Uganda Natural Resources and Power
Like any other developing country,Uganda must utilize it's resources and power to attain development.Uganda’s reserves include copper, tungsten, cobalt, columbite-tantalite, gold, phosphate, iron ore, and limestone.
Gold, cobalt, and columbite-tantalite are mined. Gold is an important export, but it is complicated by the fact that gold has been smuggled into Uganda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo,but anyway it contributed to Uganda's resources and power.
Exploration for petroleum, while showing geological potential, particularly under Lakes Albert and Edward, has proceeded slowly. The majority of the country’s power is provided by the Nalubaale (formerly Owens Falls) and Kiira hydroelectric stations on the Victoria Nile at Jinja, in the southern part of Uganda.
Under an agreement signed in the mid-1950s, a portion of the power generated was exported to Kenya. By the early 21st century, however, Uganda faced severe power shortages and was not only unable to honour the agreement but had to begin importing power from Kenya when it was available. Plans to expand hydroelectric capacity by adding more power plants are under development. Firewood and charcoal still provide a significant amount of power.
Finance and trade
Uganda’s central bank, the Bank of Uganda, was founded in 1966. It monitors Uganda’s commercial banks, serves as the government’s bank, and issues the national currency, the Uganda shilling. The government sets the shilling’s official exchange rate against foreign currencies. The Uganda Commercial Bank and the Uganda Development Bank serve most of the commercial and financial needs of the country. There are also commercial banks owned by Ugandan, British, South African, Indian, Egyptian, and Libyan firms. There is a stock exchange in Kampala.Uganda has participated in several regional economic organizations, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Cotonou Convention, the Kagera Basin Organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the East African Community Customs Union. Its principal exports are coffee, fish and fish products, gold, tobacco, cotton, and tea. The main imports are machinery and transport equipment, basic manufactures, food and live animals, and chemicals. Its principal trading partners are Kenya, South Africa, The Netherlands, Japan, India, and the United States. Uganda has had an annual trade deficit since the late 1980s
Related Pages
More on Ugandan Economy Manufacturing Transportation and Telecommunication
History » The Uganda Protectorate • History » The Uganda Protectorate » Growth of a peasant economy • History » The Uganda Protectorate » Political and administrative development • History » The Uganda Protectorate » World War II and its aftermath • History » The Republic of Uganda » Tyranny under Amin• History » The Republic of Uganda » Obote’s second presidency The First Obote Regime: The Growth of the Military Idi Amin and Military Rule and civil wars The Second Obote Regime: Repression Continues The Rise of the National Resistance Army Allied Democratic Forces National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU)
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