Formerly a British protectorate containing a wide range of ethnic groups and cultures, Uganda became independent in 1962.
The dictatorship of Idi Amin in the 1970s was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 political opponents, and at least another 100,000 lives were lost under his successor, Milton Obote, between 1980 and 1985.
In 1986, Yoweri Museveni came to power and remains president to this day. He has his critics, but the level of human rights abuses has decreased significantly under his rule.
There has been armed revolt in the north of the country against rule from Kampala for the last two decades and more.
The Lord’s Resistance Army, headed by Joseph Kony, is accused of widespread abduction of children, who are used as soldiers or sex slaves.
The missing Irish Aid money was earmarked for use in this part of the country as it tries to recover from the ravages of conflict.