About Uganda- Uganda Country profile

Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E 

Total Area: 236,040 sq km
Land: 199,710 sq km
Water: 36,330 sq km 

Neighbouring countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo (765 km), Kenya (933 km), Rwanda (169 km), Sudan (435 km), Tanzania (396 km)

Terrain: Mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation extremes:
Lowest point - Lake Albert (621 m)
Highest point - Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley (5,110 m)

Natural resources: Copper, Cobalt, hydropower, Limestone, salt, and arable land 

Land use: Arable land: (25.88%)

Environment - current issues: Draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Notes: Landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

People

Over 80 percent of the population live in rural areas and survive directly off of the environment and through the utilization of natural resources.

Population: 

Uganda’s population has grown rapidly over time, increasing from 9.5 million in 1969 to 24.2 million in 2002. Between 1991 and 2002, the population growth rate was 3.2 percent. The population was projected to have increased to 32.9 million by mid 2011.

Ethnic groups: Baganda, Banyankole, Bahima, Bakiga, Banyarwanda, Bunyoro, Batoro, Langi, Acholi, Lugbara, Karamojong, Basoga, Bagisu, and others. The Baganda are the largest ethnic group in Uganda and comprise approximately 17% of the population.

Religions: Christianity, Islam, and others.

Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), Luganda, and numerous other local languages.

Climate

Uganda has ideal weather conditions, ranging from warm lowland areas to the coolness of the highlands in the South West Kigezi. For most of the year, Uganda is sunny with temperatures rarely rising above 29 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is about 26 degrees Celcius, with a maximum of 18-31 degrees and minimum of 15-23 degrees depending on the location. The rain season is from March to May. With light rains also falling in November and December. The dry season is from December to February and June to August. Rainfall ranges between 500mm to 2500 mm and the relative humidity is normally between 70% and 100% The rainfall pattern allows for two planting and harvesting seasons per year in most parts of the country, without the use of irrigation. About 34% of the country is covered in wetlands with a dense network of rivers, lakes and swamps. Generally, the country is endowed with fertile soils. Uganda has two major lakes namely Lake Albert and Lake Victoria, which is the 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world and also the source of the Nile.

Ugandan Flag

The flag of Uganda consists of six equal sized alternating stripes of black, yellow and red, starting at the top of the flag with black. In the center of the Ugandan flag there is a white circle with a crane (bird) in it. The black stripes symbolize the African people. The yellow symbolizes the sun and the red stands for brotherhood and fraternity. The crested crane is a national symbol of Uganda, which was first used during British colonial times. Black, yellow and red were also the colors of the Uganda People's Congress party, who came into power in elections of April 1962. The original Ugandan flag was adopted on October 9, 1962, the day Uganda gained independence from Britain. When the Congress Party won the election a few years later they introduced a new design based on their colors, which is the current national flag. Uganda’s minister of justice at the time, Grace Ibingira, designed the Ugandan flag. It was the second of his two flag designs.