53 Facts About Uganda

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa.

Ugandans were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago.

The Buganda kingdom was Uganda's most well-known. It is now the country's largest traditional kingdom, bordered on the south by Lake Victoria. The name Uganda is derived from the name of this kingdom as well.

After the country's independence in 1962, Sir Edward Mutesa, King of Buganda (Mutesa II), was elected as the country's first president, and Milton Obote as its first prime minister.

During Idi Amin's regime, an estimated 300,000 people were killed (Former President: 1971-79). The majority of these people were from the country's north and were seen as supporters of Milton Obote (former Prime Minister: 1962-66; also former President: 1966-71 and 1980-85). During his reign, Amin also forcibly expelled Indian businessmen from the country.

Uganda has a diverse ethnic and cultural population. If you pick two people at random, they will almost always be of different ethnicities.

Uganda was dubbed "the Pearl of Africa" by Sir Winston Churchill. He visited the country during its British occupation.

Almost half of the population is under the age of 14, making it one of the world's youngest countries.

HIV/AIDS is a major threat to Uganda's population.

Motorcycles are used as taxis in Uganda to transport people from one location to another.

Agriculture is an important part of the Ugandan economy because it employs the majority of Ugandans (nearly one-third).

Mountain gorillas in Uganda are a major draw for visitors from all over the world. Uganda is estimated to have half of their population (in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park).

Every year, over 800,000 tourists visit Uganda.

Since 1986, Uganda has been ruled by the same president, Yoweri Museveni.

Presidential term limits were lifted in 2005, as was a 19-year ban on multi-party politics. The lifting of the ban on presidential term limits, on the other hand, was not well received by Ugandans.

The United States of America (9,833,517 sq km) is nearly 41 times larger than Uganda (241,038 sq km).

Uganda has 165 lakes and 8 major rivers, making it a well-watered country.

In Uganda, large families are preferred.

Uganda also has one of the highest fertility rates in the world, with 5.8 children per woman.

The actual fertility rate in its rural areas is higher than the national average of 5.8 children per woman. Lack of contraception awareness and government support for family planning are also contributing to population growth.

Women are married at a young age, exposing them to issues concerning their reproductive health.

The country also has a high maternal mortality rate due to early childbearing and short birth intervals.

Uganda is one of the poorest and least-developed countries on the planet.

Uganda is also short on skilled health care workers due to a lack of opportunities for medical professionals to work in the country.

In search of better job opportunities, doctors and nurses from the country have immigrated to other countries.

Uganda is currently dealing with environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, overgrazing, and hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria.

Uganda is losing a lot of its forest cover as the demand for charcoal and firewood to sustain life grows.

Unemployment is a major issue in Uganda, and while many locals find work in local cottage industries, many others remain unemployed.

Uganda's supreme court consists of a chief justice and at least ten other justices.

Uganda is also well-known for its coffee.

Coffee and cotton are cash crops that generate significant revenue for the country.

Uganda is one of the top ten coffee producing countries in the world, with Brazil at the top and Vietnam at the bottom.

The bicycle is a popular mode of transportation among the locals. It is used on a daily basis.

Uganda held its first post-independence election in 1962.

Uganda receives consistent rainfall and has plenty of fertile land, which is why the majority of its people work in agriculture and related fields.

The government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are at odds in the country's north, and the country is suffering as a result.

Uganda is thought to have the potential to feed all of Africa if commercially and wisely farmed. However, due to political instability and erratic political management, the country itself is vulnerable to future starvation.

Although primary school education is prioritised, secondary school education is not available to nearly 85% of children.

Uganda is the source of the world-famous Nile River. It is also referred to as the father of African rivers.

According to the World Bank, 84% of Uganda's population lived in rural areas in 2015.

Lake Victoria is shared by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Lake Victoria is also the largest freshwater lake in Africa.

Uganda was under military rule for more than 20 years following its independence from Britain and prior to the election of Yoweri Museveni as president in 1986.

Poverty in Uganda: In 2013, 19.7% of Uganda's population lived below the poverty line.

Bantu speakers account for the majority of Uganda's population.

Lonely Planet has named Uganda the best tourist destination in the world for 2012.

After Ethiopia, Uganda is the world's second most populous landlocked country.

The war in northern Uganda has been dubbed the "world's largest neglected humanitarian emergency," according to the UN secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

Uganda has a cash-based economy because the country's infrastructure is not developed to support cashless transactions, as it is in other developing and developed countries.

Mildred Apenyo, a 25-year-old Ugandan, opened the country's first female-only gym in 2014.

Uganda has the highest number of refugees in Africa. There are over 21 million refugees worldwide, with 86% of them seeking refuge in developing countries.

The highest point in Uganda is Mount Stanley's Margherita Peak. Mount Stanley (5,109m) is Africa's third highest peak after Kilimanjaro (5,895m).

At 621m, Lake Albert is Uganda's lowest point.

Ugandans consume 11.93 litres of alcohol per person per year, placing the country second in Africa.