Who are the people?
Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is made up of various ethnic groups and subcultures. Although English is the official language, there are more than 40 languages spoken throughout the country.

About 82 percent of Ugandans work in agriculture. Among the crops they cultivate are cotton, corn, tea, and coffee. In sponsorship communities, most farmers work at the subsistence level, struggling to grow enough to feed their families. They rarely have surplus food to sell for income that can provide other necessities like clothing and health care. World Vision is working alongside these families to help them improve their crop yields and overall quality of life.

Uganda’s people have endured much suffering in recent history. Between 800,000 and 2 million people perished during the dictatorship of Idi Amin and the civil wars, tribal killings, and famines that followed. For the past two decades, the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has terrorized the northern districts, including Gulu. Thousands of rural children—known as “night commuters”—trek to towns each night to avoid abduction by the LRA, which has forced an estimated 30,000 children into armed conflict and sex slavery.

Uganda’s children are in desperate need of improved educational opportunities to help them escape the cycle of poverty and open up a brighter future.
Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is made up of various ethnic groups and subcultures. Alth

Country Comparison	Uganda	United States
Population	27.8 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	77,108 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	48 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	80	7
Literacy Rate	69%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	79%	92%
Access to Safe Water	56%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$270	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
Located in East Africa, Uganda is about twice the size of Pennsylvania. Its diverse scenery includes tropical forests, snow-capped mountains, and rolling savannahs. Wildlife is abundant and includes the famous mountain gorillas, which are a favorite among visitors.

Though once a thriving country, Uganda’s economy was devastated under the rule of Idi Amin and by years of warfare. Even today, the country is struggling to recover. World Vision is working in the most impoverished communities, providing families with skills and resources they need to improve their children’s current and future living conditions.

Health care is a great concern for families. Access to medical facilities is limited and costly. World Vision is working alongside communities to ensure children receive the care they desperately need.

Although progress has been made in Uganda’s Rakai District to reduce HIV infection, AIDS has been decimating the population for 24 years and has left an estimated 44,000 children orphaned. One of every four Ugandan families cares for a child orphaned by AIDS. Child sponsors provide many of these children with hope for a better life and a brighter future.
Located in East Africa, Uganda is about twice the size of Pennsylvania. Its diverse scenery include
Uganda Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Uganda to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Equipping families and communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children while providing life-skills training to those affected by the AIDS pandemic.
• Constructing new classrooms and providing school supplies to increase children’s chances of educational success.
• Promoting adult literacy by teaching parents how to read and write.
• Developing water sources to provide families with safe, clean drinking water.
• Installing latrines to improve sanitation throughout the community.
• Teaching mothers the skills necessary to improve children’s nutrition and health.
• Training farmers in agricultural skills that will help them grow more nutritious foods for their families.
• Partnering with churches to establish Bible studies and Bible camps for children.

Uganda is participating in our "HopeChild" program to provide additional resources for children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in this high prevalence region.