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About Uganda

About Uganda

Quick facts
Civil conflict
HIV and AIDS
World Vision in Uganda

Located in East Africa, Uganda remains one of the world’s poorest nations.

Uganda's economy has been growing for a decade, but still it is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 31 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The majority of Uganda’s 28 million people live in rural areas and most rely on small-scale farming for their survival.

Many of these micro entrepreneurs are unable to grow their businesses because they do not have access to financial services, such as loans or a safe place to hold their savings.

When there are no banks or other financial institutions to serve them, these small business people have to rely on family and friends for financial support. Others resort to money lenders who often charge extremely high interest rates, making it impossible to pay loans without falling further into debt.

Through micro finance projects, World Vision provides financial services (credit, savings, insurance and money transfers) to people who don’t have access to the formal banking sector. In addition to providing financial services, micro finance projects also offer training and advice on how to run a business.

Quick facts*

Life expectancy	49 years
Adults who can't read and write	32%
Under 5 malnutrition	23%
Population without access to safe drinking water	40%
Population without access to improved sanitation	57%
Est. number of people living with HIV and AIDS	1 million

* Source: UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report 2007

Civil conflict

For more than two decades, northern and eastern parts of Uganda have been engulfed in conflict. Fighting between the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army and government forces has claimed thousands of lives and displaced an estimated 1.7 million people from their homes. The conflict has become known for its brutality, with rebels accused of abducting thousands of children to serve in their ranks as soldiers or slaves.

The rebels and the government signed a truce in 2006 and negotiations are underway for a permanent ceasefire. However, many of Uganda’s displaced people remain reluctant to go home until they can be assured of lasting peace.

HIV and AIDS

Uganda was at the centre of Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic during the 1990s. But an effective community education campaign has seen HIV and AIDS prevalence fall from 18% to 6% of the population over the past decade. The epidemic has had a major impact on life in Uganda and today there are an estimated one million Ugandan children who have been orphaned by the disease.

World Vision in Uganda

World Vision has been working in Uganda since 1986 and World Vision Uganda currently conducts relief and community development activities in 18 of Uganda’s 56 districts.

World Vision partners with local communities to provide essentials such as healthcare, safe water, sanitation and education. It also helps local communities to care for people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as children made vulnerable by the disease.

Project activities aim to strengthen the capacity of families and communities to meet their long-term livelihood needs. New agricultural techniques and crop varieties are introduced to increase food production.

Australian donors are supporting 12 Area Development Programs in Uganda, along with specific projects focusing on HIV and AIDS, water and sanitation, and emergency feeding and peace building activities in war-torn areas in the north of the country.

Through our Smiles gift catalogue, livestock is being provided to help generate income for Ugandan orphans and vulnerable children.