The Republic of Uganda, a former British protectorate located astride the equator in east-central Africa, has an area of 91,134 sq. mi. (236,036 sq. km.) and a population of 15.25 million. Capital: Kampala. Agriculture, including livestock, is the basis of the economy; there is some mining of copper, tin, gold, lead. Coffee, cotton, copper, and tea are exported. ,Uganda was first visited by Arab slavers in 1830s. They were followed in the 1860s by British explorers searching for the headwaters of the Nile. The explorer, and the missionaries who followed them into the Lake Victoria region of south-central Africa in 1877-1879, found well developed African kingdoms dating back several centuries. In 1894 the local native Kingdom of Buganda was established as a British protectorate that was extended in 1896 to encompass an area substantially the same as the present Republic of Uganda. The protectorate was given a ministerial form of government in 1955, full internal self-government on March 1, 1962, and complete independence on October 9, 1962. Uganda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The president is Chief of State and Head of Government.,, ,Notes of East African Currency Board circulated before Bank of Uganda notes were available.,, ,See also East Africa.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Shilling = 100 Cents,,