Fascinating facts about Uganda
Fascinating facts about Uganda: Uganda is a country in Africa located in the East African region. Uganda is a landlocked country bordered by five countries including Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the West, Rwanda in South West, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the South, and South Sudan in the North. The official name of this country is the Republic of Uganda. Uganda has a population of about 42.7 million and it is ranked as the 35th largest country in the world in terms of population and it has 50 percentage of the population as young people. Uganda covers an area of about 93,000 square miles making it amount the 100 largest countries in the World by area.
The capital city of Uganda is Kampala. Kampala city is the largest city and also an industrial area with the highest population of people of all destinations in and out of Uganda. Uganda has a dominant-part semi-presidential republic government with a president, vice president, and a prime minister. The country’s motto is “For God and My Country,” and its currency is the Ugandan shilling. The country’s flag has bands of black, yellow and red with a bird featured prominently in the centre. Uganda has about 52 tribes in the 4 different regions including the Central, Western, and Northern and Eastern regions, each tribe with its own traditions and customs.
Uganda’s GDP per capita is estimated as $777 billion per capita as of 2019. Uganda’s GDP is expected to reach 30.00 USD Billion by the end of 2020, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts’ expectations. In the long-term, the Uganda GDP is projected to trend around 32.50 USD Billion in 2021 and 34.00 USD Billion in 2022, according to our econometric models. Uganda’s income is derived from the main export earnings got from Agricultural produce. The main export for Uganda is Coffee, other export produce include; Cotton, Tea and Tobacco which are mainly exported to other African countries.
The official language spoken in Uganda is English and Swahili although Swahili is spoken by a few people who are mainly in the security forces. The other local languages are spoken throughout the country. The English spoken in Uganda is different type of dialect and sounds quite different from what is spoken in the United States of America. Although a big number of Ugandans speak the most common local language in the central part of Uganda that is Luganda language.
Christianity is the largest religion in Uganda with about 33 percent of the Roman Catholics, 33 percent of the Protestants and the remaining percentage for the rest of the religions including Muslims, Born Again Christians, Seventh Day Adventists, just to mention a few. Uganda is a country with the liberty of freedom of Worship.
Uganda is one of the few countries in the world with the best climatic and weather conditions. Uganda has a tropical climate with two wet seasons in a year one from December to February and another from June to August. And also has 2 dry seasons in a year, one from Mid-March to early-May and the other in September to early-November. Travellers visiting Uganda must keep in mind the weather changes in mind especially if you are travelling to Uganda for Tourism. Knowing the weather conditions is important given the attractions one will be visiting on a Uganda Safaris tours.
Uganda is the pearl of Africa. It is the best Tourist destination in Africa with diverse tourist attractions thus it earned the tittle “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who was Uganda’s earliest tourists in the year 1907. While on his visit in Uganda, Winston Churchill got very inspired by what he found in Uganda and wrote a book that “For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life – bird, insect, reptiles, and beast – for vast scale – Uganda is truly “the pearl of Africa”. Today Uganda attributes the tittle “Pearl of Africa” although along there came more of the explorers and discoverers who described Uganda as a wonderful country, explorers like John Hannington Speke who discovered the source of River Nile, Fredrick John Lugard, Henry Morton Stanley to mention a few. These explorers were stunned by Uganda’s beauty and wonders, above all the hospitality of the people of Uganda. Hence the African Economists called Uganda one of Africa’s friendliest countries.
Uganda is best well-known for the endangered mountain gorillas. The wonders found in Uganda include Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, the source of the Nile, the Murchison Falls, the Rwenzori Mountains, the Big Five wild animals (the Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, Rhino and the leopard). Uganda has 10 national parks each with its own unique attractions and 13 wildlife reserves. Of the 10 national park, 5 of them are savannah national park and 2 are World’s heritage sites recognised UNESCO. Within Uganda national parks, visitors on Uganda safaris tours can experience beautiful scenery and diverse habitats such as savannah and semi-arid plains, tropical rainforests, wetlands, snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains and volcanoes, lakes and rivers. You will also find every environment here from the semi-arid plains of Kidepo valley in the north east to the permanent snowcapped peaks of Rwenzori Mountains in the western part of Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Safaris are done in the 5 savannah national parks which include Kidepo valley National Parks, Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo national park and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Wildlife Safaris in Uganda include animals like the Big five, Zebras, Giraffes, Hyenas, Cheetahs, Warthogs, Hippos and Crocodiles and a variety of Antelopes like Uganda kobs, Elands, Impala, Topi, Oribi and many more.
Uganda is the best destination for primates’ tours in Africa where to see the Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees. Uganda is the best place to see the endangered mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. There about 20 habituated mountain gorillas open for visitors to view. Bwindi forest has half of the remaining mountain gorilla in the world while the remaining half is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is also home to the highest concentration of primates which are 12 primate species including chimpanzees, black and white Colobus Monkeys, Red velvet Monkeys just to mention a few. Thus with these two great apes; the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, Uganda is one the top primate tracking destination in Africa. Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda are the best experiences for anyone to do while on their visit while on Uganda Safaris Tours.
Uganda is one of the best birding destinations in Africa boasting a massive bird list of more of than 1,073 recorded different bird species making up 50 percent of Africa’s bird species and 11 percent of the world species. This huge bird list is contained within a small territory hence having one of the highest concentrations of birds in Africa. The incredible diversity of habitats like no other in Africa is the reason Uganda harbours such a huge diversity of birds and collects so many migrant birds during the year. Uganda lies in a unique position where she shares Africa’s major ecological zones and each has associated bird species, including many that are range restricted. Uganda has up to 34 Important Bird Areas (IBA) many of which have been developed for birdwatching and birding tours. Also, the birding community in Uganda continues to identify other new bird-rich spots across the country and establishing birding trails. Some of the bird watching places in Uganda include; Mabamba swamp, Semuliki national park, Lake Mburo national park, Mabira Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable national park to mention a few.
Uganda has many large lakes and Rivers. The southern part of Uganda is heavily influenced by one of the world’s biggest lakes; Lake Victoria is the biggest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior in North America. Lake Victoria is said to be the Source of the Nile discovered by John Speke during his tour in Uganda. John Speke was able to determine the point where Lake Victoria separates from River Nile. Lake Victoria consists of about 84 islands which also include the Ssese islands which are located in Northwest side of Lake Victoria. At Ssese islands, you can find many things to do while on a Uganda Safaris Tours including biking, hiking, enjoy beach bonfire, drinking and lying at the beach shores. Besides Lake Victoria there is Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and the smaller Lake George. Lake Kyoga is in the centre of the country and is surrounded by extensive marshy areas.
Uganda is one of the country only countries in the world crossed by the earth’s Equator. The equator is an imaginary line dividing the North and South hemisphere. Apart from Uganda, the earth’s equator runs through Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Somalia to mention a few. In Uganda the equator, the most visited equator line is located 75km from Kampala along Masaka highway. While at the equator, you can purchase souvenirs and watch the cool equator water experiments. The equator line can also be seen in the western part of Uganda close to Queen Elizabeth national park in Kasese district.
Uganda is one of the best hiking destinations in Africa. Uganda has the third highest peak – Margarita peak on Mountain Rwenzori. Mount Rwenzori national park is one of Uganda’s national parks with the most fascinating and unique attraction as it is the only place in Uganda to find snow. It is also known as “The Mountain of the Moon” with a peak at about 5,109 meters above sea level. Mount Rwenzori is blessed with a wide range of flora and fauna as you climb all the way through different vegetation zones with plenty of giant lobelias, flowers, tress, bamboo forest and some montane cloud forests and other vegetation. Climb through meandering rivers and valleys, creating a significant Rwenzori hiking experience. Hiking Rwenzori Mountain is a worldwide opportunity to see nature at its best. Rwenzori hike to the central circuit tour takes 6-8 days trek on the Rwenzori Mountain on Uganda mountain climbing adventure. Other hiking destination in Uganda includes; Mount Elgon located in the Eastern part of Uganda bordering Kenya where we find the Uganda’s highest Caldera. Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhabuva, these are located on the Virunga Mountains shared with Congo and Rwanda. Mount Moroto located in the far northern eastern part of Uganda bordering South Sudan. Uganda Safari tours will offer you this great Mountain hiking experience.
In conclusion, Uganda is such a blessed country that fascinating facts about her are endless including the Uganda different cultures that is categorised in its customs and traditions of the different tribes of Uganda. The food, the dance and drama and generally the way of life of the different cultures in Uganda for example the richest cultures in Uganda include; the Karamojong culture and tours who are similar to the Masai people of Kenya and Tanzania, the Buganda Kingdom and its history, the Toro Kingdom to mention a few. In the modern Uganda today, Uganda is one of the best hangout destinations in Africa with the best nightlife. Compared with other East African countries of Kenya, and Tanzania, Uganda has an upper advantage of life enjoyment because of the unlimited restrictions, for example there are a number of night clubs, Casinos, and events that will make your every weekend stay in Kampala city. Plan a trip to Uganda and you will not leave the country the same as you came, a lot of adventure to experience in just a few days/weeks on Uganda Safaris Tours.
