>>
Wildlife |
Ethinic
groups
| Political
Background |
view
gallery >>
The Country
Uganda is a republic located in East Africa, bodered by Kenya
in the east, Tanzania in the south, Democratic Republic of Congo
in the west and the Sudan in the north. It covers a little more
than 93,000 square miles, roughly the size of Britain. The altitude
is averagely at 4,000 ft, with a warm/summer climate around the
year. The land is mostly savannah, remarkably diverse, ranging
from swamps and vast rain forests to snow-capped mountain peaks.
Lake Victoria, the world's second largest fresh water lake is
located in Uganda. It is also the birth to Africa’s longest
river-the river Nile. Uganda has two rainy seasons: April to May
and September to November. This land has one of the world’s
few forests that survived the last ice age. Uganda's most important
natural resource is her rich soils, which provide the basis for
the country's predominantly agricultural economy.
Vegetation
Uganda has a varying vegetation cover
It is covered by Tropical rain forest in the central, west and
Southwest. Savannah grassland covers the Northern and Northeastern
parts of the country.
Areas with tropical rain rainforest, also known as Equatorial
rain forest are evergreen with straight, tall trees having thick
heavy stems.
The trees have big buttress roots and thick under growth.
Such areas receive rainfall of about 1200ml per year having humid
conditions. You’ll find this vegetation in the forests of
Budongo, Bugoma, Karinju, Maramagambo, Kibale, Bwindi, and Mabira
forests and on Mt. Elgon.
The Savannah covers ¾ of the countries total
land. This vegetation has got short scattered trees, coarse grass
normally used for grazing animals. It receives low rainfall of
less than 1000ml and has an average temperature of 30°C.
The semi desert or Semi arid areas have little
or no vegetation. Areas covered by this kind of vegetation receive
very low rainfall below 500ml per year, and the temperatures are
high. It covers the areas of Karamoja, Kotido, and Moroto.
Mountain vegetation is found on and around the
mountains of, Elgon, Rwenzori, and Moroto.
Physical features
Uganda is the source of river Nile, the largest lake in Africa
Lake Victoria. Orther lakes include Kyoga in the central region,
Albert in the northeast, lake Edward and lake George in the west,.
There are orther small lakes like Busia, Wamala, Nakuwa, Mutanda
and many more.
The longest river in the world has its source in Uganda. River
Nile goes through the country and is famous for the biggest and
longest fish, ranging from 80 kilograms and above.
Other rivers include the Albert Nile, which joins lake kyoga to
lake Albert and Victoria Nile joining lake Victoria to lake Kyoga.
Other rivers are Kagera, Katonga, Awach, and Nkusi.
River Nile has various falls that can be used for
rafting but the rivers are not navigable yet.
The falls include; Owen falls, with a dam where Uganda generates
its Hydro Electric power that provides over ¾ of power
source, other falls include, Ripon, Murchison, Karuma, Bujagali
and Sipi.
They have good picnic sites.
Beautiful Mountains of great heights give the country a glamorous
look, The snow capped peaks of Margherita on Rwenzori mountains,are
good for mountain climbing. The mountain measures 5110 metres.
Mountain Elgon found in the east is the second highest (4311 metres)
after Rwenzori.
Mount Moroto in the northeast is 3084 metres.
Other great heights include Mountain Muhavura, Kadam, Napak, and
other a number of hills with great scenic beauty.
The mountain slopes have good climatic conditions that support
agriculture.
People and Culture
The 2001 population census reported 23 million Ugandans, it is
estimated to be 26 million today.
Uganda's population is made up of a complex and
diverse range of tribes. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary
for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of the east,
central and southern Africa. In Uganda, they include the Basoga,
Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Langi
and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. To the east are the
Iteso and Karamojong, who are related to the Masai and they speak
Nilotic languages too. Pygmies live in the forests of west Uganda.
Uganda’s diverse Culture is a catcher of many who visit
the country. Different cultures have peculiar economic, social,
political, and religious way of life.
Each tribe has its musical history; songs that
are passed down from generation to generation. Ndigindi (lyre),
entongoli (harp), amadinda (xylophone) and lukeme (thumb piano)
are commonly played instruments. Okot p’Bitek is one of
Uganda's most famous writers of folklore, satirical poems, and
songs. His book Song of Lawino (1966) describes the stories told
in Acholi songs. >> more
Languages
Although English is the official language, there are about 45
different languages spoken by Ugandans. While Luganda is the (lingua
franca)-most common local language, many speak Swahili. Having
56 different linguistic varieties gives Uganda a rich cultural
heritage.
Religion
About two-thirds of the population is Christian, the remaining
third still practices animism or follows Islam. A significant
number of Sikhs and Hindus existed in Uganda not until 1972 when
Idi Amin’s expelled Asians from the country. , Today Asians
are returning following an invitation from the current government
led by Yoweri Museveni.
Food
For the most part, Ugandan cuisine consists of a stodge filler
with beans or a beef sauce. Main dishes are usually centred on
beef, goat or mutton and the starch comes from ugali, or maize
meal made out of maize flour. Ugali is cooked up into a thick
porridge until it sets hard. It is then served up in flat bricks.
If that doesn't sound appealing, the country's tropical climate
contributes to a healthy choice of fruits. Something you do not
come across very often but which makes an excellent snack meal
is mkate mayai (bread eggs). Originally an Arab dish, it's wheat
dough spread into a thin pancake, filled with minced meat and
raw egg, and then folded into a neat parcel and fried on a hotplate.
Beer is probably the most widely available commodity across Uganda.
Pombe is a locally made fermented banana beer and waragi the local
millet-based alcohol. Both have a fairy high alchoholic content.
Tourism
Uganda’s tourism industry is potentially
the most popular in Africa, having been at that in the 1960s.
With thousands of animal and bird species, Uganda has 10 National
Parks, 10 Wild Reserves, 7 Wildlife sanctuaries and more. There
are exquisite landscapes, from snow-capped mountains, Crater lakes,
volcanoes, to flat semi arid; Uganda is a beauty. You will find
half the population of the world’s mountain gorilla in Ugandan.
For most tourism activities, Uganda can be visited any time. >>
more
Farming/ Agriculture
Deeply weathered, well-drained fertile soils coupled
with good climate largely supports agriculture and has in turn
boosted farming.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy accounting for 54%
of the Country’s GDP. Agriculture employees over 80% labour
force, living in the rural areas.
Majority farmers practice subsistence agriculture,
which provides low farm output that cannot adequately feed the
household and equally provide for an income to support a high
standard of living. This has resulted in a vicious cycle of poverty
among farmers.
In 1997 Uganda government came up with the Plan for Moderation
of Agriculture (PMA) as broader strategy of poverty eradication
contained in her Poverty Eradication Plan (PEAP). Through PMA
government aims at transforming subsistence agriculture to commercial
agriculture by the year 2017.
Mining
Uganda has also been blessed with mineral that has been able to
sustain the mining industry. Tin, oil, phosphates, salt,
