Updated August 6, 2019
Uganda
U.S. officials have viewed Uganda as a key security partner
Figure 1. Uganda Key Facts
in East Africa for over a decade. The country 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 has been 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, though,
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 among the world’s

longest-serving heads of state. Once dubbed part of a “new
Source: Data from CIA World Factbook, IMF (2019).
generation of African leaders,” Museveni, now in his 70s,
wrote in 1986, “The problem of Africa in general and
Musician Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi), who was elected
to parliament as an independent in 2017, has emerged as the
Uganda in particular is not the people but leaders who want
to stay in power.”
new, youthful face of the opposition. His protest songs have
His government’s reputation has been
raised government ire (his concerts are routinely blocked),
marred by reported corruption, repression, and other abuses
and he has drawn large crowds with his slogan of “people
of power. High unemployment, rising crime, land disputes,
power.” He was a vocal opponent of lifting the presidential
and communal tensions have fueled popular discontent, as
age limit. In August 2018, during a parliamentary by-
have poor service delivery and uneven development among
Uganda’s
election campaign, his driver was killed by an elite security
regions. The opposition has long been divided,
unit and Wine, among others, was detained and beaten. He
but a new movement now seeks to harness mounting
and several fellow parliamentarians were accused of
frustration among a youthful electorate to push for change.
inciting violence against Museveni’s motorcade and
President Museveni was reelected to a fifth term in 2016, in
charged with treason. The incident spurred outrage and
a vote marked by allegations of voter intimidation,
protests. The musician-turned-politician announced in July
harassment of the opposition, and the misuse of state funds.
2019 that he would vie, presumably against Museveni, for
His main challengers were two former government
the presidency in 2021. Meanwhile, his trial is ongoing; he
officials: former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and
would be ineligible to run if convicted.
opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Both were repeatedly
Human Rights Concerns
arrested by police; Besigye was detained on election day
and kept under house arrest during the post-election period,
The State Department’s human rights report on Uganda
preventing him from filing a legal challenge. The State
documents restrictions on political freedoms and incidents
Department suggested that the electoral irregularities and
of torture, excessive force, and unlawful killings by security
conduct reported were “deeply inconsistent with
forces; it notes that officers implicated in abuses often
international standards” for a democratic process,
enjoy impunity. Human right groups have criticized the
contending that “the Ugandan people deserved better.”
government for failing to hold security personnel
accountable for torture (more than 1,000 allegations of
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which
torture were reported between 2012 and 2016 alone) or for
was formed from the rebel movement Museveni led in the
the deaths of over 150 people, including children, during
1980s, dominates the parliament. The military, which is
operations in Kasese, in western Uganda, in 2016.
constitutionally granted seats in parliament, is widely
viewed as a key constituency for Museveni.
Activists raise concerns with several laws, including the
Public Order Management Act, which gives police broad
Uganda’s parliament abolished presidential term 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)
country. Uganda deployed troops to South Sudan when the
rights have drawn international attention, particularly
war began in 2013, at the request of the government in
around the 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act. That law, which
Juba, to protect key infrastructure and state stability. It later
made same-sex relations punishable by life in prison, was
withdrew the troops and played an influential role in
later struck down in court. Per the State Department, LGBT
pushing a peace accord in 2015. That deal collapsed less
persons continue to face “discrimination, legal restrictions,
than a year later. In 2018, Uganda, in partnership with
societal harassment, violence, and intimidation.”
former rival Sudan, facilitated a new peace deal. Uganda is
The Economy and Corruption Concerns not viewed as an unbiased actor in the South Sudan conflict
(it has been implicated in arms transfers to the government).
Stronger economic growth will be critical for Uganda’s
ability to manage its rapidly growing population, 70% of
Uganda is a key troop contributor to the African Union
which is under 25. Unemployment is a key problem, as is a
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has a U.N. Security
growing demand for education and health services. Uganda
Council mandate to counter Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda
has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa, only
affiliate. In retaliation, the group conducted its first terrorist
20% of the population has access to electricity.
attack outside Somalia in 2010, killing 79 people, including
President Museveni’s ambitious development strategy,
one American, in bombings in Kampala. Uganda also led
which aimed to make Uganda a middle-income country by
regional efforts, until 2017, to pursue the Lord’s Resistance
2020 and an upper-middle-income country by 2040, will
Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that
not meet its first target. GDP growth, forecast at under 7%
has terrorized civilians across Central Africa. U.S. advisors
through 2024, is well below the government’s double-digit
withdrew from the mission in 2017 and Uganda
goal. Uganda seeks to develop its energy, agriculture, and
subsequently pulled its troops, declaring that the LRA no
tourism sectors by improving infrastructure, developing
longer posed a security threat. Separately, Uganda has
human capital, and strengthening competitiveness. It also
conducted operations in the DRC against a small, Islamist
seeks to reform its regulatory environment: Uganda ranks
Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
127nd in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.
Uganda’s deteriorating relationship with neighboring
Chinese financing comprises a growing share of Uganda’s
Rwanda has regional implications. The public rhetoric of
public debt, which is over 40% of GDP and rising.
the two governments, once close, has become increasingly
Uganda’s economic outlook is tied to its nascent energy
hostile since 2017. Their feud threatens a trade route vital
sector. Proven crude oil reserves are estimated at 2.5 billion
not only to Rwanda, but also to Burundi and eastern DRC.
barrels, with 500 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.
U.S. Assistance
Production, which the World Bank forecasts could bring up
U.S. foreign aid to Uganda has focused primarily on health
to $2 billion in annual revenues, has been delayed to 2022.
programs, but also supports agriculture, education, conflict
New roads are under construction with Chinese financing,
mitigation, and governance initiatives. Bilateral aid rose
and land-locked Uganda plans to export oil via a pipeline
from $330 million in FY2007 to $560 million in FY2018.
through Tanzania. A General Electric subsidiary is part of a
The Trump Administration has requested $415 million in
consortium working on a $4 billion refinery.
FY2020 (95% of it for health programs). The FY2020
Gold surpassed coffee as Uganda’s biggest earner of
request does not include food aid, which is allocated during
foreign currency in 2018, with gold exports growing from
the fiscal year (it was $31 million of the FY2018 total).
$10 million to over $500 million in the past decade. Only
Bilateral aid figures do not include much of the substantial
10% of gold exports are mined in Uganda, however, fueling
U.S. security assistance provided to support Uganda’s
allegations of smuggling from neighboring South Sudan
participation in regional stability operations. Uganda has
and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
been the largest recipient of U.S. support for AMISOM,
Critics contend that state corruption and patronage are
which has totaled roughly $2 billion in support to all troop
entrenched in Uganda, and that the government has failed to
contributing countries. That total includes DOD “train and
hold senior officials accountable. Some also argue that
equip” funding, of which Uganda has been among the
donor aid, which comprises a large share of the
largest recipients in Africa. DOD has notified Congress of
government’s budget, is used as a source of patronage.
over $280 million in equipment and training for Uganda
Embezzlement scandals involving the alleged diversion of
since FY2011; over $60 million in joint support to Uganda
donor funds from post-conflict reconstruction and health
and Burundi for AMISOM; and significant funding for the
programs have led some donors to temporarily suspend
2011-2017 counter-LRA effort. Uganda also receives
budget support. Under pressure, the government adopted a
counterterrorism aid through State Department funds. It
legal framework to improve public-sector governance and
received over $30 million in support via the African
created an anti-corruption court. New allegations that
Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP).
surfaced in 2018 regarding fraud and misuse of donor funds
Uganda’s North Korea ties have been a source of strain in
for refugee assistance led some donors to again freeze aid.
the U.S. relationship. Under pressure to comply with U.N.
Uganda’s Regional Role
sanctions, Uganda claims to have cut military ties in 2017,
Uganda has won international praise for its open-door
but reports suggest some engagement may have continued.
policy for refugees from neighboring countries, although its
Lauren Ploch Blanchard, Specialist in African Affairs
refugee host role has not been without controversy (amid
reports of fraud noted above). South Sudan’s civil war has
IF10325
spurred an influx of over a million refugees into the
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Uganda


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10325 · VERSION 6 · UPDATED

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