Uganda is a land-locked country a little smaller than the State of Oregon. It is mostly plateau with a rim of mountains. Arable land makes up about 25% of the country. The climate is generally tropical, generally rainy with two dry seasons. The north of the country is semi-arid. Its natural resources include coper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt. There are over 18 different ethnic groups in the country. About 66% is Christian, 16% Muslim, and the rest indigenous beliefs.
English is the official language, and is taught in all the schools. It is a republic; the capital is Kampala. Thirty-five % of the population lives below the poverty line (2001 estimate.)
Uganda has a population of about 24.6 million, with about 50% under the age of 15. The life expectancy rate has dropped to 42 because of AIDS. AIDS is the leading cause of death in Uganda. The overall prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country is now 4%, (estimated for 2003), the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa but many are calling this figure into question because like in most sub-Saharan countries, there are many remote areas where the presence of AIDS seems still to be much higher. The relative success of anti-AIDS programs in Uganda is due to several factors. First, the problem was recognized early, and President Museveni himself led the public relations battle that blanketed the country with messages about this new disease. They recognized that they had to change the behavior of the people by telling them the facts. They were told about this new disease and also told how to prevent it. The whole of the country was transformed into one movement against HIV/AIDS. The government speaks of the ABC: A. Abstaiin before marriage, B. Be faithful after marriage, C. If a person does not pratice faithfulness, they are urged to use a condom.
Uganda stresses that the first thing any country faced with an HIV/AIDS problem must do is to recognize the seriousness of the problem, and then resolve to deal with it. Uganda now is concentrating on educating young people in the country and supporting AIDS orphans.
Uganda was the home of the notorious dictator,Idi Amin, who ruled in the 1980's, and after him, Milton Obote. During this terrible period of history, up to half a million people were killed in state-supported violence.
In 1986, Yoweri Museveni became president. Since that time, abuses by the army have been almost eliminated. However, Uganda has also struggled through two civil wars since then, and in Northern Uganda, the rebel Lord Army is still terrorizing the population.
The AIDS virus was first discovered in Uganda in the 1980's. One theory about the virus is that it was transmitted from ape to man when hunters obtained 'bush meat' from the jungle and became contaminated by the blood. Uganda, however, is far ahead of most other countries in the region in its fight against AIDS. Uganda has some of the continent's most experienced and dedicated AIDS doctors, and a renowned prevention program which promotes AIDS education. There are strong networks of HIV-positive people, and a supportive government. This country has everything except money. AIDS treatment in Uganda is generally very basic. The main problem here is hunger. AIDS patients often consider food their most important need, and when an AIDS patient dies, the mourning of the family is not only for the loved one, but for the loss of a person who helped with the farm. Africans struggle to sort out their priorities. Is it food? clean water? basic medicines? Western medicines are so expensive they can hardly be considered. The first manual on AIDS written by an African doctor laid out the philosophy, "Use what you have." AIDS patients are subject to many diseases. Thrush, a painful fungal infection which afflicts virtually every AIDS patient, makes it hard to eat because of the pain of swallowing. Dr. Katabira has found that sucking the tablets of nystatin (a very inexpensive treatment) is a more effective treatment than swallowing them, since more of the medicine is absorbed in the throat. Skin rashes are also extremely common in HIV patients. If the rash is very bad, he prescribes a sedative, to help the patient sleep. Small things make a big difference. Reducing alcohol intake. Visiting a doctor as soon as you feel ill. And dealing with the problem of dependents. If the patient is worried about what will happen to her children, she will never feel better. Almost all the infections that result from AIDS can be treated--in rich countries. But in Uganda, if you get CMV, a viral infection that blinds and kills, that's the end of the story. The drugs are too expensive. The same is true of cryptococcal meningitis. AIDS pneumonia is also preventable, but not with Third World budgets. Most Ugandan patients get painful genital sores, but less than one percent of Ugandan patients can afford the treatment. TB, one of the commonest AIDS-related illnesses, has flooded hospital wards. And when a patient, or his family, sense that the end is near, they often ask that the patient be discharged for monetary reasons--they can use the money they still have for transport home, because it's cheaper when the person is still alive than when he is dead.