Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Since Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986, he has introduced democratic reforms and has been credited for substantially improving the country’s human rights record. He has also instituted economic changes that have produced solid growth. Museveni, however, has been criticized for intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war, and has had difficulty controlling rebels in the north part of the country.

In 2004, Uganda continued its 17-year battle against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)—an extremist rebel group in northern Uganda backed by Sudan. Approximately 10,000 children have been abducted by the LRA to be trained as soldiers, and approximately 1.5 million families have left their homes as a result of violence and the fear that their children will be kidnapped.

Sponsor a child in Uganda!