Current+Problems

====Today in Uganda, there are a large number of problems that have been a constant battle for many years. Although some problems have been cared for by organizations, conflicts in the north and disputes between Uganda and Rwanda could potentially cause more Ugandans to be in danger. ==== ====Aside from warfare affairs, diseases and environmental issues have also affected many, if not all of Uganda. The problems in these areas are only increasing as the years go by, and have only become more of a struggle in today's world. ====

__Uganda & Rwanda__
Although there now is relative peace and stability in northern Uganda the current President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President Paul Kagame have a lot of tension between them. If their differences do not get resolved soon there may be a horrible war between these two leaders. Uganda and Rwanda are former enemies but now accuse each other of backing and training armed opposition groups. If there is a war they would most likely fight on the land of the The Democratic Republic of Congo where both have very high military and economical needs. The two enemies have had four meetings where they are trying to resolve their differences but there has been no sign of an agreement yet. The fight between Uganda and Rwanda is linked to differing strategies on "the management of the Congo war, regional leadership rivalries, and competition over Congo resources". Both countries were told that if they break out a war on either one of their territories there would be severe consequences; therefore, there are looking to fight on The Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: [|www.crisisgroup.org]

__Displacement__
Aside from the dispute between Uganda and Rwanda another major issue that has affected many Ugandans has been the two decades of fighting between the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) and the government military. This warfare has forced "1.8 million people" to become "internally displaced" in the north in places such as southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba National Park. Although displaced people have begun returning home now, many still depend upon assistance in the camps because of the absence of basic services in return areas. Despite this downfall, Refugees International are now concerned that the Government of Uganda has stated that all displaced people must go home now.

About half of the people that were displaced during the conflict have left the original camps, but Refugees International found that many are claiming living space in two places – "one in their home areas and one in the transit camps close by". Basic services in return areas have still not yet been built up, but displaced people can now access their land to farm. Even though some are able to access their land, unfortunately many do not have access to "safe water, health or education services in their home areas".

An organization called The Government of Ug and a’s Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) has tried to "rebuild war-torn villages and address grievances that led to the conflict in the north". The Government or Uganda has yet to show a clear commitment to funding the PRDP but funding from international donors is opening up as programs transition from humanitarian to longer-term development.

Sources: [] []

__Health Issues [[image:1.Aids_poster.JPG width="315" height="421" align="right"]]__
AIDS has had an everlasting and devastating impact on Uganda. The disease has killed approximately "one million people, and significantly reduced life expectancy". AIDS has "depleted the country’s labour force, reduced agricultural output and food security, and weakened educational and health services". The large number of AIDS related deaths amongst young adults has left behind over a million orphaned children.

A reoccurring issue that is expected to be rising again in Uganda is the deathly disease of HIV/AIDS. This disease "has reached a plateau where the number of new HIV infections matches the number of AIDS-related deaths," according to AVERT.org. There are many theories as to why this may be happening, including "the government’s shift towards abstinence-based prevention programmes, and a general complacency or ‘AIDS-fatigue’".

__Other Statistics:__ - Over 1 million Ugandans live with HIV - Over 136,000 new infections occur annually - The current HIV prevalence in Uganda is estimated at 6.4% amongst adults. - According to the Uganda HIV and AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey, the number of people living with HIV is higher in urban areas (10.1% prevalence) than rural areas (5.7%); it is also higher among women (7.5%) than men (5.0%). - Women represent 59% of those infected with HIV/AIDS in the country - 80% of Ugandans do not know their HIV status - Only about 50% of those who need ARVs (vaccines) are getting them

Ugandans who suffer from HIV/AIDS not only face the difficulties of treatment and management of the disease, but also deal with stigma and discrimination. According to AVERT.com, "AIDS-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS". Victims of HIV/AIDS fear treatment and care because they do not want to deal with the negative discrimination that comes along with this disease. Therefore, this interferes with the attempt to fight HIV/AIDS because people are apprehensive towards medical treatment.

Even Uganda's President, Museveni supported the policy of dismissing or not promoting members of the armed forces who test HIV positive, and "in 2001 he suggested that a rival presidential candidate was unsuitable for office because he was allegedly infected with the virus".

Sources: [] [] [|http://www.avert.org/aidsstigma.htm]

__Environmental Issues__
Although there are many health and government issues related to Uganda, the country also suffers from land and other environmental issues. Problems such as "draining of wetlands for agricultural use, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria and also widespread poaching," all affect the every day lives of the Ugandans.



Source: [|http://www.indexmundi.com/uganda/environment_current_issues.html]

__Reaction:__
Although this page does not display every single current issue that Uganda faces on a daily basis, this information really made me feel grateful for my life and country. The situations the Ugandans are forced to deal with since colonization is very upsetting. Children and families are torn apart and affected by diseases and warfare everyday, which is heartbreaking. I am thankful for the opportunities I am able to receive as a young girl living in the United States. I now realize people in other countries and continents are not as fortunate as I am and I wish more organizations and help could be provided to Uganda as well as the other countries in Africa. Hopefully the dispute between Rwanda and Uganda can be solved without warfare and the treatment for HIV/AIDS increases as the years go on.
 * //- Carly Scorziello//**