Uganda The World's Second Most Non-Coastal Countries After Ethiopia

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is the world's second most heavily populated non-coastal country after Ethiopia. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962. In 2013, the census placed the population at 36,824,000. An estimated 12.3% of the population was living in the urban areas while 87.7% were living in the rural areas. The official languages are Swahili and English. Luganda, a central language, is widely spoken across the country, and several other languages are also spoken, including Runyoro, Runyankole Rukiga, and Langi. There are seven telecommunications companies serving
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt, and untapped reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. Despite the effort to reduce poverty across the country, poverty remains deep-rooted in the rural areas, which are home to 84 percent of Ugandans. The average Ugandan woman spends 9 hours a day on domestic tasks, such as preparing food and clothing, fetching water and firewood, and caring for the elderly, the sick as well as orphans (Wikipedia). Mothers bore an average of over seven children in the late 1990s, and the use of family planning is low. The death of children is commonplace, with an estimated ninety deaths per one thousand live births. Boys are more likely to be educated to the primary and secondary levels than are girls. Among the 62 percent of the population that is literate, nearly three-quarters are men. Women were taught to accede to the wishes of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and other men and to demonstrate their subordination to men in public life. Into the 1990s, women in rural areas of Buganda were expected to kneel when speaking to a man. However, women had the primary responsibility for child care and subsistence agriculture while contributing to cash crop agriculture. Many Ugandans recognized women as important
Other major health care issues are basic hygiene; nutrition; women's and children's health; and sexual/reproductive health (especially for young people and women). Uganda's infant mortality rate and life expectancy age are among the worst in the world. More than 50 percent of Ugandans have no access to clean water, making them vulnerable to cholera and diarrhea. Malaria and respiratory illnesses are widespread and are frequent causes of death. The high cost of care leads many Ugandans to turn to cheaper, traditional medicines rather than attend a hospital. As a result, people with illnesses such as malaria will often delay care for as long as possible before seeking treatment. These periods of waiting can result in increased hospital expenses, serious illness, or even death for some patients