A Political and Economic History of Uganda, 1962–2002

Abstract

Uganda, the ‘Pearl of Africa’, sits astride the equator in Eastern Africa. At the time of independence in 1962, after 68 years of British rule, Uganda had one of the most vibrant and promising economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 1993b). Favoured with a good climate and fertile soils, the country was self-sufficient in food, and agriculture was the single largest export-earner. However, its potential for growth has been curtailed by more than 20 years of civil strife, especially between 1966 and 1986. The resultant economic mismanagement and civil war have had disastrous effects on the once-promising country.