Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

California

2012-12-26T05:56:04Z

Schussmeh: /* Politics */

{{USState
|name=California
|flag=California_State_Flag.gif
|motto=Eureka (I have found it)
|nick=The Golden State
|capital=Sacramento
|language=English
|governor=Jerry Brown
|gparty=Democrat
|senator1=Dianne Feinstein
|s1party=Democrat
|s1phone=(202) 224-3841
|s1email=http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe Contact
|senator2=Barbara Boxer
|s2party=Democrat
|s2phone=(202) 224-3553
|s2email=http://boxer.senate.gov/contact Contact
|population=35 million
|date=September 9, 1850 (31st)
}}
'''California''', known as the Golden State, became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. It is located on the west coast of the [[United States]], by the [[Pacific Ocean]] and bordered by [[Oregon]], [[Nevada]] and [[Arizona]]. It is the largest state in population and the third largest state in area. Its governor is [[Jerry Brown]]. As of 2011 it is virtually bankrupt. It has served as a poster child for [[liberalism]] and [[Hollywood values]] since the 1960s, especially [[San Francisco]]. It is estimated that California is now losing an estimated 500,000 people statewide every year <ref>http://www.ocregister.com/articles/california-330643-year-county.html</ref>.

'''''[[Liberal]]s ran [[California]] into the ground.''''' In 2012, its [[leftist]] politicians proposed making its citizens pay an extra $9-billion in new taxes, with half of that going into [[government]] pensions.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/05/15/how-california-budget-blunders-led-to-my-divorce-from-golden-state/</ref>

==Economy==
The economy has been badly battered by the [[Recession of 2008]], especially by the collapse of the state's [[housing bubble]]. Unemployment in Aug. 2009 reached 12.2%, the highest since 1940. Home building this year is less than a quarter of what it was in 2005, and 500,000 of the state’s job losses have been in construction, finance, real estate and industries related to construction. The state budget is in crisis, because it relied heavily on personal income taxes. The financial collapse greatly reduced personal wealth of rich Californians, and job losses related to the housing bust combined to sharply reduce that source of revenue. After bitter debate in the legislature a budget was passed in July 2009. It closed a roughly $24 billion two-year gap with extensive cuts to social services, parks and education, which in turn reduced consumer spending among laid off and furloughed government workers.

==Another budget crisis==
An ugly budget crisis in 2009 was resolved after months of squabbling, with budget cuts, accounting gimmicks, and new taxes. The legislature in 2009 cut billions from education, healthcare and social services while temporarily hiking income, sales and vehicle taxes. The 2010 budget deficit is projected at $21 billion which must be closed somehow.

Suggested solutions include raising tobacco taxes; cutting pensions for retired public workers; repealing corporate tax breaks passed in 2008 and 2009; revising the tax rules for commercial and residential property; reducing the 2/3 legislative vote needed to pass a budget; and strengthening the firewall that protects local government and transportation money from being raided by the state. "There's a lot of people putting chess pieces on the board right now," said Jon Coupal, president of the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. "The question is which of those chess pieces will be moving."<ref> Shane Goldmacher, "California faces a projected deficit of $21 billion," [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-deficit18-2009nov18,0,7647152.story ''LosAngeles Times'' Nov. 18, 2009]</ref>

==History==
see [[History of California]]

==Miscellaneous facts==
* California surpassed France in 2000 to become the fifth largest economy in the world

*Los Angeles hosted the Summer [[Olympics]] in 1932 and 1984.

*The California [[Redwood]] was named the official state tree in 1937. <ref>http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=678</ref>

*The [[state flower]] is the [[Golden poppy]]

*San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the United States; [[Los Angeles]] is the largest by population. <ref>http://www.50states.com/facts/calif.htm</ref>

*Since 2000, California has offered [[domestic partnership]]s, which are similar to [[same sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref> Same-sex marriage was briefly legal in 2008, but this ended when Proposition 8, a voter referendum to define marriage as only being between a man and woman, passed.

==Politics==

From 2003-2011 California's governor was Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. This is the same position that was once held by conservative icon [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1966-74. California is considered to be one of the [[blue state|"blue-est" states]], consistently voting for Democratic legislative and Presidential candidates since 1992, mixed in with numerous Republican governors. The San Francisco area (called "the Bay Area") and Hollywood are the centers of liberalism; Southern California and the rural areas are much more conservative. Prior to 1992, California was consistently a [[red state]].

[[Richard Nixon]] is the only President to have been born in California, but he lived in New York when elected in 1968. [[Ronald Reagan]] was a resident when elected in 1980.

==Business climate==
California scores poorly in state ratings of business climate. In a CNBC survey, it ranked 32nd overall but last in "cost of business" and 49th in "business friendliness." IT (Intel, Google, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Apple, Yahoo!) and biotechnology remain strengths, but some traditional industries are struggling. High costs, as well as tax breaks from other states, have caused movie studios to shift production from Southern California. In 1996, feature films involved 14,500 production days in the Los Angeles area; in 2008, the total had fallen in half. Businessmen both in California and those who have moved out of the state have said that California has declared war on its own economy, with San Francisco taking particular delight in job killing legislation.

==Budget Crises==
The state has had two severe budget crises in 2009, caused by high spending, a plunge in tax revenue (caused by the decline in income of the wealthy who pay most of the taxes), and a refusal of enough Republicans to provide the two-thirds majority in the legislature needed to raise taxes. Long term borrowing is not allowed--the state has to balance its budget annually, but many gimmicks are used.

With a $26 billion deficit in its $92 billion budget, the state ran out of money and issued IOU's (warrants) before the solution was reached: massive spending cuts. In February 2009, the Legislature raised the state sales tax, bringing the total -- including local sales taxes -- to about 9 cents or more. Top income tax rates, already among the highest in the country, were raised. So were motor vehicle registration fees. Spending cuts approved in February and July are deep. Together, the cuts equal almost 30% of the general revenue fund and will affect schools, prisons, colleges and welfare. Some welfare benefits will be cut by half. California's student-teacher ratio, now about a third above the national average, will probably go even higher. The high prestige University of California system lost 20% of its state payments. It is raising tuition and student fees by 9.3%, imposing salary reductions of 4% to 10% on more than 100,000 workers, and postponing faculty hires until a better day.

Republicans claimed victory in the end, as they achieved large budget cuts and no new taxes.

==Elected officials==
===Federal===
*Sen. [[Barbara Boxer]] [D, CA]
*Sen. [[Dianne Feinstein]] [D, CA]
*Rep. [[Mike Thompson]] [D, CA-1]
*Rep. [[Walter Herger]] [R, CA-2]
*Rep. [[Daniel Lungren]] [R, CA-3]
*Rep. [[Tom McClintock]] [R, CA-4]
*Rep. [[Doris Matsui]] [D, CA-5]
*Rep. [[Lynn Woolsey]] [D, CA-6]
*Rep. [[George Miller]] [D, CA-7]
*Rep. [[Nancy Pelosi]] [D, CA-8]
*Rep. [[Barbara Lee]] [D, CA-9]
*Rep. [[John Garamendi]] [D, CA-10]
*Rep. [[Jerry McNerney]] [D, CA-11]
*Rep. [[Jackie Speier]] [D, CA-12]
*Rep. [[Fortney Stark]] [D, CA-13]
*Rep. [[Anna Eshoo]] [D, CA-14]
*Rep. [[Michael Honda]] [D, CA-15]
*Rep. [[Zoe Lofgren]] [D, CA-16]
*Rep. [[Sam Farr]] [D, CA-17]
*Rep. [[Dennis Cardoza]] [D, CA-18]
*Rep. [[Jeff Denham]] [R, CA-19]
*Rep. [[Jim Costa]] [D, CA-20]
*Rep. [[Devin Nunes]] [R, CA-21]
*Rep. [[Kevin McCarthy]] [R, CA-22]
*Rep. [[Lois Capps]] [D, CA-23]
*Rep. [[Elton Gallegly]] [R, CA-24]
*Rep. [[Howard McKeon]] [R, CA-25]
*Rep. [[David Dreier]] [R, CA-26]
*Rep. [[Brad Sherman]] [D, CA-27]
*Rep. [[Howard Berman]] [D, CA-28]
*Rep. [[Adam Schiff]] [D, CA-29]
*Rep. [[Henry Waxm]]an [D, CA-30]
*Rep. [[Xavier Becerra]] [D, CA-31]
*Rep. [[Hilda Solis]] [D, CA-32]
*Rep. [[Karen Bass]] [D, CA-33]
*Rep. [[Lucille Roybal-Allard]] [D, CA-34]
*Rep. [[Maxine Waters]] [D, CA-35]
*Rep. [[Jane Harman]] [D, CA-36]
*Rep. [[Laura Richardson]] [D, CA-37]
*Rep. [[Grace Napolitano]] [D, CA-38]
*Rep. [[Linda Sánchez]] [D, CA-39]
*Rep. [[Edward Royce]] [R, CA-40]
*Rep. [[Jerry Lewis]] [R, CA-41]
*Rep. [[Gary Miller]] [R, CA-42]
*Rep. [[Joe Baca]] [D, CA-43]
*Rep. [[Ken Calvert]] [R, CA-44]
*Rep. [[Mary Bono Mack]] [R, CA-45]
*Rep. [[Dana Rohrabacher]] [R, CA-46]
*Rep. [[Loretta Sanchez]] [D, CA-47]
*Rep. [[John Campbell]] [R, CA-48]
*Rep. [[Darrell Issa]] [R, CA-49]
*Rep. [[Brian Bilbray]] [R, CA-50]
*Rep. [[Bob Filner]] [D, CA-51]
*Rep. [[Duncan Hunter]] [R, CA-52]
*Rep. [[Susan Davis]] [D, CA-53]

===Statewide===
* [[Governor of California|Governor]] [[Jerry Brown]] (D)
* Lieutenant Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] (D)
* Secretary of State [[Debra Bowen]] (D)
* Attorney General [[Steve Cooley]] (R)
* State Treasurer [[Bill Lockyer]] (D)
* State Controller [[John Chiang]] (D)

==Energy==
[[File:CA-oil.jpg|thumb|375px|right]][[File:Oil-symbol.jpg|thumb|300px|right]] California is rich in conventional and renewable energy resources. It has large crude oil and substantial natural gas deposits in six geological basins, located in the Central Valley and along the Pacific coast. Most of those reserves are concentrated in the southern San Joaquin Basin. More than a dozen of the Nation’s 100 largest oil fields are located in California, including the Belridge South oil field, the second largest oil field in the contiguous United States. In addition, Federal assessments indicate that large undiscovered deposits of recoverable oil and gas lie offshore in the federally administered Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), although Federal law currently prohibits oil and gas leasing in that area. California’s renewable energy potential is extensive. The State’s hydroelectric power potential ranks second in the Nation (behind Washington State), and substantial geothermal and wind power resources are found along the coastal mountain ranges and the eastern border with Nevada. High solar energy potential is found in southeastern California’s sunny deserts.<ref> See [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA Energy Information Administration, State Report 2009]</ref>

California is the most populous State in the Nation and its total energy demand is second only to Texas. Although California is a leader in the energy-intensive chemical, forest products, glass, and petroleum industries, the State has one of the lowest per capita energy consumption rates in the country. The California government’s energy-efficiency programs have contributed to low per capita energy consumption. Driven by high demand from California’s many motorists, major airports, and military bases, the transportation sector is the State’s largest energy-consumer. More motor vehicles are registered in California than any other State, and worker commute times are among the longest in the country.

===Petroleum===
California is one of the top producers of crude oil in the Nation, with output accounting for more than one-tenth of total U.S. production. Drilling operations are concentrated primarily in Kern County and the Los Angeles basin, although substantial production also takes place offshore in both State and Federal waters. Concerns regarding the cumulative impacts of offshore oil and gas development, combined with a number of major marine oil spills throughout the world in recent years, have led to a permanent moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing in California waters and a deferral of leasing in Federal waters. However, development on existing State and Federal leases is not affected and may still occur within offshore areas leased prior to the effective date of the moratorium.

A network of crude oil pipelines connects production areas to refining centers in the Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay area, and the Central Valley. California refiners also process large volumes of Alaskan and foreign crude oil received at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and the Bay Area. Crude oil production in California and Alaska is in decline and California refineries have become increasingly dependent on foreign imports. Led by Saudi Arabia and Ecuador, foreign suppliers now provide more than two-fifths of the crude oil refined in California; however, California’s dependence on foreign oil remains less than the national average.

California ranks third in the United States in petroleum refining capacity and accounts for more than one-tenth of total U.S. capacity. California’s largest refineries are highly sophisticated; they are capable of processing a wide variety of crude oil types and are designed to yield a high percentage of light products like motor gasoline. To meet strict Federal and State environmental regulations, California refineries are configured to produce cleaner fuels, including reformulated motor gasoline and low-sulfur diesel.

Most California motorists are required to use a special motor gasoline blend called California Clean Burning Gasoline (CA CBG). In the ozone non-attainment areas of Imperial County and the Los Angeles metropolitan area, motorists are required to use California Oxygenated Clean Burning Gasoline, and the Los Angeles area is also required to use oxygenated motor gasoline during the winter months. By 2004, California completed a transition from methyl tertiary butyl-ether (MTBE) to ethanol as a gasoline oxygenate additive, making California the largest ethanol fuel market in the United States. There are four ethanol production plants in central and southern California, but most of California’s ethanol supply is transported by rail from corn-based producers in the Midwest. Some supply is also imported from abroad.

Due to the relative isolation and specific requirements of the California fuel market, California motorists are particularly vulnerable to short-term spikes in the price of motor gasoline. No pipelines connect California to other major U.S. refining centers, and California refineries often operate at near maximum capacity due to high demand for petroleum products. When an unplanned refinery outage occurs, replacement supplies must be brought in via marine tanker. Locating and transporting this replacement gasoline (which must conform to the State’s strict fuel requirements) can take from two to six weeks.

===Natural Gas===
California natural gas production typically accounts for less than 2 percent of total annual U.S. production and satisfies less than one-fifth of State demand. Production takes place in basins located in northern and southern California, as well as offshore in the Pacific Ocean. California receives most of its natural gas by pipeline from production regions in the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, and western Canada. As with crude oil production, California natural gas production is in decline. However, State supply has remained relatively stable due to increasing amounts of natural gas shipped from the Rocky Mountains. California markets are served by two key natural gas trading centers—the Golden Gate Center in northern California and the California Energy Hub in southern California—and the State has nearly a dozen natural gas storage facilities that help stabilize supply. In part to help meet California’s demand for natural gas, several companies have proposed building liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals in southern California.

===Coal, Electricity, and Renewables===
Natural gas-fired power plants typically account for more than one-half of State electricity generation. California is one of the largest hydroelectric power producers in the United States, and with adequate rainfall, hydroelectric power typically accounts for close to one-fifth of State electricity generation. California’s two nuclear power plants account for almost one-fifth of total generation. Due to strict emission laws, only a few small coal-fired power plants operate in California.

California leads the Nation in electricity generation from nonhydroelectric renewable energy sources. California generates electricity using wind, geothermal, solar, fuel wood, and municipal solid waste/landfill gas resources. A facility known as “The Geysers,” located in the Mayacamas Mountains north of San Francisco, is the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world, with more than 750 megawatts of installed capacity. California has numerous wind farms in five major wind resource areas, and several new projects are currently under construction. The world’s largest solar power facility operates in California’s Mojave Desert. Two southern California utilities are planning to build new solar farms, a 500-megawatt facility in the Mojave Desert and a 300-megawatt plant in the Imperial Valley. These proposed plants would dwarf existing U.S. solar generation capacity. To further boost renewable energy use, California’s Energy Action Plan includes incentives that encourage Californians to install solar power systems on their rooftops.
===Imports===
Due to high electricity demand, California imports more electricity than any other State. States in the Pacific Northwest deliver power to California markets primarily from hydroelectric sources, while States in the Desert Southwest deliver power primarily from coal- and natural gas-fired sources. Hydroelectric power comes to California primarily through the Western USA interconnection, which runs from northern Oregon to southern California. The system, also known as the Pacific Intertie, is the largest single electricity transmission program in the United States. Although the Pacific Intertie was originally designed to transmit electricity south during California’s peak summer demand season, flow is sometimes reversed overnight and has occasionally been reversed during periods of reduced hydroelectric generation in the Northwest. California restricts the use of coal-fired generation within its boundaries; however, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) operates the coal-fired Intermountain power plant in Utah, which delivers three-fourths of its output to LADWP and other California municipal utilities. A recent California law forbids utilities from entering into long-term contracts with conventional coal-fired power producers. Intermountain’s existing contracts with southern California cities are set to expire in 2027.
===Energy crisis===
In 2000 and 2001, California suffered an energy crisis characterized by electricity price instability and four major blackouts and caused by a supply and demand imbalance. Multiple factors contributed to this imbalance, including: a heavy dependence on out-of-State electricity providers, drought conditions in the northwest that reduced hydroelectric power generation, a rupture on a major natural gas pipeline supplying California power plants, strong economic growth leading to increased electricity demand in western States, an increase in unplanned power plant outages, and unusually high temperatures that increased electricity demand for air-conditioning and other cooling uses. Following the energy crisis, the California State government created an Energy Action Plan designed to eliminate outages and excessive price spikes. To achieve these goals, the plan calls for optimizing energy conservation, building sufficient new generation facilities, upgrading and expanding the electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, and ensuring that generation facilities can quickly come online when needed.

==Spectator Sports==

California has more professional sports teams than any other state.

*[[NBA]] - [[Los Angeles Lakers]], [[Los Angeles Clippers]], [[Golden State Warriors]], [[Sacramento Kings]]
*[[NHL]] - [[Anaheim Ducks]], [[Los Angeles Kings]], [[San Jose Sharks]]
*[[NFL]] - [[Oakland Raiders]], [[San Francisco 49ers]], and [[San Diego Chargers]]
*[[Baseball]] - [[Los Angeles Angels]] of Anaheim, [[San Diego Padres]], [[Oakland Athletics]], [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]

In college sports, [[UCLA]] and [[USC]] have recently had great success, in [[basketball]] and [[football]] respectively.

==Education==

The state of California has three tiers of public higher education: the California community colleges, the [[California State University]] (CSU) system, and the [[University of California]] (UC) system. Here are some notable universities from California.
*[[California Institute of Technology]]
*[[Stanford University]]
*[[University of California, Berkeley]]
*[[University of California, Los Angeles]]
*[[University of California, San Francisco]], primarily a medical school
*[[University of Southern California]]

==Places of Interest==
[[Image:California’s Peaks.jpg|right|300px]]
*[[Alcatraz Island]]
*[[Disneyland]]
*[[Golden Gate Bridge]]
*[[Monterey Bay Aquarium]]
*[[Redwood Forest]]
*[[Yosemite]]
{{Clear}}

==Major Cities==

*[[Los Angeles]]
*[[Oakland]]
*[[San Diego]]
*[[San Francisco]]
*[[San Jose]]

== External Links ==
[http://www.ca.gov Official Website]
[http://www.ocregister.com/articles/california-330643-year-county.html]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:California]]
{{USstates}}
[[Category:Western United States]]

Uganda

2012-12-17T23:42:34Z

Schussmeh: /* Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 */

{{Country
|name=''Jamhuri ya Uganda<br/>Republic of Uganda''
|map=Uganda rel 2005.jpg
|map2=Location of Uganda.PNG
|flag=Flag of Uganda.PNG
|arms=Arms of uganda.PNG
|capital=Kampala
|government=Democratic republic
|language=Swahili, English
|monarch=
|president=Yoweri Museveni
|chancellor=
|pm=Amama Mbabazi
|area=93,072 sq. mi.
|pop=34,612,250
|pop-basis=2011
|gdp-year=$16.04 billion
|gdp-pc=
|currency=Ugandan shilling
|idd=+243
|tld=.cd
}}
The '''Republic of Uganda,''' or '''Uganda,''' is a country in East Africa, bordered to the east by [[Kenya]], on the north by [[Sudan]], to the west by the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], [[Rwanda]] on the southwest, and [[Tanzania]] to the south. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of [[Lake Victoria]], within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania.

==People==
Africans of three main ethnic groups — [[Bantu]], [[Nile|Nilotic]], and [[Ham|Nilo-Hamitic]] — constitute most of the population. The Bantu are the most numerous and include the [[Baganda]], which, with 18% of the population, constitute the largest single ethnic group. Individual ethnic groups in the southwest include the Banyankole and Bahima, 10%; the Bakiga, 7%; the Banyarwanda, 6%; the Bunyoro, 3%; and the Batoro, 3%. Residents of the north, largely Nilotic, include the Langi, 6%, and the Acholi, 5%. In the northwest are the Lugbara, 4%, and the Karamojong, 2%, occupy the considerably drier, largely [[pastoral]] territory in the northeast. The Basoga, 8% and the Bagisu, 5% are among ethnic groups in the East. Europeans, Asians, and [[Arabs]] make up about 1% of the population with other groups accounting for the remainder.

Uganda's population is predominantly rural, and its population density highest in the southern regions. Until 1972, Asians constituted the largest nonindigenous ethnic group in Uganda. In that year, the [[E.D. Amin]] regime expelled 50,000 Asians, who had been engaged in trade, industry, and various professions. In the years since Amin's overthrow in 1979, Asians have slowly returned and now number around 30,000. Other nonindigenous people in Uganda include Arabs, Western [[missionary|missionaries]], [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) workers, diplomats, and business people.
*Population (2009): 32.7 million
*Annual growth rate (2009 est.): 3.3%
*Ethnic groups: Baganda, Banyankole, Bahima, Bakiga, Banyarwanda, Bunyoro, Batoro, Langi, Acholi, Lugbara, Karamojong, Basoga, Bagisu, and others
*Religions (2009): Christian 85%, Muslim 12%, other 3%
*Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), Luganda, and numerous other local languages
*Education: Attendance (2008; primary school completion rate)--56%. Literacy (2003-2008)--74%
*Health (2009): Infant mortality rate--79.4/1,000. Life expectancy--52.7 yrs
===Religion===
According to official government figures, an estimated 85% of the country is Christian, 12% Muslim, and the remaining 3% follow traditional indigenous beliefs, Hinduism, Baha'i, and Judaism. Some Muslims and Christians believe that that the Muslim community is larger than the government numbers reflect.

Of the Christian population, the Roman Catholic Church has the largest number of followers with 42%, the Anglican Church has an estimated 36%, and the Evangelical and Pentecostal claim the rest. Evangelical and Pentecostal churches are very active. The Muslim population is primarily Sunni. Traditional indigenous beliefs are practiced in some rural areas and are sometimes blended with or practiced alongside Christianity or Islam. Indian nationals are the most significant immigrant population; members of this community are primarily Shi'a Muslim followers of the Aga Khan or practice Hinduism. The northern and West Nile regions are predominantly Catholic, while Iganga District in eastern Uganda has the highest percentage of Muslims. The rest of the country has a mix of religious affiliations.

There were few reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

==Government==
The 1995 constitution established Uganda as a [[republic]] with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The constitution provides for an executive president, to be elected every 5 years. President [[Yoweri Museveni]], in power since 1986, was elected in 1996 and reelected in 2001 and 2006. Legislative responsibility is vested in the parliament; legislative elections were last held February 2006. There currently are 332 members of parliament, of which 79 are women. The Ugandan judiciary operates as an independent branch of government and consists of magistrate's courts, high courts, courts of appeals, and the [[Supreme Court]]. [[Parliament]] and the [[judiciary]] have significant amounts of independence and wield significant power.

===Principal Government Officials===
*President and Commander in Chief--[[Yoweri Kaguta Museveni]]
*Vice President--[[Edward Ssekandi]]
*Prime Minister--[[Amama Mbabazi]]
*Foreign Minister--[[Sam Kutesa]]
*Minister of Defense--[[Crispus Kiyonga]]
*Ambassador to the United States--[[Perezi K. Kamunanwire]]

===Political Conditions===
Since assuming power, Museveni and his government have largely put an end to the [[human rights]] abuses of earlier governments and initiated substantial economic [[liberalization]] and general [[freedom of the press]], due to economic pressures from international governments such as the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]].

The [[Lord's Resistance Army]] (LRA), which seeks to overthrow the Ugandan Government, has murdered and kidnapped civilians in the north and east since 1986. Although the LRA does not threaten the stability of the government, LRA violence at one time displaced up to 1.7 million people, creating a humanitarian catastrophe, particularly when they were forced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps for their own protection. The [[Uganda People's Defense Force]] (UPDEF) launched "[[Operation Iron Fist]]" against LRA rebels in northern Uganda in 2002 and conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern [[Sudan]] with the permission of the Sudanese Government. The Sudanese Government had previously supported the LRA.

There have been significant new developments in this conflict since January 2006. With the signing of the Sudanese "Comprehensive Peace Agreement," the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) was created. To protect this fragile peace from LRA incursions in southern Sudan, Riek Machar, a GOSS Vice President, launched efforts to broker a peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the LRA in July 2006. Those talks are ongoing and represent the first time there has been meaningful progress in ending this conflict. As a result, many northern Ugandans are leaving the IDP camps and returning to their villages.

In 1998, Uganda deployed a sizable military force to the eastern [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (D.R.C.), ostensibly to prevent attacks from Ugandan rebel groups operating there. There were widespread allegations that Ugandan military and civilian officials were involved in the illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources. After much international pressure, Uganda withdrew its troops from the D.R.C. in June 2003. Relations with the D.R.C., however, continue to be [[frost]]y. When the LRA left southern Sudan and relocated to eastern Congo in September 2005, Museveni threatened to enter the D.R.C. and "go after" the LRA if neither Congo nor the UN peacekeepers in the region would take action. The recent peace talks have taken a lot of steam out of those threats, however, and Uganda seems focused on seeing the talks to conclusion.

===Foreign Relations===
The Ugandan Government generally seeks good relations with other nations without reference to [[ideological]] orientation.<ref>http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/bgnotes/af/uganda9103.html</ref> Relations with [[Rwanda]], [[Congo]] and [[Sudan]] have sometimes been strained because of [[security]] concerns. President Museveni has been highly active in attempts implement a peace agreement [[Burundi]] and has supported peace initiatives in Sudan and [[Somalia]].

In the past, neighbors were concerned about Uganda's relationship with [[Libya]], which had supplied military equipment and bartered [[fuel]] to Uganda. In addition to its friendly ties to Western nations, Uganda has maintained friendly ties with [[North Korea]]. Uganda's has strained relations with Sudan because of past Sudanese support for the LRA. The LRA seeks to overthrow the Uganda Government and has inflicted brutal violence on the population in northern Uganda, including rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder. In 2002 Uganda and Sudan reestablished diplomatic ties and signed a [[protocol]] permitting the UPDF to enter southern Sudan and engage the LRA. The protocol ought to be renewed periodically.

Another rebel group operating in western Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the [[Rwenzori Mountains]], the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), emerged as a threat in 1996 and wields considerable power over the local population. It has largely been defeated by the UPDF and the affected areas of western Uganda have been secured. Remnants of the ADF remain in eastern Congo.

==Defense==
The Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF)--previously the National Resistance Army--constitutes the armed forces of Uganda. Prior to 2000, U.S. military forces participated with the UPDF in training activities under the African Crisis Response Initiative. U.S. military assistance was terminated in 2000 as a result of the Ugandan incursion into the D.R.C. Following the June 2003 UPDF withdrawal of troops from the D.R.C., the U.S. restarted limited nonlethal military assistance.

==Economy==
Uganda's economy has great potential. Endowed with significant natural resources, including huge tracts of [[land]], regular [[rain]]fall, and [[mineral]] deposits, it appeared poised for rapid economic growth and development at independence. However, chronic political instability and erratic economic management produced a record of persistent economic decline that left Uganda among the world's [[poor]]est and least-developed countries.

Since assuming power in early 1986, Museveni's government has taken important steps toward economic rehabilitation. The country's infrastructure — notably its transportation and communications systems, which had been destroyed by war and neglect — is being rebuilt. Recognizing the need for increased external support, Uganda negotiated a paper policy framework with the [[IMF]] and the [[World Bank]] in 1987. It subsequently began implementing economic policies designed to restore price stability and sustainable balance of payments, improve capacity utilization, rehabilitate infrastructure, restore producer incentives through proper price policies, and improve resource mobilization and allocation in the public sector. These policies produced positive results. Inflation, which ran at 240% in 1987 and 42% in June 1992, was 5.4% for fiscal year 1995–96 and 5.1% in 2003. In 2008 it was a mere 3.2%.

Investment as a percentage of GDP was estimated at 20.3% in 2003 compared to 13.7% in 1999. Private sector investment, largely financed by private transfers from abroad, was 14.9% of GDP in 2002. Gross national savings as a percentage of GDP was estimated at 6.4% in 2003. The Ugandan Government has also worked with donor countries to reschedule or cancel substantial portions of the country's external debts.

Agricultural products supply nearly all of Uganda's foreign exchange earnings, with [[coffee]] (of which Uganda is Africa's leading producer) accounting for about 19% and [[fish]] 17% of the country's exports in 2002. Exports of non-traditional products, including apparel, hides, skins, [[vanilla]], [[vegetable]]s, [[fruit]]s, cut [[flower]]s, and [[fish]] are growing, while traditional exports [[cotton]], [[tea]], and [[tobacco]] continue to be mainstays.

Most industry is related to [[agriculture]]. The industrial sector is being rehabilitated to resume production of building and construction materials, such as [[cement]], reinforcing [[rod]]s, corrugated [[roof]]ing sheets, and [[lead]] [[paint]]. Domestically produced consumer goods include [[plastics]], [[soap]], [[cork]], [[beer]], and [[soft drink]]s.

Uganda has about 30,000 kilometers (18,750 mi.), of [[road]]s; some 2,800 kilometers (1,750 mi.) are paved. Most radiate from [[Kampala]]. The country has about 1,350 kilometers (800 mi.) of rail lines. A [[railroad]] originating at [[Mombasa]] on the [[Indian Ocean]] connects with [[Tororo]], where it branches westward to [[Jinja]], Kampala, and [[Kasese]] and northward to [[Mbale]], [[Soroti]], [[Lira]], [[Gulu]], and [[Kapwatch]], though the routes west of Kampala and north of Mbale currently are not in use. Uganda's important road and rail links to Mombasa serve its transport needs and also those of its neighbors — [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], and parts of the [[Congo]] and [[Sudan]]. An international [[airport]] is at [[Entebbe]] on the shores of [[Lake Victoria]], some 20 miles south of Kampala.

*[[GDP]] (nominal, 2009): $16.04 [[billion]]
*[[Inflation]] rate (annual headline or CPI, 2005/2006): 6.6%
*Natural resources: [[Copper]], [[cobalt]], [[hydropower]], [[limestone]], [[salt]], [[phosphate]], [[oil]]
*Agriculture: Cash crops: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, [[sugarcane]], cut flowers, vanilla. Food crops: [[banana]]s, [[corn]], [[cassava]], [[potatoe]]s, [[millet]], [[pulse]]s. Livestock and fisheries: [[beef]], [[goat]], [[meat]], [[milk]], Nile [[perch]], [[tilapia]]
*Industry: processing of agricultural products (cotton [[gin]]ning, coffee [[cure|curing]]), cement production, [[light]] consumer goods, [[textile]]s
*Trade: Exports (2009)--$3.1 billion: [[coffee]], [[fish]] and fish products, [[tea]], [[tobacco]], [[textiles]], [[cement]], [[maize]], [[electricity]]. Major markets--[[EU]], [[Sudan]], [[Kenya]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Switzerland]], [[Rwanda]]. Imports (2009)--$4.3 billion: [[petroleum]], road [[vehicles]], [[cereals]], [[industrial machinery]], [[iron]] and [[steel]], [[medical]]/[[pharmaceutical]] supplies. Major suppliers--[[EU]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Kenya]], [[India]], [[China]], [[Japan]].
*Fiscal year: July 1 – June 30 annually

==History==
When [[Arab]] traders moved inland from their enclaves along the [[Indian Ocean]] coast of [[East Africa]] and reached the interior of Uganda in the 1830s, they found several African kingdoms with well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. These traders were followed in the 1860s by British explorers searching for the source of the Nile River. [[Protestant]] missionaries entered the country in 1877, followed by [[Catholic]] missionaries in 1879.

In 1888, control of the emerging British "sphere of interest" in East Africa was assigned by royal charter to the Imperial [[British East Africa Company]], an arrangement strengthened in 1890 by an Anglo-German agreement confirming British dominance over Kenya and Uganda. In 1894, the Kingdom of [[Buganda]] was placed under a formal British [[protectorate]].

Britain granted internal self-government to Uganda in 1961, with the first elections held on March 1, 1961. [[Benedicto Kiwanuka]] of the [[Democratic Party]] became the first Chief Minister. Uganda maintained its [[Commonwealth]] membership. A second round of elections in April 1962 elected members to a new National Assembly. [[Milton Obote]], leader of the majority coalition in the National Assembly, became prime minister and led Uganda to formal independence on October 9, 1962.

In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state vied with those in favor of a loose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political maneuvering climaxed in February 1966, when Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the constitution, assumed all government powers, and removed the ceremonial president and vice president. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms. On January 25, 1971, Obote's government was ousted in a military coup led by armed forces commander [[Idi Amin Dada]]. Amin declared himself president, dissolved the parliament, and amended the constitution to give himself absolute power.

Amin's 8-year rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations. The [[Acholi]] and [[Langi]] ethnic groups were particular objects of Amin's political persecution because they had supported Obote and made up a large part of the army. In 1978, the International Commission of Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been murdered during Amin's reign of terror; some authorities place the figure much higher.

In October 1978, the armed forces of [[Tanzania]] repulsed an incursion of Amin's troops into Tanzanian territory. The Tanzanian force, backed by Ugandan exiles, waged a [[Uganda-Tanzania War|war of liberation]] against Amin's troops and Libyan soldiers sent to help him. On April 11, 1979, [[Kampala]] was captured, and Amin fled with his remaining forces.

After Amin's self-imposed exile, the Uganda National Liberation Front formed an interim government with [[Yusuf Lulz]] as president. This government adopted a ministerial system of administration and created a quasi-parliamentary organ known as the National Consultative Commission (NCC). The NCC and the Lulz cabinet reflected widely differing political views. In June 1979, following a dispute over the extent of presidential powers, the NCC replaced Lulz with [[Godfrey Binaisa]]. In a continuing dispute over the powers of the interim presidency, Binaisa was removed in May 1980. Thereafter, Uganda was ruled by a military commission chaired by [[Paulo Muwanga]]. December 1980 elections returned the UPC to power under the leadership of President Obote, with Muwanga serving as vice president. Under Obote, the security forces had one of the world's worst [[human rights]] records. In their efforts to stamp out an [[insurgency]] led by [[Yoweri Museveni]]'s National Resistance Army (NRA), they laid waste to a substantial section of the country, especially in the [[Luwero]] area north of [[Kampala]].

Obote ruled until July 27, 1985, when an army brigade, composed mostly of ethnic Acholi troops and commanded by Lt. Gen. Basilio Olara-Okello, took Kampala and proclaimed a military government. Obote fled to exile in Zambia. The new regime, headed by former defense force commander Gen. Tito Okello (no relation to Lt. Gen. Olara-Okello), opened negotiations with Museveni's insurgent forces and pledged to improve respect for human rights, end [[tribal]] rivalry, and conduct "free and fair" elections. In the meantime, massive human rights violations continued as the Okello government murdered civilians and ravaged the countryside in order to destroy the NRA's support.

Negotiations between the Okello government and the NRA were conducted in [[Nairobi]] in the fall of 1985, with Kenyan President [[Daniel Moi]] seeking a cease-fire and a coalition government in Uganda. Although agreeing in late 1985 to a [[cease-fire]], the NRA continued fighting, seized Kampala in late January 1986, and assumed control of the country, forcing Okello to flee north into [[Sudan]]. Museveni's forces organized a government with Museveni as president and dominated by the political grouping called the National Resistance Movement (NRM or the "Movement").

A referendum was held in March 2000 on whether Uganda should retain the Movement system, with limited operation of political parties, or adopt multi-party politics. Although 70% of voters endorsed retention of the Movement system, the referendum was widely criticized for low voter turnout and unfair restrictions on Movement opponents. Museveni was reelected to a second five-year term in March 2001. Parliamentary elections were held in June 2001, and more than 50% of contested seats were won by newcomers. Movement supporters nevertheless remained in firm control of the legislative branch. Observers believed that the 2001 presidential and parliamentary elections generally reflected the will of the electorate; however, both were marred by serious irregularities, particularly in the period leading up to the elections, such as restrictions on political party activities, incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and fraud.

A Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) issued a report proposing comprehensive constitutional change in December 2003. The government, however, took issue with many CRC recommendations and made counter-proposals in September 2004. A July 2005 national referendum resulted in the adoption of a multiparty system of government and the subsequent inclusion of opposition parties in elections and government.

In February 2006, the country held its first multiparty general elections since President Museveni came to power in 1986. The election generally reflected the will of the people, although [[election fraud|serious irregularities]] occurred. Ruling NRM candidate President Museveni was declared the winner with 59.26% of the vote, giving him a third term in office following the passage of a controversial amendment in June 2005 to eliminate presidential term limits. Opposition FDC leader [[Kizza Besigye]] captured 37.39% of the vote, while the remaining contestants received less than 2% of the vote each, according to official figures from the Electoral Commission.

==Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009==
In 2009, Parliament member David Bahati submitted a bill before the Parliament of Uganda which would have introduced the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", including cases where at least one participant was a minor, or those who were repeat offenders, [[HIV]] positive, or disabled.<ref name="bbc">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13392723 Ugandan anti-gay bill 'shelved by parliament']</ref> In addition, the bill required anyone who had knowledge about a homosexual person to turn them over to authorities or face prosecution themselves.<ref name="bbc"/> Homosexuals in Uganda already face life in prison for being gay.<ref name="bbc"/> The bill also criminalises the "promotion" of homosexuality, thereby making it illegal to protest the measures once they are passed.
The bill would have accomplished nothing other than discouraging tourism and encouraging gays to leave the country.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Copyright Details (US Government)}}

Source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm]

{{African Countries}}
[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]
[[Category:Uganda|*]]
[[Category:African History]]