UGANDA THE ‘PEARL OF AFRICA’
Location of Uganda:
Uganda is an East African Country located on the elevated basin between the eastern and western sections of the East African Great Rift Valley. Topographically it’s greatly flat and most of its parts raised over 1000 meters above sea level.
Uganda is located in equatorial Africa between latitudes 4degrees 12’N and 1degree 29S and longitudes 29 degrees 35 west and 25 degrees East. It covers 91.041 square miles i.e 235.796 square km a size equated to that of Great Britain. Its bordered by Sudan to the north about 435km, Kenya 933km to the east, Rwanda about 169km and Tanzania 396km to the south and lastly the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) about 765km to the west.
Much of the country’s altitude lies between 900m and 1500, above sea level with the highest point being Mount Stanley (Rwenzori) at 5,109m but Lake Albert basin and Albert Nile register the lowest point.
Kigezi region located in the south-west is the most mountainous part of the country and the 70km-long and 30km-wide Rwenzori Mountains of North Kigezi form the highest mountain range not only in Uganda but Africa with Margherita Peak (5,109m) as the highest point. This peak is only exceeded in altitude by the free-standing Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro on the African continent. However, Uganda has other large mountains which include mount Elgon a huge extinct volcano located on the Kenyan border, the Virunga volcanic range located in the south on Rwanda and democratic republic of congo. Never the less the several northeast smaller volcanic mountains.
People in Uganda:
Nationality: Noun and adjective–Ugandan(s).
Population: 42.86 million (2017)
Annual growth rate: 4.0% annual change (2017)
Ethnic groups: Baganda, Banyankole, Bahima, Bakiga, Banyarwanda, Bunyoro, Batoro, Langi, Acholi, Lugbara, Karamojong, Basoga, Bagisu, and others.
Religions (2007): Christian 85%, Muslim 12%, other 2%.
Languages: English (official); Luganda and numerous other local languages. Swahili is generally spoken only among the Ugandan military.
Education: Attendance (2015; primary school completion rate) – 53.1 %. Literacy: 70.2% of late.
Health: In 2018, the infant mortality rate in Uganda was at about 33.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality rate–78/1,000. Life expectancy–51 yrs. Life expectancy: Life Expectancy
The Government of Uganda:
Type: Republic.
Constitution: Ratified July 12, 1995; promulgated October 8, 1995.
Independence: October 9, 1962.
Branches of governance: Executive–president, vice president, prime minister, cabinet. Legislative–parliament. Judicial–Magistrate’s Court, High Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: Uganda is divided into 134 districts and the capital city of Kampala, which are grouped into four administrative regions.
Political parties: In 2006, approximately 33 parties were allowed to function, including political parties that existed in 1986, when the National Resistance Movement assumed power.
Suffrage: Universal adult.
National holiday: Independence Day, October 9.
The Economy of Uganda:
GDP: 25.89 billion USD (2017)
Inflation rate: (2020) – 3.8% according to statista.com
Natural resources: limestone, Copper, cobalt, gold, phosphate, oil.
Agriculture: Cash crops- flowers, coffee, Food crops like bananas, tea, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, vanilla, corn, cassava, potatoes, millet.
Livestock & fisheries such as beef, goat, milk, meat, tilapia, Nile perch.
Industry: Agricultural products processing such as coffee curing, cotton ginning and cement production, textiles and light consumer goods.
Trade: Exports (2008 est.)-$1.72 billion: coffee, tea, fish and fish products, electricity, vanilla, horticultural products, cut flowers and remittances from abroad.
Major markets: EU, Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.K. Imports-$4.5 billion: capital(2008 est.)Rwanda, equipment, medical supplies, vehicles, petroleum, cereals, metals.
Major suppliers: China, U.A.E., Kenya, India, EU, U.S and South Africa.
Fiscal year: October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020.
