people. The economy of Uganda was heavily reliant on agriculture which accounted for over 30% of its GDP. In terms of foreign relations, Uganda maintained strong ties with its neighbours in the East African region such as Kenya and Tanzania. It also had close ties with countries in the Middle East and North Africa such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In terms of politics, Uganda had a presidential system in 2015, with Yoweri Museveni serving as head of state since 1986. The country’s main political party at this time was the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which held a majority in parliament and had been in power since 1986. Despite the NRM’s dominance, there were some opposition parties that were able to operate during this period albeit under strict control from the government. See ehealthfacts for Uganda in the year of 2005.
Yearbook 2015
Uganda. During the year, the country received a record number of people on the run. According to UNHCR figures, half a million refugees were in Uganda, who were praised for their refugee reception and the way in which people were integrated into society through housing and access to land, among other things. In connection with his visit to Uganda in November, Pope Francis praised the country for its well-functioning refugee reception. According to COUNTRYAAH, Kampala is the capital of Uganda which is located in Eastern Africa. Uganda is one of Africa’s most Catholic countries with about 14 million Catholics. Most of the refugees came from the war-torn neighboring countries of Congo (Kinshasa) and South Sudan.
- Also see AbbreviationFinder.org for Uganda country abbreviations, including geography, history, economy and politics.
At the beginning of the year, the rebel movement arrested LRA leader Dominic Ongwen of the Central African Republic. Ongwen had been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague since 2005, when charges were brought against him and four other leaders in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) who for many years waged war in northern Uganda. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said the surrender to the ICC was “a step forward in providing justice to thousands of victims of LRA violence”.
On March 30, Prosecutor Joan Kagezi was shot dead in a suburb of the capital, Kampala. Police suspect the murder was linked to Kagezi’s assignment as a prosecutor. One of Kagezi’s ongoing goals, for example, was about the attention-grabbing bombing that occurred in Kampala in 2010 and which 13 members of the militant movement al-Shabab stood for.
In June, the country together with 25 other African countries agreed on a free trade agreement, Tripartite Free Trade Area.
Ahead of next year’s presidential election, the country’s former prime minister Amama Mbabazi announced that he planned to challenge President Yoweri Museveni in the post of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate. But when Museveni registered his candidacy in July, Mbabazi announced that he would leave the ruling party and stand as an independent candidate instead. Several opposition leaders also published their candidacies.
In October, Ugandan human rights activist Kasha Nabagesera received the Right Livelihood Prize for her work for the rights of LGBTQ people in Uganda, who last year had their assistance withdrawn from, among other things, Sweden because of discriminatory laws against homosexuality. Nabagesera’s organization Freedom and Roam Uganda is struggling to influence legislation and support LGBTQs convicted under the country’s homophobic laws.
November
Museveni warns the opposition
November 29
President Yoweri Museveni criticizes the young people who have been involved in protests against the arrest of the presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also the pop star Bobi Wine. At the same time, he accuses opposition politicians of “misleading” young Ugandans, but emphasizes that the scenes that took place a few weeks earlier must not be repeated. His message is that similar protests will not happen again, as the protesters have realized that they have “played with fire”. The number of people killed during the protests has been raised gradually, but according to the police, the number is now up to 54 dead. The President offers his condolences to those who have lost family members and says they will be compensated for this.
At least 45 people are killed in protests against arrests
20th of November
Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also pop star Bobi Wine, is being released on bail after being accused of violating corona restrictions during election rallies. At least 45 people have, according to police, been killed in protests against the arrest, of whom 39 were men and six women. Eleven police officers are also said to have been injured during the riots. Other sources indicate even higher death rates. Police said they used tear gas, water cannons and fired on demonstrators who they accuse of riots and looting. Almost 600 people were arrested. Witnesses say they saw several students and schoolchildren being shot in the streets. According to several witnesses, people were killed despite not participating in the protests. This is the second time Kyagulanyi has been arrested since he registered his candidacy in the presidential election to be held on January 14.
At least seven people are killed in protests against the arrest of an opposition candidate
November 18
Protests are erupting in the capital Kampala and several other major cities since presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also pop star Bobi Wine, was arrested again. He is accused of having an election rally in the eastern part of Uganda that attracted more than 200 participants despite the coronary restrictions. In several places, Kyagulanyi’s supporters, who are demanding that the politician be released, try to set up roadblocks and burn car tires to mark their dissatisfaction with the arrest. Police and military use tear gas and shooting sharply against the demonstrators in order to get them to disperse. At least seven people are killed and about 40 are injured in connection with this. The Red Cross in Uganda claims to have treated at least eleven people who received gunshot wounds. Several other presidential candidates are interrupting their election campaigns and demanding the release of their rival candidates.
The presidential election will be held on January 14
November 4
Now it’s finished. Uganda will hold presidential elections on January 14, 2021, the Election Commission announces. Eleven candidates have registered to stand. President Yoweri Museveni, who registered as a candidate for the ruling NRM on November 2, is expected to face the strongest opposition from Robert Kyagulanyi (better known as pop star Bobi Wine).
Opposition politicians were arrested by police
November 3
Opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi, also pop star Bobi Wine, says he was arrested, beaten and tortured after he officially registered his candidacy in the 2021 presidential election. TV images also show how police force the opposition politician to leave his car and enter a police vehicle. Later in the day, police and the military use force to disperse Kyagulanyi’s supporters as the opposition politician is taken to his home. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, too, is subjected to harsh treatment by the security forces and arrives barefoot to register his candidacy. The police say they have intervened against Amuriat as he planned to hold a mass meeting after the nomination in defiance of the law.