Facts about Uganda : Uganda is a land locked country which is found in East Africa and it is also referred to as the pearl of Africa. Countries which border Uganda include Kenya in the east the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west, Rwanda and Tanzania in the south and Sudan in the north. Uganda is characterized by beautiful scenery, diverse cultures, a variety of wildlife species and a lot to explore during a tour around the country.
The capital city of Uganda is Kampala which is found in the central region of the country. The city is a busy place with many business set up around Kampala which is also known for its busy streets. During a Uganda tour of the city, some of the places to visit include the Nakasero market, Owino market, the Gadaffi mosque, the Uganda museum, Bahai temple, and the cathedrals like Rubaga cathedral among others, Facts about Uganda.
The Uganda flag consists of 3 colors which include black, yellow and red and there is also a crested crane on the flag of Uganda. Uganda got its independence in 1962 and the current president of the republic of Uganda is H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The population in Uganda is over 40 million people who live in different parts of the country which include the central region, the western region, the northern region and the eastern region. Different languages are spoken across the country and there are also different cultures to experience and interact with around Uganda which has over 56 tribes. People of Uganda are also very hospitable and welcoming, Facts about Uganda.
The official language in Uganda is English and it is spoken around the country. Other languages which are widely spoken around Uganda include Luganda. Swahili is also spoken in Uganda as well as in other parts of East Africa such as Kenya and Tanzania.
Physical features found around Uganda
A big part of Uganda is also covered by lakes and rivers which take up about 26% of the land. When visiting Uganda, you can experience the beautiful Lake Victoria which is the source of the Nile and the lake is shared with Tanzania and Kenya. Other lakes in Uganda include Lake Victoria, Lake George, Lake Albert, Lake Edward and Lake Kyoga.
Uganda also has beautiful forests such as the Mabira forest, Budongo forest among others which are home to a variety of bird and primates species. The nature around Uganda is surreal and you can also visit waterfalls when in Uganda such as the Sipi falls found in the eastern part of the country.
Mountains found around Uganda include Mount Rwenzori in the south western part of the country and Mount Elgon in the eastern part of the country among others which are also hiking destinations which can be visited during a tour around Uganda.
The total land area covered by Uganda is about 240,000 square kilometers. Uganda experiences tropical climate with two seasons experienced throughout the year including the rain season and the dry season.
Uganda is generally a flat and in the southern parts of the country such as in the Kigezi region there are mountains and terraced hillsides. The north eastern parts of the country are semi-arid in nature and places such as Kidepo valley national park are found in this part of Uganda and are famous for their savannah plains and wilderness.
Activities to do around Uganda
Another interesting fact about Uganda is that agriculture is practiced in different parts of the country which has good soil that favors this activity. Many other activities are also carried out around the country.
Tourism in Uganda has over the years grown and the country has 10 national parks which include Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale national park, Lake Mburo national park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Mgahinga national park, Semuliki national park, Mount Rwenzori national park, Mount Elgon national park. There are also about 12 wildlife reserves found in Uganda such as Pian Upe reserve, Toro Semliki reserve among others.
Wildlife species which can be seen around Uganda include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos,
Activities which are carried out around Uganda include game drives, cultural tours, bird watching, hiking, cycling, boat rides, horse riding, Kampala city tours and so much more. During a tour around Uganda, gorilla trekking can also be done in destinations including Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park and chimpanzee trekking and golden monkey trekking are also carried out.
Another place to visit for an enjoyable wildlife experience in Uganda is the Zziwa rhino sanctuary which is found in Nakasongola district. You can also visit Jinja, the equator, Ssesse island, Ssezibwa falls, Aruu falls among other places around Uganda.
Transport in Uganda
There are different means of transport which can be used during a tour around Uganda and they include road transport, water transport, air transport and also rail transport.
The commonest means of transport used around Uganda is road transport which makes different parts of the country easily accessible by private and public transport means. When using flight around Uganda, the main airport in the country is Entebbe international airport and there are also different airstrips around the country.
Uganda’s cuisine
The fertile soils around Uganda favor the growth of crops and as such there is a lot of food in the country. The different tribes around Uganda have staple foods which are unique to their culture for example Matooke which is for the Baganda.
Uganda is also blessed with a variety of fruits such as pineapple, water melons, oranges, mangoes, jackfruit among others. You can purchase these foods and fruits around the local markets during a tour in Uganda.
Religion in Uganda
In Uganda, there are different religions including Christians (Catholics, Anglicans and orthodox), Muslims as well as traditionalists, Facts about Uganda.
Currency of Uganda
The currency of Uganda is Uganda shillings which are in denominations including the 50,000 shillings note, 20,000 shillings note, 10,000 shillings note, 5000 shillings note, 2000 shillings note and also 1000 shillings note. Coins include 500 shillings coins, 1000 shillings coins, 200 shillings coins and 100 shillings coins, Facts about Uganda.
Foreign currencies such as US dollars are also used for transactions around Uganda and other currencies can also be changed around the Forex bureaus around the country. When travelling to Uganda it is recommended that one changes the foreign currency to Uganda shillings for easier transacting during a Uganda tour.
Best time to visit Uganda
Uganda is a safe and beautiful country which can be visited at any time of the year. However the best time to visit the country is during the dry season around June to October when the weather is good, Facts about Uganda.