Uganda: now and then
1969: UPC was in power and Apollo Milton Obote was the President.
2009: NRM is in power and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the President.
1969: The population of Uganda was about 10 million.
2009: The population of Uganda is about 30 million [Reference: NationMaster].
1969: HIV/Aids did not exist.
2009: About 1 million Ugandans are living with HIV/Aids.
1969: Makerere University was the top university in East Africa and one of the best educational centers in Africa.
2009: Makerere University is still one of the best in Africa but has declined and is not the top in East Africa.
1969: The Ugandan railway system extended from the Kenyan border to Kasese, near the DRC and to Arua, near Sudan.
2009: The Ugandan railway system has very much been destroyed and extends from the Kenyan border to only Kampala and Port Bell.
1969: Uganda's urban centers were some of the best and most advanced in Africa, with excellent infrastructure, schools, hospitals and golf courses. With no boda bodas. Kampala, then, with a much less population, was neat and indeed the Pearl of Africa; and Mbale town was a real jewel.
2009: Uganda, now, has some of the most poorly served urban centers. Kampala now, is overcrowded, has a poor infrastructure, is dirty and dusty. Mbale's beauty and neat streets is no more and is now a town of dirty, poorly paved streets with decaying houses.
1969: Uganda was not an oil producing country.
2009: Uganda could soon, maybe by 2015, become one of the world's top 50 oil producers.
1969: Uganda had abundant wildlife extending to most parts of the country.
2009: Uganda's wildlife - due to civil strife, poaching, the cutting of wood for charcoal and population encroachment, through the years - has very much declined or been destroyed. Protection and conservation efforts has lead to some increase in some animals and the conservation of some forests and jungles.
2009: NRM is in power and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the President.
1969: The population of Uganda was about 10 million.
2009: The population of Uganda is about 30 million [Reference: NationMaster].
1969: HIV/Aids did not exist.
2009: About 1 million Ugandans are living with HIV/Aids.
1969: Makerere University was the top university in East Africa and one of the best educational centers in Africa.
2009: Makerere University is still one of the best in Africa but has declined and is not the top in East Africa.
1969: The Ugandan railway system extended from the Kenyan border to Kasese, near the DRC and to Arua, near Sudan.
2009: The Ugandan railway system has very much been destroyed and extends from the Kenyan border to only Kampala and Port Bell.
1969: Uganda's urban centers were some of the best and most advanced in Africa, with excellent infrastructure, schools, hospitals and golf courses. With no boda bodas. Kampala, then, with a much less population, was neat and indeed the Pearl of Africa; and Mbale town was a real jewel.
2009: Uganda, now, has some of the most poorly served urban centers. Kampala now, is overcrowded, has a poor infrastructure, is dirty and dusty. Mbale's beauty and neat streets is no more and is now a town of dirty, poorly paved streets with decaying houses.
1969: Uganda was not an oil producing country.
2009: Uganda could soon, maybe by 2015, become one of the world's top 50 oil producers.
1969: Uganda had abundant wildlife extending to most parts of the country.
2009: Uganda's wildlife - due to civil strife, poaching, the cutting of wood for charcoal and population encroachment, through the years - has very much declined or been destroyed. Protection and conservation efforts has lead to some increase in some animals and the conservation of some forests and jungles.
