Uganda Facts
Uganda Facts
Uganda is a country that is located in the east African part of the African continent and is bordered by the countries of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and The Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is a land locked country that is found in the Great lakes region.
Uganda’s official language is English and of recent Swahili has been introduced of late to the easiest mode of communication in the country although it should be noted that the most spoken language in Uganda is Luganda.Uganda has a population of over 30 million people and their Uganda National Flag has colors of Black, Yellow and red respectively.
Uganda received her independence in 1962 from the British and it was handed over to Uganda as the Union Jack was lowered down. In this interesting article about Uganda facts, we are going to look at the most common facts about Uganda.
Motorcycles and bicycles are the basic mode of transport.
Even with the changing world and the increased importation of cars in the country, the cheapest for people to travel in Uganda is by use of Motorcycles. These can carry up to three people including the driver and they can be seen almost in all parts of the country. Due to the constant heavy jam that is found in the country, motorcycles are a better option as they can easily access any where since they rarely follow the road signs and traffic flow. These can also be used to transport a lot of things including merchandise and at a cheap and faster rate.
Bicycles are majorly used in the villages although some areas in the city centre use them for transportation. Due to the poverty rates in Uganda, these can easily be afforded and they can also be used to transport merchandise from markets and other places.
When you visit Uganda, you will be able to see these motorcycles and take a ride on one in rush hours but do not forget your helmet and make sure you bargain a bit.
The food in Uganda
Uganda has a variety of food that one can eat and it is always fresh. The staple eaten by the people of Uganda depends on the region that one comes from that is in the central region the staple food is Matooke, the Eastern, Northern and part of the eastern region has millet bread as their staple food.
You will also find fresh vegetables and fruits straight from the gardens that can be found in the different markets like tomatoes, onions, pineapples, watermelons, apples, citrus fruits, beet fruits and others. That is why Uganda is known as a food basket as it also exports food to the neighboring counties.
Ugandans love eating fast prepared food which is especially found on the streets and these include Nsenene loosely translated as grasshoppers, Rolex which is a delicacy to many people in the country.
The languages spoken in Uganda
There are over 30 Indigenous local languages that are spoken in Uganda. All these belong to the different kingdoms that are located in the country and all the languages spoken in Uganda all fall under the ethnic groups of the Bantu and the Nilotics.
The languages are spoken in the different parts of the country and the different regions have the following languages that are spoken that is luganda is majorly spoken in the Central part of Uganda, Runyankole and Rukiga is majorly spoken in the western part of the country, Lusoga, Lugwere, itesot and Lugisu are majorly spoken in the Eastern part of Uganda, Luo is spoken in the Northern part of the country.
Other languages spoken include samia, Lunyoro and lutooro, Swahili, English and many more other languages. Get ready to be bombarded with the variety of languages that are spoken in the country.
The president of Uganda
Uganda as a country has had one president for the last 30 Years and he is H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who came into power in 1986 with his party the National resistance movement/ army.
Uganda is the 2nd landlocked country in the world
Uganda is known to be a land locked country and it is the second in the world after Ethiopia. The country being a land locked country has not stopped people from increasing on the population which has led to poor living conditions of the largest population in the country. Uganda mostly has the local black people but there are others like the Asians and the Caucasians.
The population increase is due to the fact that the current ratio of women getting pregnant in Uganda is five children per woman and it is believed there is a high fertility rate in Uganda leading to a population of over 34 million people.
The vehicles drive on the left side of the road
Most of the vehicles in Uganda follow the left hand rule and they drive from the left hand side of the road as you head to the city centre kampala and all visitors should get to know about this rule although you should not be shocked when you find cars overtaking others on the wrong side irrelevant of the narrow roads.
Uganda is a home to the tiniest church in the world
The smallest hill in the world is located in Nebbi on Biku hill in the Northern part of Uganda. The church is eight feet tall and 2.3 meters wide and it is known as the Bethel church. A visit to this place will leave you in awe and it was established by the retired Archbishop and Korean pastor in 1996. These two built twelve prayer points so that the people would get a closer connection to God.
Toilet manners in Uganda
Ugandans have different ways in how they communicate when they are heading to the toilet and you should not make a mistake when you visit the country. When you want to go and pee the best way to communicate is by saying am going to make a short call and a long call is for when you are going to poop and this is the polite way.
The bird species population in Uganda
Uganda has always been known as the Pearl of Africa and this has been proven to be true as it owns eleven percent of the world’s bird population. A safari to Uganda will have you see the different bird species that are found in the different parks in the country and these include the marabou storks, flamingos, Eagles, ostriches and many more other border species.
Uganda has the longest River in the whole world
Uganda has a good experience system and is known to have the source of the Nile which is the longest River in the whole world. The source of the Nile Lake Victoria is one of the largest water bodies in Uganda. The River Nile flows from Uganda through south Sudan and Egypt before ending at the Red sea and it’s one of the few attractions in the country.
A home to the mountain gorillas
Uganda is a home to the largest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world and these are found in the Bwindi impenetrable National park where you will see these apes and get to learn more about their behaviors. These apes were being poached against by the Batwa people but they are now being preserved as the Batwa people have been chased out of the park.
Visit Uganda and experience the best safari with these apes and you will also be able to see other animals like the blue balled monkeys too and this is an experience that you should not miss.
The tree and conservation rule in Uganda
Due to the highly diminishing forests in the country, the government has put up rules of if you cut one tree you plant three more trees to conserve the environment. This rule has helped in conserving the environment in the country.
The government of Uganda has also banned the use of polythene bags so as to avoid littering of the water bodies which suffocates the aqua life.
Uganda has the world’s largest volcano base
Uganda is a home to the largest base volcano in the world and this is the Elgon Mountain which is found in the Eastern part of the country in both Mbale and Kapchorwa districts. The base has a width of 50 kilometers by 80 kilometers and it is also a home to the Mountain Elgon National park which is a home to many wildlife animals and bird species. The park has about 300 bird species and various flora and fauna found in the area which improves on the eco system of the country.
Uganda is also known to have one of the most hospitable people in the world and this has increased the number of visitors that the country gets in a year. Visit Uganda to get to know more about other Ugandan facts that have not been mentioned in this article.
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF UGANDA
PHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC FEATURES
Uganda can be described as basin shaped rising between the western and eastern blocks of the rift valley. The country lies across the equator bordered by Tanzania in the south, Sudan in the north, Kenya in the east, Zaire in the west and Rwanda in the southwest.
The topography of the country is generally flat with an altitude of 1,000m in most parts of the country, however its location on the great African plateau and across the equator gives it a remarkable biological and physical diversity.
Uganda is naturally endowed with water and fertility, 25% of the area is covered with lakes, rivers and swamps, Lake Victoria being the largest lake in Africa, the source of the River Nile the world’s longest river, Lake Kyoga in the center of the country, Lakes Edward, George and Albert close to the border of Congo.
The country is also a product of the African Continent uplift with the most mountainous part in the southwest that harbors the Rwenzori mountains which form the highest mountain in Africa, other mountains also include Mount Elgon, Virunga, Bufumbira Mountains on the southwestern border of Rwanda, the Northern Volcanoes of Uganda and many more of these physical features make Uganda a very interesting geographical part of Africa.
The country’s temperatures range between 26o and 30o during the day and 16o and 20o at night with the hottest months being January, February and December. Apart from some northern parts of the country that receive average annual rainfall as low as 100mm, the rest of the country is green throughout the year with an annual rainfall between 1,000mm to 2,000mm with the coolest season being mid-September to November, the March to May.
POPULATION, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Uganda’s population is estimated to be about 24.6 million with 87% living in rural areas. The Country’s population can generally be classified along linguistic lines or groups that occupy the country. The largest group of the Bantu-speaking people are the Baganda accounting for about 82.1% of the population mostly living in Kampala and other parts like Mpigi, Mubende, Masaka, Mukono, Luwero and several other parts.
Other significant Bantu-speaking groups are Bakiga in the southwestern part of the country, Batooro in western Uganda at the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains, and the Banyoro of the Bunyoro-Kitala Kingdom. Banyankole numbering 2.2 million and occupying mostly the Western part of the country are basically cattle keepers and agriculturists with their main urban area in Mbarara.
The Eastern part of the country has a diversity of people with different languages and culture but the most dominant are Bantu speaking Basoga, speaking Lusoga dialect and the largest ethnic group in the East and closely linked to Baganda. The place being at the shores of Lake Victoria, its soils are very fertile and agriculture is a major activity.
The Bagisu settled at the foothills of Mount Elgon are also another major ethnic Bantu group that inhabit one of Uganda’s large town of Mbale. Agriculture is major activity and the main language spoken is Lumasaba quite related to some languages in Kenya. However there are also other Bantu-speaking groups in this area like the Bagwere, Banyole, Basamia and many more.
UGANDA’S NATURAL HISTORY
Uganda is a unique safari destination from other African countries basically because of its large forested area with Lowland rain forest, Afro-montane forest found especially on Mount Elgon, and their accessibility gives you a spectacular view of the forest creatures like chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, butterflies and birds. Going through the country’s game reserves, you are likely to encounter safari favourites like Lions, buffalo, elephant, leopard, giraffe and other several species of animals not found anywhere in Africa.
The country has 10 gazetted national parks with several wildlife and forest reserves. These protect Savannah, plain animals, forest environment and the associated animals, however the one at present with tourist facilities include, Semliki, Queen Elizabeth, Budongo, Kanyiyo and Pabidi forest reserves, Murchison falls national park and several others.
Uganda is naturally endowed with water bodies Like Lake Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and several crater lakes especially around the Rwenzori foothills. The existence of such water bodies facilitates a relatively moist climate, with the countryside greener and fertile compared to the semi-desert northern side. Around these water bodies are different bird species not easily found anywhere in Africa especially the papyrus gonolek and the shoebill.
The country is mostly covered with a plateau at altitudes of 1,000-1200m and by the effect of warping and rifting, the East African landscape was molded giving way to the Western rift valley of Uganda and the most attractive mountains like Rwenzori Mountains bordering Congo with Margherita peak 5,110m as the third highest point in Africa. Other major mountains include, Moroto3, 084m, Elgon 4,321m, Virungas on Rwanda border with Muhabura as the highest of Ugandan peaks at 4,127m and several others. Most of these mountains, are homes to forest habitats and have high grasslands.
PRIMATES
These are widely spread in Uganda with 13 diurnal species, six of which are guenon monkeys, and 6 nocturnal species. Below is an overview of the several local species.
The information provided on this tour and safaris website is intended to help you have a perfect vacation holiday in Uganda or any voyage to Africa. You will find a wealth of information related to visiting primates, cruises, adventure trails, sightseeing tours,mount trekking and trips covering many safari journeys in Africa.
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Uganda lies astride the Equator right in the heart of Africa.
Uganda is bordered by Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South , Rwanda in the South West, Congo in the west and Sudan in the north, thus making Uganda a land locked country.
Uganda in roughly the size of United Kingdom,covering a total area of 236,040 sq km’s, with a population of about 37 million.
Summary of
Uganda travel Facts:
Country: Uganda
Capital City: Kampala
Total Area: 236,040 sq km’s.
Area under water: 36,330 sq km’s.
Area (land) :199,710 sq km’s.
Population: 37 ,million people.
Languages: English (official) Luganda, Bantu
Languages, and Nilotic languages and Swahili.
Religions: Roman Catholics;33% Protestants 33%, Moslems 16% Others 17 (including Pentecostal which has gained a lot of follower.
Average Family Income ,about Us $ 200 per annum
Government : Republic.
Independence Date: 9th of October 1962 .
Industry: Brewing, Sugar factories, Cotton, Tobacco , Cement, Coffee, etc.
Agriculture: Coffee, Tea, Cotton, Vanilla, Millet, Milk ,Poultry, Goat Meat, Fruits,
Minerals: Copper, Cobalt, Limestone, Salt, Fish
Climate: Tropical Accessibility: By Air, Entebbe International Airport, by Land through Busia and Malaba in the East, Katuna in the west and Mukula in the South.
