Uganda is situated in East Africa. It is bordered on the west by Congo, on the north by the Sudan, on the east by Kenya, and on the south by Tanzania and Rwanda. The country, which lies across the equator, is divided into three main areas; swampy lowlands, a fertile plateau with wooded hills, and a desert region. Lake Victoria forms part of the southern border. The Nile flows from Lake Victoria at what was Rippon Falls and into Lake Kyoga. Still the Victoria Nile, it cuts a raucous passage west across Karuma Falls and through the narrow pillars of Murchison Falls towards Lake Albert. Finally the Albert Nile meanders along a slow, wide corridor into Southern Sudan.
Industry, Economy & Politics
Uganda became independent on Oct. 9, 1962. After experiencing great
political turmoil between 1967 and 1986, Uganda's industrial and
economic progress has been slow growing. The reason for this
discrepancy rests clearly with poor post colonization leadership, the
tyrant Idi Amin from 71 - 79, and a subsequent civil war. It is only
since 1986 that Uganda has had opportunity to move forward again but by
then, it had almost been driving back to the 1800s. The National
Resistance Army (NRA), an anti-Obote group led by Yoweri Museveni, kept
fighting after it had been excluded from the new regime. It seized
Kampala on Jan. 29, 1986, and Museveni was declared president. Museveni
has transformed the ruins of Idi Amin and Milton Obote's Uganda into an
economic miracle, preaching a philosophy of self-sufficiency and
anti-corruption.
Currently 80% of the active population are employed through agriculture.
Kampala, the modern capital, is the centre of most economic activity.
And, other towns around the country, Jinja, at the source of the Nile,
Mbarara, on the road west, Fort Portal, at the foot of the Rwenzoris,
and Mbale on the eastern border are all howling promising signs of
economic recovery.
Traffic Jam in the Capital
People
Uganda is rich with culture and artistic talent, Ugandans are lively
actors and public speakers. Hardly a night passes without the rhythmic
sounds of traditional dancing or, in Kampala, modern disco music. The
overriding impression of Uganda is of its happy people. Hardship and
war are not forgotten, but they are in the past, to be recalled in
silent prayers and thoughts for absent friends.
Art & Design
Uganda is full of fantastic artists and designers. Bellow is pictured a few of their work, and under the gallery you can find the links to their websites and online stores.
Life expectancy
42 years (1 in 12 Ugandans is an orphan)
Income
44% make less than 60,000 shillings ($34.00) per month
Neighbors
North - Sudan
East - Kenya
South - Tanzania, Rwanda
West - Congo
Language
English is the official language with a significant number of native Swahili dialects spoken
Religion
Protestants 33%, Roman Catholic 33%, Indigenous 19%, Muslim 15%
Gender
Overall, there are 95 males per 100 females
Tribes The biggest tribe is the Baganda, who make up 17.3% of the
population, followed by Banyankole with 9.8%, Basoga 8.6% and Bakiga
7.0%. The smallest tribe is the Vonoma with only 128 people by the time
of the census, 60 males and 48 females. Other tribes with less than
10,000 people were Mvuba with 870, Mening 2,227, Bahehe 3,403 and Batwa
6,738. The biggest eight tribes make up 70% of the population, while
the remaining over 40 tribes constitute 30%.
