In the 1970s and 1980s Uganda was notorious for its human rights abuses, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979 and then after the return to power of Milton Obote, who had been ousted by Amin.

During this time up to half a million people were killed in state-sponsored violence.

OVERVIEW

However, since becoming president in 1986 Yoweri Museveni has introduced democratic reforms and has been credited with substantially improving the country's human rights record, notably by reducing abuses by the army and the police.

In addition, Mr Museveni introduced Western-backed economic reforms which produced solid annual growth and falls in inflation in the 1990s.

President Museveni came under criticism for Uganda's military intervention in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At home, his government has been unable to end a brutal insurgency in the north and west of the country. Lord's Resistance Army rebels have killed and kidnapped many thousands of people. More than one and a half million displaced people are living in camps.

FACTS

• Population: 27.6 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Kampala
• Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles)
• Major languages: English (official), Swahili, Ganda, various Bantu languages
• Major religions: Christianity, Islam
• Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 47 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Ugandan shilling = 100 cents
• Main exports: Coffee, fish and fish products, tea; tobacco, cotton, corn, beans, sesame
• GNI per capita: US $250 (World Bank, 2005)
• Internet domain: .ug
• International dialling code: +256

LEADERS

President: Yoweri Museveni

Uganda's leader since 1986, Yoweri Museveni won the country's first direct presidential election 10 years later and was re-elected in 2001.

President Museveni: Set to seek re-election in 2006

Parliament has voted to abolish a constitutional limit on presidential terms, paving the way for Mr Museveni to seek re-election in 2006. Critics have accused him of aiming to become president for life.

Born in 1944, Mr Museveni was educated at a university in Tanzania. There he became involved with the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), from whom he learnt the techniques of guerrilla warfare.

After a brief spell in the Ugandan government, Mr Museveni fled to Tanzania in 1971 when Idi Amin toppled Milton Obote, returning in 1980.

But when his party was defeated in elections which he said had been rigged, he formed the National Resistance Army which brought him to power in 1986.

In July 2005 Ugandans voted to return to multi-party democracy for the first time in almost two decades.

Severe restrictions on multi-party politics were imposed by Mr Museveni in 1986. Under the curbs, only the president's "Movement" system was permitted to take part in polls.