Updated August 24, 2018
Uganda
U.S. officials have viewed Uganda as a key security partner
Figure 1. Uganda Key Facts
in East Africa for over a decade. It has played a lead role in
high-profile counterterrorism and stability operations in the
region, most notably in Somalia. Uganda is major recipient
of U.S. foreign aid and one of the top recipients of U.S.
security assistance in Africa. The United States provides
logistics, training, equipment, and advisory support to the
Ugandan military for its regional operations. Reports of
torture and unlawful killings by security forces complicate
the bilateral relationship, however, as do growing concerns
about Uganda’s political trajectory. The country has never
had a democratic transition of power.
Politics
President Yoweri Museveni, who seized power in a
rebellion over three decades ago, is one of the world’s
longest-serving heads of state. Though he was once dubbed

part of a “
Source: Data from CIA World Factbook, IMF (2018).
new generation of African leaders,” his
government’s reputation has been undermined by reported
Musician Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi), who was elected
corruption, repression, and other abuses of power. High
to parliament as an independent in 2017, has by many
unemployment, rising crime, communal tensions, and land
accounts become the new, youthful face of the opposition.
disputes have fueled popular discontent, as have poor
His protest songs have raised government ire (his concerts
service delivery and uneven development among Uganda’s
were banned in 2017), and he has drawn large crowds with
regions. The opposition has long been divided, but
his slogan of “people power.” He was a vocal opponent of
Museveni, in his 70s, faces a new challenge from a younger
lifting the presidential age limit. In August 2018 he and
generation of critics who seek to harness mounting
others were detained and reportedly tortured, sparking
frustration among a youthful electorate to push for change.
public outrage and protests, during which security forces
President Museveni was reelected to a fifth term in 2016, in
assaulted several journalists. The government has accused
a vote marred by allegations of voter intimidation,
Kyagulanyi and several fellow parliamentarians of inciting
harassment of the opposition, and the misuse of state funds.
violence against Museveni’s motorcade; 34 people,
His main challengers were two former government
including Kyagulanyi, face treason charges.
officials: former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and
opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Both have repeatedly been
Human Rights Concerns
arrested by police; Besigye was detained on election day
The State Department’s most recent human rights report on
and kept under house arrest during the post-election period,
Uganda documents restrictions on political freedoms and
preventing him from filing a legal challenge. The State
incidents of torture, excessive force, and unlawful killings
Department suggested that the electoral irregularities and
by security forces, and notes that officers implicated in
conduct reported were “deeply inconsistent with
abuses often enjoy impunity. Human Rights Watch (HRW)
international standards” for a democratic process,
reports that there has been no investigation into the deaths
contending that “the Ugandan people deserved better.”
of over 150 people, including children, during security
operations in Kasese, in western Uganda, in 2016. HRW
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which
asserts that as of mid-2018 there have been no convictions
was formed from the rebel movement Museveni led in the
of security personnel for incidents of torture, despite more
1980s, dominates the parliament. The military, which is
than 1,000 allegations of torture from 2012 to 2016 alone.
constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely
viewed as a key constituency for Museveni.
Activists raise concerns with several laws, including the
Uganda’s parliament abolished presidential ter
Public Order Management Act, which gives police broad
m limits in
authority to block public meetings and detain opposition
2005. The constitution has barred candidates above age 75
candidates and supporters. Another law adopted in 2015
from vying for the presidency, but in late 2017, parliament
tightened the regulation of non-governmental organizations
voted to remove the age limit after contentious debate,
(NGOs), prohibiting activity “contrary to the dignity of the
paving the way for Museveni to potentially stand for a sixth
people of Uganda.” The government monitors social media
term in 2021. The age limit debate spurred protests and a
and has arrested critics, citing the Antiterrorism Act and
security force crackdown; a 2017 survey suggested most
other laws. In 2018, the government imposed a social media
Ugandans support presidential age and term limits.
tax on users (it blocked social media during the 2016 polls).
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Uganda
Threats to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent
rights have drawn international attention, particularly
group of Ugandan origin that has terrorized civilians across
around Uganda’s 2014 adoption of the Anti-Homosexuality
Central Africa. U.S. advisors withdrew from the LRA
Act. That law, which made same-sex relations punishable
mission in 2017 and Uganda subsequently pulled its troops,
by life in prison, was later struck down in court. According
declaring that the LRA no longer posed a security threat.
to the State Department’s human rights report, LGBT
Separately, since 2017, Uganda claims to have conducted
persons continue to face “discrimination, legal restrictions,
minor military operations in the neighboring Democratic
societal harassment, violence, and intimidation.”
Republic of Congo against a small, nominally Islamist
Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The Economy and Corruption Concerns
Stronger economic growth will be critical for Uganda’s
Uganda has won international praise for its open-door
policy for refugees from conflicts in neighboring countries,
ability to manage its rapidly growing population, 70% of
although its role as a refugee host has not been without
which is under 25. Unemployment is a key problem, as is a
controversy (amid reports of fraud noted above). South
growing demand for education and health services. Uganda
Sudan’s civil war has spurred an influx of over a million
has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa, only
refugees into Uganda. Uganda deployed troops to South
22% of the population has access to electricity.
Sudan when the conflict began in 2013 at the request of its
President Museveni’s ambitious development strategy,
government, to protect key infrastructure and state stability.
which aims to make Uganda a middle-income country by
It later withdrew the troops, and played a reportedly
2020 and an upper-middle-income country by 2040, is
influential role in pushing South Sudan’s president to sign a
unlikely to meet its first target. GDP growth, forecast at
peace accord in 2015. That deal collapsed less than a year
under 6% until 2020, is far below the government’s double-
later, and Uganda is now trying to mediate a new agreement
digit goal. Uganda seeks to develop its energy, agriculture,
in partnership with Sudan, which was until recently a rival.
and tourism sectors by improving infrastructure, developing
Uganda is not generally viewed as an unbiased actor in the
human capital, and strengthening competitiveness. It also
South Sudan conflict, having been, for example, implicated
seeks to reform its regulatory environment: Uganda ranks
in facilitating arms transfers to the government.
122nd in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.
Rising public debt, which has nearly tripled since 2015 to
U.S. Assistance
more than 60% of GDP, may threaten growth. Chinese
U.S. foreign aid to Uganda has focused primarily on health
financing comprises a growing share of Uganda’s debt.
programs, but also supports agriculture, education,
Uganda’s economic outlook is
governance, and conflict mitigation initiatives. Bilateral aid
tied to its nascent energy
rose from $330 million in FY2007 to over $500 million in
sector. Proven crude oil reserves are estimated at 2.5 billion
FY2016, before falling to $415 million in FY2017. The
barrels, with 500 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.
Trump Administration has requested $460 million in
The government suggests that crude oil production, which
FY2019, with over 90% for health programs. The FY2019
the World Bank forecasts could bring up to $2 billion in
request does not include food aid, which is allocated during
annual revenues, will begin in 2020, but others suggest it
the year (it composed $24 million of the FY2017 total).
may be later. New roads are under construction, with
Chinese financing, and land-locked Uganda seeks to fast-
Bilateral aid figures do not include much of the substantial
track plans for a pipeline to export oil via Tanzania. A
U.S. security assistance Uganda receives to support its
General Electric subsidiary is part of an international
participation in regional stability operations. Uganda has
consortium working on plans for a $4 billion refinery.
been the largest recipient of U.S. support for AMISOM,
which has totaled roughly $2 billion in State Department
Critics contend that state corruption and patronage are
and Department of Defense (DOD) support to all troop
entrenched, and that the government has failed to hold
contributing countries. That total includes DOD “train and
senior officials accountable. Some also argue that donor
equip” funding, of which Uganda has been among the
aid, which comprises a large share of the government’s
largest recipients in Africa. Since FY2011, DOD has
budget, has been used as a source of patronage.
notified Congress of over $280 million in military
Embezzlement scandals involving the alleged diversion of
equipment and training for Uganda; over $60 million
donor funds from post-conflict reconstruction and health
provided jointly to Uganda and Burundi in AMISOM
programs led some donors to withhold budget support
support; and significant funding for the 2011-2017 counter-
temporarily in previous years. The government, under
LRA effort. Uganda also receives counterterrorism aid
pressure, adopted a legal framework to improve public-
through the State Department’s Partnership for Regional
sector governance and created an anti-corruption court.
East Africa Counterterrorism (PREACT) and Anti-
New allegations surfaced in 2018, regarding fraud and
Terrorism Assistance (ATA) programs. The United States
misuse of donor funds intended for refugee assistance.
provided $33 million in support to Uganda via the African
Uganda’s Regional Role
Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP).
Uganda is a key troop contributor to the African Union
Uganda is among several African countries that maintain
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has a U.N. Security
ties with North Korea; it claims to have cut military ties in
Council mandate to counter the Al Qaeda-affiliated
2017, under pressure to comply with U.N. sanctions.
insurgent group Al Shabaab. In retaliation, Al Shabaab
conducted its first terrorist attack outside Somalia in 2010,
Lauren Ploch Blanchard, Specialist in African Affairs
killing 79 people, including one American, in bombings in
IF10325
Kampala. Until 2017, Uganda also led regional efforts to
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Uganda


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10325 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED

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