10. From 1890, Britain began colonising the region and then, in 1894, Uganda became a British protectorate. Source: BBC News, 21. Source: Britannica, 25. Not only is it Africa's largest lake and the world's largest tropical lake, but Lake Victoria also boasts one of the world's largest ecosystems. Published: 09 Jul 2023 Source: Wanderlust.co.uk Uganda may be a small landlocked country in East Africa, but it is filled with rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and a diverse array of wildlife. Were Bryan & Dena welcome to our site. The southern white rhino is the 3rd largest land mammal after the African and Asian elephants. the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla National Park. ), number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,537 (2018), 5note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the typical length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.), 42note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control, total: 1,244 km (2014)narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge, total: 20,544 km (2017) (excludes local roads)paved: 4,257 km (2017)unpaved: 16,287 km (2017), 907 km (2022) (there are no long navigable stretches of river in Uganda; parts of the Albert Nile ( 210 km) that flow out of Lake Albert (160 km) in the northwestern part of the country are navigable; several lakes including Lake Victoria (337 km) and Lake Kyoga (199.5) have substantial traffic; Lake Albert is navigable along a 200-km stretch from its northern tip to its southern shores), lake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria), Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2023)note 1: the Special Forces Command is a separate branch within the UPDF; it evolved from the former Presidential Guard Brigade and has continued to retain presidential protection duties in addition to its conventional missions, such as counterinsurgencynote 2: the Uganda Police Force includes air, field, territorial, and marine units, as well as a presidential guard forcenote 3: in 2018, President MUSEVENI created a volunteer force of Local Defense Units under the military to beef up local security in designated parts of the country, 2.2% of GDP (2022 est. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. Unchecked, population increase will further strain the availability of arable land and natural resources and overwhelm the countrys limited means for providing food, employment, education, health care, housing, and basic services. There is no doubt as to why Churchill referred to it as the pearl of Africa.. This applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and foreign nationals (to include Diplomatic and Official visas). Lake Victoria borders Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, and it is a vital resource for the surrounding countries. Join us as we share our experiences and the best attractions, animals, and foods from around the world. There are only a few countries that the equator runs through, including Ecuador and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These months offer optimal conditions for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. Facts about Uganda | Geography 9. The Uganda People are very hospitable and therefore Uganda is known as one of the most hospitable countries in the world with very warm and welcoming people. Uganda - World Health Organization (WHO) Ugandas largest city, Kampala, is the 13th fastest growing city in the world. Its capital and biggest city is Kampala. Getty Images. )from petroleum and other liquids: 5.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est. () Uganda shares Lake Victoria, the world's 2 nd largest freshwater lake, with Kenya and Tanzania.Additionally, eight major rivers and four big lakes also exist in the country. However the current president in Uganda during 1981-1986 with his soldiers they killed up to half a million people in one district that is fact that should be on here. I love to cover food, animals, and destinations around the world. Second Largest Lake in the World Its surface area is more than 26,000 square miles, Lake Victoria (named for Queen Victoria) is the biggest lake on the continent of Africa and the globe's second-largest freshwater lake, trailing North America's Lake Superior. It is advisable to join an organized expedition with experienced guides. In fact, Uganda is one of the worlds best bird-watching destinations. The total area of the country is about 241,039 square kilometres of which about 43,942 sq. Uganda has no travel alerts and the last terrorist attack was reported in 2010. 4 April 2019 AFP In just 100 days in 1994, about 800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists. Uganda is thought to have the worlds smallest church. Facts about Uganda | Uganda for Kids | Geography | Travel | Africa East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, total: 241,038 sq kmland: 197,100 sq kmwater: 43,938 sq km, slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon, total: 2,729 kmborder countries (5): Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km, tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast, highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 mlowest point: Albert Nile 614 m, copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold, agricultural land: 71.2% (2018 est. On the Ssese Islands, you can find many things to do, like biking, hiking, enjoying a beach bonfire, drinking at a resort bar, and lying on the beach. History of Uganda - Wikipedia Just a heads up about the water in Lake Victoria. From Queen Elizabeth National Park to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda offers unparalleled opportunities for wildlife safaris. If youre a tourist, you may get away with a warning, but its customary for men to wear trousers. The cranes most prominent feature is the golden crown of feathers on its head. Ensure your smart phone is unlocked before arrival. There are currently 45 such countries and fivepartially recognised states. It takes its name from Buganda, which was a powerful African kingdom in the 1800s. Every society has its idiosyncrasies. With over 1,000 bird species, including the rare shoebill, Uganda offers incredible opportunities for bird enthusiasts. 100 Fun Facts That You'll Love To Know - The Fact Site ), municipal: 330 million cubic meters (2020 est. Heres more about the highest mountains in Africa. Two important cash crops for export are coffee and cotton. It flows for 6,650km (4,132mi) and passes through 10 countries: Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Source: Britannica, 9. The stone Chapel on Biku Hill can only accommodate three people, including the priest. Source: BBC World Service, 27. Rwenzori National Park is a hikers dream. Uganda country profile - BBC News That is because almost 50% of the population is below the age of 15. We also share travel tips, packing lists, and gear reviews. Here are 15 things to do in Uganda including culture, nature, culinary and adventure. less than 1, comparison ranking: total subscriptions 134, total subscriptions: 30 million (2021 est. ), approximately 50,000 troops, including about 1,000-1,500 air and marine personnel; approximately 20-30,000 personnel in the Local Defense Units (2022), the UPDF's inventory is mostly older Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a limited mix of more modern Russian- and Western-origin arms; in recent years, Russia has been the leading supplier of arms to the UPDF; Uganda has a small but growing defense industry that can manufacture light armored vehicles and perform maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2023), 18-25 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 18-30 for those with degrees/diplomas in specialized fields such as medicine, engineering, chemistry, and education, or possess qualifications in some vocational skills; 9-year service obligation (2022), 6,500 Somalia (ATMIS; UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (training mission) (2023)note: in December 2022, Uganda sent approximately 1,000 troops to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a newly formed East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF) to assist the DRC military against the rebel group M23, the UPDFs missions include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, and participating in socio-economic development projects; it supports the police in maintaining internal security and participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions; it is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF also has considerable political influence; it is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used by MUSEVENI and his political party to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidatesthe UPDF is viewed as a well-equipped force with considerable operational experience; from 2012-2017, it led regional efforts to pursue the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), a small, violent group of Ugandan origin that conducted widespread attacks against civilians in much of Central Africa; Uganda intervened in the South Sudan civil war in 2013-2016, and UPDF forces have clashed with South Sudanese forces along the border as recently as 2020; it is also conducting operations along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) against a DRC-based (and formerly based in western Uganda) Ugandan rebel group, the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), which has been designated by the US as the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC (see Appendix T); in December 2022, Uganda sent about 1,000 UPDF troops to the DRC as part of a regional force to assist the DRC Government in combating the M23 rebel group; in addition, elements of the UPDF are deployed in the northeast region of Karamoja against cattle rustlers and criminal gangsthe Land Force has 5 light infantry divisions, including one trained for mountain warfare; it also has independent armored, artillery, and motorized infantry brigades, as well as a marine force for patrolling Ugandas lakes and rivers; the special forces command has armor, artillery, commandos, motorized infantry, and presidential guard forces; the Air Force has small numbers of largely Russian-made combat aircraft and helicopters, Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T, Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its bordersUganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda began a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021; Uganda and Kenya both claim Migingo Island, a tiny island in the middle of Lake Victoria, which offers good fishingUganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the borderUganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River; Rukwanzi Island in Lake Albert is claimed by both countriesUganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain storesUganda-Sudan: none identified, refugees (country of origin): 882,765 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 491,893 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 69,535 (Somalia), 41,863 (Burundi), 32,871 (Eritrea), 23,457 (Rwanda), 7,787 (Ethiopia) (2023)stateless persons: 67,000 (2022), total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030, Children under the age of 5 years underweight, International law organization participation, Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income, Household income or consumption by percentage share, installed generating capacity 115; consumption 131; exports 81; imports 107; transmission/distribution losses 108, Civil aircraft registration country code prefix, Military and security service personnel strengths, Military equipment inventories and acquisitions, Refugees and internally displaced persons, Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI). The Swahili speakers would have referred to the Ganda kingdom as Uganda. The highest of them, one of the peaks of the Virunga massif, rises to 4500 meters. Uganda is a fertile land with volcanic soil and many lakes and rivers. You cant get much more exotic than an African safari. Uganda had one of the highest HIV prevalence rates during the 1990s. 56 Important Facts About Uganda - The Fact File