This website was established in 2013 by David Lucas, and renovated and relaunched in 2020 as part of a project to increase awareness of Africa and African studies in the ANU and the ACT, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Another outcome of that project was a major research report, published in August 2021, African Studies at the Australian National University and in the Australian Capital Territory, analyzing the past, present and future of the study of Africa at the Australian National University and the wider Australian University sector.

The major innovation on this updated website is the creation of the ACT Africa Expert Directory which lists experts on Africa from institutions around the ACT, primarily the ANU. We will continue to curate this list, offering a key resource for media, government and non-government organizations seeking expert facts and opinions on Africa. Individuals can request to be added to the list by contacting the website managers.

Another notable addition is the expanded directory of PhD theses on Africa produced in the territory’s universities, a solid measure of the vitality of the study of Africa in the city of Canberra.

Reviewing these directories, it is revealing to note that the vast majority of research on Africa is produced by disciplinary experts (environmental scientists, economists, demographers, etc.) rather than area studies experts. This means that the study of Africa is woven into the fabric of the research culture of the ANU and the ACT’s other universities in ways that are not necessarily apparent.

On October 9, 1962, Uganda gained independence from British colonial rule, with Apollo Milton Obote as its first Prime Minister.

However, like many former colonies, Uganda experienced significant political upheaval in the decades following independence. In 1966, Prime Minister Obote suspended the constitution and illegally overthrew President Edward Mutesa, who was also the King of Buganda, the largest kingdom in Uganda and East Africa. The instability worsened when Idi Amin seized power in a military coup in 1971. His regime plunged Uganda into economic ruin and saw widespread atrocities that claimed the lives of up to 500,000 civilians. Amin is remembered as one of the most brutal dictators in modern history. His annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 triggered a Tanzanian invasion, which eventually ousted him.

Uganda endured continued political instability, marked by frequent coups, until 1986, when Yoweri Museveni took power through military means. He has remained president since. While Museveni is credited with restoring relative stability and promoting economic growth, he has faced criticism for clinging to power. In 2017, Uganda’s parliament removed presidential age limits, paving the way for Museveni to remain in office indefinitely. He has already been endorsed by his party for the upcoming 2026 elections.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the national poverty rate in 2019/20 was about 30 percent. While this is lower than the international rate of about 42 percent, more must be done to uplift Ugandans from poverty.

Happy Independence Day, Uganda!