Uganda is a country of shimmering lakes, lofty mountains and mysterious forests. You will love the country because of its astonishing beauty! It is ideal for a trip of discovery in the most enthralling continent in the world, offering exciting adventures and memorable wildlife encounters. Its naturalness explains it all. It is now explained as “Africa’s Garden of Eden” by many visitors whose physical features moved Sir Winston Churchill to refer the country as the ‘Pearl of the Nile’, an adage which was later changed to “The Pearl of Africa”. Uganda lies between latitudes 4° 12′ N and 1° 29′ S, and longitudes 29° 34′ E and 35° E. It covers a total area of 241,039 square km and stands in the heart of Africa across the Equator see the map of Uganda.

Neighbors of Uganda and administration

Uganda is a landlocked country. It is bordered by Sudan in the North, Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the Southwest and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the West. It is divided into administrative units called districts. There are 112 districts at present. Each district has its own headquarters for easy administration and provision of services to the people. At national level, there are line ministries each with a particular role to play in the economy and national development.

History

Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

• Area : 241,139 sq km (93,104 sq miles).
• Population : 24,748,977 (2002).
• Population Density : 102.6 per sq km.
• Capital : Kampala.
• Population : 35m (estimated population 2018)

Geography

Uganda shares borders with Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Lake Victoria to the southeast, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. Kampala is on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the White Nile flowing out of the lake traverses much of the country. The varied scenery includes tropical forest and tea plantations on the slopes of the snowcapped Ruwenzori Mountains, the arid plains of the Karamoja, the lush, heavily populated Buganda, the rolling savanna of Acholi, Bunyoro, Tororo and Ankole, and the fertile cotton area of Teso .