ABOUT UGANDA

The source of River Nile, Lake Victoria, Murchison Falls, Shoe bill, The impenetrable forest, Mountain Gorillas, Alberline rift endemics, Budongo Forest, Mountains of the moon, Chimpanzees, Virunga volcanoes, Puvels illadopsis; Fox's Weave. Uganda is home to each of these legendary names. Uganda is a land locked country at the heart of Africa with a total area of 236000km. It is bounded by Sudan in the North, Democratic Republic Of Congo in the West, Rwanda in the South West, Tanzania in the South and Kenya in the East. The bulk of the country lies in Tropical Africa with the Equator crossing the Southern half of the country. Travel Tips to Uganda.

The country has a rich biodiversity resulting from its location, Topographical setting and altitudinal range (600-5100m) and it falls at the confluence of a number of regional centers of endemism or biomass each with a characteristic avifauna. Habitats include; arid sem-desert, rich savannahs, lowland and montane rain forests, vast wetlands and an Afro-alpine zone. No wonder Uganda has more bird species than any other Country in Africa. The country boasts a national list of 1010 species; a figure representing more than half the bird species that can be found in the whole of Africa and is the most accessible to see the legendary Shoe bill; great apes and other Alberline rift endemics.

A lot of improvement has been made in infrastructure development and conservation. Wildlife in protected areas has increased steadily and no doubt Uganda has some of the best remaining natural forests in Africa. Unlike other African countries, game viewing is free of mass Tourism. The special attractions are the mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees and with the 1010 species of the birds some endemic to the Albertine rift area, Uganda is the best place for ornithologists. Most of Uganda is well watered and lies at the Equator, The River Nile, the longest river in the world starts its long 6500km journey to the Med sea from Lake Victoria in Jinja traversing Murchison falls National park.

Uganda's population stands at about 28million people. In the Central and Western are Bantu speaking tribes with Baganda forming the largest tribe, in the North are the Nilotics, the Nomadic Karamajong and the mountain tribe of the Ike. There are some pygmy communities near forests in Western Uganda. More than 30 languages are spoken, English is the official language, Luganda and Swahili are also widely used.

A former British Colony centered around four kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro, Tooro and Ankole attained Independence in 1962. These kingdoms were abolished after independence and the country experienced turbulent times under the then Presidents especially the period 1971-1979 of the late Ex-President Idi Amin. The kingdoms were restored in 1993 when the country was enjoying calm as symbols of traditional society.