i.
Uganda is located in East
Africa.
ii.
It is a land locked country.
iii.
In the north there is Southern
Sudan,
iv.
In the West is the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC),
v.
To the South is Tanzania,
vi.
To the East is Kenya.
"Britain’s
World war II Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill is the one who proclaimed
Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” during his visit. He was attracted to the
magnificent scenery (landscape), wildlife and friendly natives (culture). To
him, the beauty of it all could only be described as a pearl."
Uganda made 52
years in 2014 as an Independent Country.
It has a reputation
as Africa’s Friendliest Country, a tradition of hospitality, with a cultural
diverse population.
Uganda is situated
at the geographical heart of Africa. It
has more than 30 indigenous languages.
Area:
- Land Area ………………………….199,808 Sq. Km
- Water and Swamps …………….……. 41,743 Sq. Km
- Total Area ……………………….….241,551 Sq. Km
Altitude:
- Minimum Altitude (Albert Nile) ……..…620 metres
- Maximum Altitude (Mt. Rwenzori) 5,110 metres
Climate:
- Kampala Temperature …………………………….17.0 C
- Kampala Rainfall ……………………………….1,436 mm
Land Use:
- Arable land ………………………………………………….25%
- Permanent Crops ………………………………………….9%
- Permanent Pastures ……………………………………..9%
- Forest and Woodland ………………………………….28%
- Other …………………………………………………………..29%
Demographics
Total Population
(2009) ………………………….30.7million
Population under 18
years ……………………………….56%
Population 65+
years ………………………………………4.6%
Population density
…………………………..123 per sq.mile
Growth rate
………………………………………3.2% per year
Major Languages
English, Luganda,
Kiswahili
Education
Literacy Late
(2006) …………………………………..69%
Religions
Roman Catholic
…………………………………….33%
Protestant
………………………………………………33%
Muslim
……………………………………………………16%
Indigenous Beliefs
…………………………………18%
Uganda Women’s
Anthem
Chorus:
Mothers, daughters all women everywhere Stand up and embrace your role today.
We are the proud
mothers of our Nation The Backbone without which it can never Stand.
We wake up, wake up
We wake up at the crack of dawn
And feed the nation
with our brains With love and joy we care for our baby Uganda.
Chorus: Mothers,
daughters …
Step by step with
tender care We nurse her we mould her at home and In school Leading, leading,
Spearheading her identity, production and Development In Government and
Profession Name it woman is there.
Chorus: Mothers,
Daughters …
We call on you
women of Uganda Wake up if you’ve not embraced
Your role Wake up,
wake up Beside our men let’s play our role
In solving all our nations needs In every walk of life To develop
Uganda.
Chorus: Mothers,
Daughters …
Some Travel Tips in Uganda
Getting to Uganda: Entebbe International Airport lies 35
km from the capital of Kampala; it is serviced by a number of International
airlines, including:
SN Brussels
British
Airways
South African
Airways
Kenya Airways,
Air Tanzania,
Rwandan Air,
and Ethiopian
Airlines.
On Arrival:
A visitor is given
a single journey visa to Uganda and on arrival he/she is issued with a
visitor’s pass for purposes of either spending a holiday, traveling, or
investigating the possibilities of carrying on any business, trade or
profession in Uganda.
NB (Spare passport
photo needed)
Customs and
Immigration officials are polite and efficient, and a visa for those who
require one can be purchased on spot at Entebbe International Airport.
Foreign Exchange
and ATM facilities are available at the airport; which is also serviced by
several shops and restaurants.
The Local time is
GMT+3.
Health:
A Certificate of
Yellow Fever Vaccination is required.
Visitors are
advised to take Malaria Prophylactic drugs.
It is advised to
drink boiled water.
Money matters:
The Uganda Shilling
is the unit of currency.
The United States
Dollar is traditionally the hard currency of preference, though the Euro and
Pound Sterling are widely accepted.
Hard currency is
readily changeable at Banks and Forex Bureaux.
Language:
Many people in
Uganda to interact with officially are fluent in English.
The Luganda
language is understood by many in the country.
When to Visit:
Uganda can be
visited at any time.
What to wear:
Day-time
temperatures are generally warm to hot, so bring lots of light clothing.
Evenings are
cooler, especially at high altitudes, so sweaters are vital.
Solid walking shoes
and sturdy clothing are ideal for forest walks.
A hat, sunglasses
and waterproof jacket are vital.
What to bring:
A valid passport is
mandatory, and visa requirements should be checked before traveling.
To
make the most of game reserves and national parks, carry binoculars and field
guides, and, photographers need zoom lens.
Driving:
Driving is on the
left side.
Visitors without
experience of African roads are advised to organize with a driver rather than
self drive.
Food &
drink:
Tourist-oriented
hotels and restaurant serve good Western-style
meals.
A wide range of
restaurants exist including continental:
Chinese,
English,
Italian,
Japanese,
French,
Lebanese,
Korean,
Indian to mention
some
What to buy:
A wide selection of
local handicrafts are available as souvenirs for buying
These include
musical instruments, such as the hide drums as well as local basketwork, paintings, batiks and pottery.
Uganda the land of
beauty
Sprawling across the
equator, a network of 10 National Parks and other protected areas offers
wildlife enthusiasts a thrilling opportunity to experience Uganda’s
biodiversity.
Uganda with her 10
National Parks has a wide range of tourist attractions.
Each park has its
own unique attraction:
Gorilla trekking;
Mountain climbing;
Bird watching,
Big game viewing,
Spot fishing,
Boat trips and
Nature walks.
The
10 National Parks are:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Kibale National Park
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Mt. Rwenzori National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Semuliki National Park
Features of each
Park are:
Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is a
UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that protects many endemic &
endangered species including the Mountain Gorillas. It is 331sqkm jungle. Comprise of 120 species of mammals, 346
species of birds, 202 species of butterflies and163 species of trees.
Lake Mburo National
Park
It has a diverse
habitant of open savannas, dry
savannas, lakes, swamps, forests, thickets, rocky outcrops and dry
hillsides.
It is 260sqkm, with
zebras, impala, warthog, buffalo, waterbuck and bushbuck.
The national park
has 6 lakes of which L. Mburo is largest.
The wetlands are
home of Sitatunga, hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, fish and birds.
Kidepo Valley
National Park
Kidepo has more
than 80 species of mammals of which 28 are not known in any other Uganda park;
like The Bat-eared Fox, Striped Hyena, Cheetah and Hunting Dog.
The park includes 5
species of primate including the Kavirondo Bush Baby, endemic to this area.
Tourist attractions
include great scenic views of mountain areas and flat valleys. There are Elephants, Zebra, Bush-pigs,
Buffaloes, Eland, Lions and Leopards.
There are 465 species of birds.
Kibale National
Park
This is an
evergreen rainforest whose mammal fauna is dominated by primates.
It protects
populations of Chimpanzee, Elephants, Leopards, Bush pigs, Grey-cheeked
Mangabey, Red Columbus Monkey.
It covers 776
sqkm.
Has up to 335
species of birds which include: African Grey Parrot, Hornbill, Green beasted
& the African pitta.
Mgahinga Gorilla
National Park
The park protects
two world endangered animals; the Gorillas & Golden Monkeys.
It is in the
Southern West corner of Uganda.
Its size is 33.7
sqkm.
Tourist activities include
Gorillas and Golden Monkey tracking as well as Bird Watching, Volcanoes
Climbing of Mt. Muhabura and Mt. Gahinga as well as Mt. Sabyinyo.
Murchison Falls
National Park
It is the oldest
National Park in Uganda covering 5,072 sq.km.
It has a record of
87 mammals, over 650 species of birds and 14 reptiles.
Activities include:
Boat trips, Viewing Hippos, Buffaloes, Water-bucks, baboons, crocodiles,
Elephants, Water Birds.
On game drives
Lions, Giraffes, Patus Monkeys.
Mount Elgon
National Park
Mount Elgon slopes
support a rich variety of vegetation from montane forest to high open
moorland.
Wildlife includes:
A variety of small antelope, elephants and buffalo. There are forest monkeys.
There are over 300
birds including the endangered Lammergeier and African Goshawk.
There are Cave
paintings near the trailhead at Budadiri and Sipi falls at the foot of Mt.
Elgon.
Mt. Rwenzori National
Park
Rwenzori National
Park is a World Heritage Site.
Has a range of 120
km, has six massifs separated by deep gorges: Mt. Stanley (5,109m), Mt. Speke
(4,890m), Mt. Baker (4,843m), Mt. Emin (4,798m), Mt. Gessi (4,715m), Mt. Luigi
diSavoia (4,627m).
Mountain climbing
is the major activity with the Central Trail Circuit taking a minimum of 7
days.
Queen Elizabeth
National Park
Queen Elizabeth
National Park is a world bio-sphere reserve (UNESCO 1979) that includes a
RAMSAR wetland site and is classified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by
Birdlife International.
It has 66 animals and 568 birds of Uganda’s
1,027 species of birds. The park covers
1,978 sqkm. Two Lakes are found which
include Lake Edward and George. Tourist
activities include: Boat trips along Kazinga Channel. Hippos, Water-bucks, Elephants &
Water birds are
common sights.
The park is known
for tree-climbing lions, bird watching, guided nature walks and chimpanzee
tracking.
Semuliki National
Park
Semuliki National
Park is 220 sq km and one of the richest areas of flora and fauna diversity in
Africa.
The park has 2 hot
springs. The park has rear birds:
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill.
The park is home to
8 primates species and in total over 60 mammal species, which includes the
Pygmy Hippos, Mona Monkeys, Elephants, Forest Buffaloes and Leopards.
Vegetable and
Fruits:
Uganda has been a
market leader for supply of high quality vegetables due to conducive production
conditions.
Fruit farming
include:
Pineapples,
Pawpaws,
Tomatoes,
Mangoes and
Citrus to mention a
few
Culture in Uganda
Culture is a
complex feature defining the character of a society through art, values,
traditions and beliefs.
Culture, like a
person is born, grows and dies; thus in Uganda, the cultures of different
people were moulded by both the natural and social environments of the specific
areas in which they grew.
It is the culture
which identifies and distinguishes one tribe from another.
Uganda is endowed
with 56 indigenous communities each with a distinct cultural heritage built
over the generations, Notably, Toro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kingdom, Buganda Kingdom
and Busoga Kingdom.
The
Cultural Heritage includes dances, music and art.
The dances
entertain and are educative with a reflection of our ways of life not
forgetting our art and crafts; that is; mats, baskets, batiks and drums.
Music:
Ugandan music is
largely blended with some form of art such as poetry, ritual or dance.
Several Ugandan
tribes use music and, dance to explain their history, cultural values,
religious beliefs and other social attributes; music is very important means of
communication.
Every community has
its unique songs as well as dancing style which have been preserved from
generation to generation, with a deep cultural attachment.
Uganda has a wide
array of handicraft products, ranging from baskets, mats, ceramics and pottery,
beads, hand textiles and woven products to toys, jewelry, bags, leather products,
batik and curved wood products.
These are produced
in all districts using local raw materials and tribal ornaments.
Uganda
is endowed with varied cultural sites, monuments and antiquities that define
Uganda’s heritage.
- The royal palaces, burial grounds for kings and ritual sites, are major attractions to visitors to the country.
- Nakaima Tree/Shrine
- Kibiro Salt Producing Village
- Tanda Pits
- The Source of the Nile
- Rukarango Tilting Rock
- Mparo Tombs
- Nagalabi Coronation Site
- Bulange
- Kabarole Palace
- Independence Monument
- Namugongo Martyrs Shrine
i.
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