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COUNTRY HOPPING: Uganda
Official name: Republic of Uganda
Area: 236,600 sq km
Population: 20,554,000
Capital: Kampala
Currency: Uganda new shilling
Official language: English
Major cities: Jinja, Mbale, Entebbe, Masaka, Bugembe
Independence Day: October 9, 1962
Major exports: Coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, oil seeds and oleaginous fruit; hides and skins, textiles.
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bounded north by Sudan, east by Kenya, south by Tanzania and Rwanda, and west by Congo (formerly Zaire).
Physical features
The area of Uganda includes parts of lakes Victoria, Edward, and Albert. There are elevated plains, vast forests, low swamps, arid depressions, and snowcapped peaks adding to the diversity. The highest peak is Margherita Peak (16,763 feet) in the Ruwenzori Range in the southwest. Lakes Kyoga and George lie completely within Uganda’s borders. The Nile flows north from its outlet at Lake Victoria through the country to Nimule on the border with Sudan.
Climate
Despite being located along the Equator, Uganda has a mild climate, mainly because of its relatively high elevation. The temperature ranges from about 16° to 25°C. The average annual rainfall varies from 750mm in the northeast to about 1,500mm near Lake Victoria.
Government
The constitution was suspended following a military coup in 1985 and a National Resistance Council (NRC) set up, consisting of 210 elected and 68 presidential appointed members. In 1994 a constituent assembly, comprising 214 elected and 74 nominated members, was formed to review a proposed new multiparty constitution. The president governs in collaboration with the NRC, through a cabinet appointed by him.
Religion
Almost two-thirds of Uganda’s inhabitants are Christians although Muslims make up a sizable minority. Many people follow traditional indigenous religions. Often Ugandans’ belief systems represent a fusion of traditional beliefs and elements of an imported religion.
Ethnicity
No single ethnic group comes close to comprising a majority in Uganda. The numerous groups are generally classified by linguistic similarities. People speaking Nilotic and Central Sudanic languages populate the north, and include the Karamojong, Iteso, Kakwa, Langi, Acholi, Alur, Lugbara, and Madi peoples. Those speaking Bantu language, live in the south and central regions and comprise roughly two-thirds of the population, and include the Buganda, Basoga, Bagisu, Banyoro, Batoro, and Banyankole. The Buganda form the largest ethnic group in Uganda. There are also very small minorities of Sudanese, Rwandan, Asian, and European origin.
Language
English is the official language of Uganda. Swahili and Arabic are also commonly spoken. Each ethnic group has its own language; Bantu languages prevail in the south and central regions and Nilotic and Central Sudanic languages in the north. Luganda, the language of the Buganda, is the most widely spoken of Ugandas indigenous languages.
Wildlife
The animals found in Uganda are Burchell’s Zebra, African elephant, cheetah, chimpanzee, Nile crocodile, leopard, gorilla, spotted hyena, hippopotamus, lion, giraffe, African tree pangolin, Gaboon viper, warthog, Impala, small spotted genet and African buffalo.
The birds here are red headed weaver, osprey, bearded vulture, white-backed vulture, hoopoe, African jacana and peregrine falcon.
Places to Visit
Uganda’s Kabalega National Park covers 3,895 sq km. Within the park are the Kabalega Falls and the Karuma Falls on the Victoria Nile. They are among the most spectacular of Africa’s natural wonders.
Ruwenzori National Park (formerly Queen Elizabeth National Park), is situated along Lake Edward and Lake George on Uganda’s western border.
Chief tourist attractions include good year-round climate, lakes, forests, wildlife, varied scenery including tropical forest and tea plantations on the slopes of the snow-capped Ruwenzori Mountains and the arid plains of the Karamoja.
History
16th century: Bunyoro kingdom founded by immigrants from southeastern Sudan.
17th century: Rise of kingdom of Buganda people, which became particularly powerful during the 17th century onwards.
Mid-19th century: Arabs, trading ivory and slaves, reached Uganda; first visits by European explorers and Christian missionaries.
1885-87: A large number of Christians persecuted by Buganda ruler, Mwanga.
1890: Royal Charter granted to British East African Company, a trading company whose agent, Frederick Lugard, concluded treaties with local rulers, including the Buganda and the western states of Ankole and Toro.
1894: British protectorate established, with Buganda retaining some autonomy under its traditional prince (Kabaka) and other resistance being crushed.
1904: Cotton growing introduced by Buganda peasants.
1958: Internal self-government granted.
1962: Independence achieved from Britain, within Commonwealth, with Milton Obote of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) as prime minister.
1963: Proclaimed federal republic with King Mutesa II (of Buganda) as president and Obote as prime minister.
1966: King Mutesa, who opposed creation of one-party state, ousted in coup led by Obote, who ended federal status and became executive president.
1969: All opposition parties banned after assassination attempt on Obote; key enterprises nationalized.
1971: Obote overthrown in army coup led by Maj-Gen Idi Amin Dada; constitution suspended and ruthlessly dictatorial regime established; nearly 49,000 Ugandan Asians expelled; over 300,000 opponents of regime killed.
1976: Relations with Kenya strained by Amin’s claims to parts of Kenya.
1979: After annexing part of Tanzania, Amin forced to leave country by opponents backed by Tanzanian troops. Provisional government set up with Yusuf Lule as initial president and then Godfrey Binaisa.
1978-79: Fighting broke out against Tanzanian troops.
1980: Binaisa overthrown by army. Elections held and Milton Obote returned to power.
1985: After opposition by pro-Lule National Resistance Army (NRA), and indiscipline in army, Obote ousted by Gen Tito Okello; constitution suspended; power-sharing agreement entered into with NRA leader Yoweri Museveni.
1986: Museveni became president, heading broad-based coalition government.
1993: King of Buganda reinstated as formal monarch, in the person of Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
1996: Landslide victory by Museveni in first direct presidential elections.
1997: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) led uprisings by rebels.
1999: Conflicts erupted with Rwandan troops in the Congo. Uganda claimed its only interest was in securing its own borders.
2000: New fighting between Rwandan and Ugandan forces in the Congo led to tense relations with Rwanda.
2001: In the presidential election in March Museveni was re-elected,
2002: Uganda's forces were largely withdrawn from Congo by the end of 2002, but fighting continued in 2003 between the remaining Ugandan forces and Congolese rebels allied with Rwanda shortly before the last Ugandan troops withdrew.
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