🇺🇬 Uganda

Uganda is an East African country of 48 million with a GDP of about $45 billion, called the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill. The country has one of the youngest populations on earth — median age is 15.7 years — and one of the highest fertility rates at 4.7 children per woman. Uganda is home to about half the world's remaining mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The country has significant oil reserves in the Albertine Graben (estimated 6.5 billion barrels), and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to Tanzania is under construction. President Yoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986. Uganda's anti-homosexuality law, signed in 2023 with penalties including death, drew international condemnation and aid cuts.

Agriculture (coffee — Uganda is Africa's largest exporter — tea, tobacco, fish) employs about 70% of the population. Gold has become the largest export by value, though much of it is re-exported from DRC. The oil pipeline, when operational, could generate $2-3 billion annually. Tourism (gorilla trekking permits cost $700) is growing. GDP growth has been around 5-6%. The shilling has been relatively stable. The World Bank suspended new lending over the anti-homosexuality law.

Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of only three places on earth where mountain gorillas can be tracked — a gorilla trekking permit is one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences in the world. The source of the Nile at Jinja is a major adventure tourism destination. Uganda has one of the most generous refugee policies in the world — it hosts about 1.5 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan and DRC, and gives them the right to work and own land.

Uganda's oil pipeline could be transformative, but the anti-LGBTQ law has damaged international relations and aid flows. The demographic pressure is immense — creating jobs for the world's youngest population is the defining challenge.