Geography

Uganda is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on the south by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Lake Victoria. It covers an area of 93,072 square miles (241,038 square kilometers).

Uganda has a number of major lakes and rivers. Lake Victoria in the southeast, with an area of 26,828 square miles (69,484 square kilometers), is the world's second-largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior in North America. The soils in the Lake Victoria region are among the most fertile in the world. The rivers include the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile.

Located on the equator, Uganda has a tropical climate. Because of the high elevation, however, temperatures are not as hot as they are in some other equatorial countries. Most parts of Uganda receive abundant rainfall.

Plants and animals

Much of southern Uganda and the lower slopes of the mountains were once covered with tropical rain forests. These were steadily cleared for farming, however, and only a few scattered areas remain. To the north, as rainfall decreases, the vegetation changes to tall, grassy woodlands.

Hippopotamuses and crocodiles live in most of Uganda's lakes. The country's wildlife also includes chimpanzees, elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and zebras. Uganda has several fine national parks, game preserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in the southwest contains about half of the world's population of the very rare mountain gorilla.

People and culture

Dozens of ethnic groups live in Uganda. Bantu-speaking peoples make up the largest portion of the population. The largest single group is the Ganda. Small groups of Asians, Europeans, and Arabs also live in Uganda. More than 30 languages are spoken, with English, Ganda (or Luganda), and Swahili being the most common. English is the official language. About two thirds of the people are Christians. Many other Ugandans practice Islam or traditional African religions.

Uganda's population is mostly rural, though the number of urban dwellers is growing. The modern capital city of Kampala is built around seven hills. Located near the shores of Lake Victoria, it has dozens of small parks and public gardens. Jinja, the second-largest city, is an industrial center on Lake Victoria. Others major cities include Mbale, Masaka, Entebbe, and Gulu.

Uganda has a rich tradition of theater, ranging from the very active National Theater in Kampala to hundreds of small, local theatrical groups. Sports are very popular, especially football (soccer), wrestling, and boxing. In the countryside, the year is filled with a variety of festivals and celebrations. Each ethnic group preserves and passes on its cultural traditions through dance, song, and music.

Economy

Most of Uganda's people are farmers, producing either food for their own needs or export crops. The food crops include corn (maize), beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts (groundnuts), and soybeans. Coffee is the most important export crop. Livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Dairy farming is a growing occupation.

Industry is only a small part of Uganda's economy. It is based on the processing of agricultural products such as tea, tobacco, sugar, coffee, cotton, grains, and cooking oils. Also important are beer brewing and the manufacture of cement, fertilizers, matches, metal products, paint, shoes, soap, steel, textiles, and motor vehicles. Copper, gold, tungsten, and tin are mined.

History

Small groups of farmers and herders moved into the Uganda region over a period of centuries. Settlements in the area north of the Nile River were mainly based on family structures. The peoples southwest of the Nile were organized into states, or kingdoms.

The powerful Bunyoro kingdom emerged west of Lake Victoria at the end of the 15th century. It dominated the region for several centuries. By the 19th century, however, another kingdom, Buganda, had become the largest and most powerful in the region. Arabs reached the area in the 1840s trading in ivory and slaves. The first European explorers came to Buganda in 1862. Missionaries soon followed and began to teach Christianity.

In 1890 the British government set up the British East Africa Company in Buganda to administer the region on its behalf. Four years later Buganda officially came under British control. It gained independence as Uganda in 1962. Milton Obote became the prime minister and later the president. In 1971 the military officer Idi Amin overthrew Obote's government and seized power. He ruled the country as a dictator, crushing all opposition to his power. An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Ugandans were tortured and killed during his regime.

In 1978 Uganda attacked Tanzania. Amin's army was in turn attacked by Tanzanian troops in 1979. As the Tanzanian troops advanced through the country many Ugandans joined them. President Amin was overthrown and forced to flee the country. Obote returned to the presidency, but he was overthrown again in 1985. The next year the military took control of Uganda and Yoweri Museveni became its president. He was officially elected to the office in 1996. The economy improved during his presidency, but the country continued to be troubled by rebel groups. In addition, Ugandan forces became involved in fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Population (2000 estimate), 23,318,000.