Changes

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===  

*President and Commander in Chief--Yoweri Kaguta Museveni  

*President and Commander in Chief--[[Yoweri Kaguta Museveni]]

*Vice President--Dr. Gilbert Bukenya

*Vice President--Dr. [[Gilbert Bukenya]]

*Prime Minister--Apollo Nsibambi

*Prime Minister--[[Apollo Nsibambi]]

*Foreign Minister--Sam Kutesa

*Foreign Minister--[[Sam Kutesa]]

*Minister of Defense--Crispus Kiyonga

*Minister of Defense--[[Crispus Kiyonga]]

*Ambassador to the United States--Perezi K. Kamunanwire  

*Ambassador to the United States--[[Perezi K. Kamunanwire]]

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

Since assuming power, Museveni and his government have largely put an end to the human rights abuses of earlier governments, initiated substantial economic liberalization and general press freedom, and instituted economic reforms in accord with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and donor governments.

Since assuming power, Museveni and his government have largely put an end to the [[human rights]] abuses of earlier governments and initiated substantial economic [[liberalization]] and general [[freedom of the press]], due to economic pressures from international governments such as the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]].

The vicious and cult-like Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), which seeks to overthrow the Ugandan Government, has murdered and kidnapped civilians in the north and east since 1986. Although the LRA does not threaten the stability of the government, LRA violence at one time displaced up to 1.7 million people, creating a humanitarian catastrophe, particularly when they were forced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps for their own protection. The Uganda Peoples Defense Force (UPDF) launched "Operation Iron Fist" against LRA rebels in northern Uganda in 2002 and conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern Sudan with the permission of the Sudanese Government. The Sudanese Government had previously supported the LRA.  

The [[Lord's Resistance Army]] (LRA), which seeks to overthrow the Ugandan Government, has murdered and kidnapped civilians in the north and east since 1986. Although the LRA does not threaten the stability of the government, LRA violence at one time displaced up to 1.7 million people, creating a humanitarian catastrophe, particularly when they were forced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps for their own protection. The [[Uganda People's Defense Force]] (UPDEF) launched "[[Operation Iron Fist]]" against LRA rebels in northern Uganda in 2002 and conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern [[Sudan]] with the permission of the Sudanese Government. The Sudanese Government had previously supported the LRA.  

There have been significant new developments in this conflict since January 2006. With the signing of the Sudanese "Comprehensive Peace Agreement," the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) was created. To protect this fragile peace from LRA incursions in southern Sudan, Riek Machar, a GOSS Vice President, launched efforts to broker a peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the LRA in July 2006. Those talks are ongoing and represent the first time there has been meaningful progress in ending this conflict. As a result, many northern Ugandans are leaving the IDP camps and returning to their villages.  

There have been significant new developments in this conflict since January 2006. With the signing of the Sudanese "Comprehensive Peace Agreement," the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) was created. To protect this fragile peace from LRA incursions in southern Sudan, Riek Machar, a GOSS Vice President, launched efforts to broker a peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the LRA in July 2006. Those talks are ongoing and represent the first time there has been meaningful progress in ending this conflict. As a result, many northern Ugandans are leaving the IDP camps and returning to their villages.  

In 1998, Uganda deployed a sizable military force to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), ostensibly to prevent attacks from Ugandan rebel groups operating there. There were widespread allegations that Ugandan military and civilian officials were involved in the illegal exploitation of D.R.C. natural resources. After much international pressure, Uganda withdrew its troops from D.R.C. in June 2003. Relations with the D.R.C., however, continue to be frosty. When the LRA left southern Sudan and relocated to eastern Congo in September 2005, Museveni threatened to enter D.R.C. and go after the LRA if neither Congo nor the UN peacekeepers in the region would take action. The recent peace talks have taken a lot of steam out of those threats, however, and Uganda seems focused on seeing the talks to conclusion.

In 1998, Uganda deployed a sizable military force to the eastern [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (D.R.C.), ostensibly to prevent attacks from Ugandan rebel groups operating there. There were widespread allegations that Ugandan military and civilian officials were involved in the illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources. After much international pressure, Uganda withdrew its troops from the D.R.C. in June 2003. Relations with the D.R.C., however, continue to be [[frost]]y. When the LRA left southern Sudan and relocated to eastern Congo in September 2005, Museveni threatened to enter the D.R.C. and "go after" the LRA if neither Congo nor the UN peacekeepers in the region would take action. The recent peace talks have taken a lot of steam out of those threats, however, and Uganda seems focused on seeing the talks to conclusion.

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

The Ugandan Government generally seeks good relations with other nations without reference to ideological orientation. Relations with Rwanda, Congo and Sudan have sometimes been strained because of security concerns. President Museveni has been active in attempts implement a peace agreement Burundi and has supported peace initiatives in Sudan and Somalia.  

The Ugandan Government generally seeks good relations with other nations without reference to [[ideological]] orientation.{{fact}} Relations with [[Rwanda]], [[Congo]] and [[Sudan]] have sometimes been strained because of [[security]] concerns. President Museveni has been highly active in attempts implement a peace agreement [[Burundi]] and has supported peace initiatives in Sudan and [[Somalia]].  

In the past, neighbors were concerned about Uganda's relationship with Libya, which had supplied military equipment and bartered fuel to Uganda. In addition to its friendly ties to Western nations, Uganda has maintained ties with North Korea. Uganda's has strained relations with Sudan because of past Sudanese support for the LRA. The LRA seeks to overthrow the Uganda Government and has inflicted brutal violence on the population in northern Uganda, including rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder. In 2002 Uganda and Sudan reestablished diplomatic ties and signed a protocol permitting the UPDF to enter southern Sudan and engage the LRA. The protocol must be renewed periodically.  

In the past, neighbors were concerned about Uganda's relationship with [[Libya]], which had supplied military equipment and bartered [[fuel]] to Uganda. In addition to its friendly ties to Western nations, Uganda has maintained friendly ties with [[North Korea]]. Uganda's has strained relations with Sudan because of past Sudanese support for the LRA. The LRA seeks to overthrow the Uganda Government and has inflicted brutal violence on the population in northern Uganda, including rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder. In 2002 Uganda and Sudan reestablished diplomatic ties and signed a [[protocol]] permitting the UPDF to enter southern Sudan and engage the LRA. The protocol ought to be renewed periodically.  

Another rebel group operating in western Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Rwenzori Mountains, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), emerged as a localized threat in 1996 and inflicted substantial suffering on the population in the area. It has largely been defeated by the UPDF and the affected areas of western Uganda have been secured. Remnants of the ADF remain in eastern Congo.  

Another rebel group operating in western Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the [[Rwenzori Mountains]], the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), emerged as a threat in 1996 and wields considerable power over the local population. It has largely been defeated by the UPDF and the affected areas of western Uganda have been secured. Remnants of the ADF remain in eastern Congo.

==Defense==

==Defense==