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| Uganda is a geologically immensely diverse country, with a central plateau surrounded by a rim of mountains interspersed with rolling hills and valleys. The altitude averages about 900 metres (2,950 ft) above sea level, and the country’s highest point is above 5100 meters, located in the Rwenzori Mountains on the western border to Congo. With 4321 meters, Mt Elgon on the border to Kenya is the country’s second highest mountain.
Although landlocked, Uganda has access to several large water bodies, including Lake Victoria in the East, Lake Kyoga in the Centre and Lake Albert and Lake Edward in the West. Uganda also has several rivers, among them the Nile, one of the world's longest rivers, whose source is Lake Victoria and whose waters pour into the Mediterranean Sea. |
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Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.
Ugandan national parks offer a variety of mammal and bird species the country offers its guests a diverse safari experience. Most of the countries national parks are located in the West and offer an attractive circuit for tourists.
- Murchison Falls National Park in the Northwest of the country offers game drives, boat safaris and exciting walks along the stunning falls that have given the park its name.
- Kibale is home to several primate species, including the localised red Colobus and chimps
- Queen Elizabeth, famous for its tree-climbing lions, offers the highest concentration of wildlife in Uganda and a very diverse wildlife experience, with bush walks, boat safaris and game drives and, in addition, Chimpanzee Trekking in the beautiful Kiambura Gorge
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located on the edge of the western Rift Valley is one of the largest natural forests in East Africa and contains both Montane and lowland forest. It supports a large number of plants and animals endemic to the region, but most notably half of the world's population of Mountain Gorillas.
Others National Parks include the mountainous Mgahinga and Rwenzoris and Semliki on the border to Congo, Mt Elgon in the East and the rarely visited Kidepo Valley in the North.
Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital Kampala and the nearby city of Entebbe.
Uganda has not yet been discovered by mass tourism and therefore enables visitors to get away from the beaten path in beautiful parks where outside the high season they are unlikely to meet another group of visitors.
A ride on Ugandan bicycle-taxi or the more common motorcycle-taxi called a ‘boda-boda’ is an experience worth trying. |
Full Country Name:
Area:
Population: |
Uganda
236,040 sq km
28 million |
| Capital City: |
Kampala |
People:
Language:
Religion: |
Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6%
English (official), Luganda (most widely used native language)
Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% |
| Government: |
Republic |
| Head of State & Government: |
President Yoweri Museveni |
| GDP: |
USD 52.93 billion |
| GDP per Capital: |
USD 1,900 |
| Annual Growth: |
5.3% |
| Inflation: |
9.7% |
| Major Industries: |
80% Agriculture (coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava, potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry), small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; tourism |
| Major Trading Partners: |
Kenya, UAE, China, India, South Africa, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Rwanda, Sudan |
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