Government and Politics of Uganda

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe

Legal System

in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986); Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators with approval from Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (also known as Bobi WINE) 34.8%, other 6.6%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament of Uganda (556 members — 353 constituency representatives directly elected by popular vote, 146 district woman representatives, 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces representatives, 5 representatives for youth, 5 representatives for workers, 5 representatives for persons with disabilities, and 13 ex officio members including the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, and the Attorney General; members serve five-year terms) Elections: Last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026) Election results: Percent of vote by party — National Resistance Movement (NRM) approximately 58%, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) approximately 12%, independent candidates approximately 27%, other parties approximately 3%; seats by party — NRM 336, FDC 32, National Unity Platform (NUP) 57, Uganda People's Congress (UPC) 9, Democratic Party (DP) 9, independents and others 113

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political Parties

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP [Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza BESIGYE]; Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA]; National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]; National Resistance Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Miria OBOTE] note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's transition to a multi-party political system

Head of State

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power on 26 January 1986)

Head of Government

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators

Elections

Last held on 14 January 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party — National Resistance Movement (NRM) approximately 58%, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) approximately 12%, independent candidates approximately 27%, other parties approximately 3%; seats by party — NRM 336, FDC 32, National Unity Platform (NUP) 57, Uganda People's Congress (UPC) 9, Democratic Party (DP) 9, independents and others 113

Constitution

8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995

Independence

9 October 1962 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Edith G. SSEMPALA chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William FITZGERALD embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 234-142 FAX: [256] (41) 258-451

Capital City

Kampala

Location

0 19 N, 32 33 E

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

History

the site of the original British settlement was referred to by its native name as Akasozi ke'Empala ("hill of the impala" [plural]); over time this designation was shortened to K'empala and finally Kampala

U.S.Embassy Kampala 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala Telephone: 256-414-259-791 or 256-414-306-001 Facsimile: 256-414-258-451

Military Branches

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Forces (includes Marine Unit), Uganda Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military duty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; no conscription; 9-year service obligation; the government has stated that while recruitment under 18 years of age could occur with proper consent, "no person under the apparent age of 18 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required