The Republic of Uganda!

Where is Uganda, you may ask?

The Republic of Uganda is located in East Africa. It is about the size of Oregon, with a population of just under 38 million people. It takes about 18 hours of traveling via plane to reach Uganda from the heartland of America.

Located in East Africa, Uganda shares a boarder with Kenya to the East, Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, South Sudan to the North, and Rwanda and Tanzania to the Southwest and South. Because Uganda is on the Equator the climate is tropical, but the temperature is cool in the higher altitudes. In the North it is hotter because of the savanna dry plains and lower elevation. The ground is very fertile and many things are able to grow without issues here. 

The official languages in Uganda are Swahili and English but Swahili, for the most part, is ignored and English is the main language spoken in schools, in Kampala, and in large towns. Luganda is the central language, spoken across the country, with also other languages including Runyoro, Rutorro, Runyankole, Rukiga, Langi, Acholi, and many other tribal languages.

In 1962, Uganda gained independence from the British.  The elected government of Milton Obote was overthrown by General Idi Amin in 1971 and he declared himself President. He ruled for eight years and massacred an estimated 300,000 civilians. He also expelled all the Indian and Pakistani citizens in 1972 causing an economic decline which has lasted for decades. In 1979, the Tanzanians gained control of the capital of Kampala and forced Amin to flee to Saudi Arabia where he lived for the rest of his life.Yusuf Kironde Lule became President for 68 days before a military coup removed him from power. Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa was put into power and lasted just under a year. Apollo Milton Obote, who had been President before Idi Amin, took over and returned to rule as President for another five years, until 27 July 1985, when Yoweri Kaguta Museveni overthrew him and came to power in 1986. Museveni has ruled as President ever since.

The Four Different Regions In Uganda

The Republic Of Uganda Flag

The Uganda Flag: There are six equal horizontal bands of black, yellow and red.

Black symbolizes the African People
Yellow symbolizes the Sunshine and Vitality
Red symbolizes the African Brotherhood

Inside the white disk is a Grey Crowned Crane which is the National Symbol. The crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK.

SO LET'S TALK AFRICA

Flags and Countries in Africa

 Some facts about Africa!

• There are over 1.1 billion people living throughout the continent of Africa. 
• There are 54 countries and one “non-self governing territory,” the Western Sahara, in Africa.
• All of Africa was colonized by foreign powers during the “scramble for Africa”, except Ethiopia and Liberia.
• Before colonial rule Africa comprised up to 10,000 different states and autonomous groups with distinct languages and customs.
• Africa is the second most populous continent with about 1.1 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population. Over 50% of Africans are under the age of 25.
• Over 25 million people are HIV-positive on the continent and over 17 million have died of the disease already.
• The Second Congo War claimed over 5.4 million lives and is the deadliest worldwide conflict since World War II.
• Africa is the world’s second largest continent covering about over 30 million square kilometers.
• The Sahara is the largest desert in the world and is bigger than the continental USA.
  
• Nigeria is the fourth largest oil exporter in the world and Africa’s biggest oil producer, with about 2.2 million barrels produced every day. Top 10 oil producers in Africa in order of total exports: Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Gabon, South Africa.
  
• Over 55% of Africa’s labour force is working in food production, with vast areas of arable and pastoral lands supporting agricultural economies.
• Over 90% of soils are unsuitable for agriculture and only 0.25% has moderate to low potential for sustainable farming.
• Rainfall variability is very high – from 0 mm/year in the Sahara to 9,500 mm/year near Mount Cameroon.
• Over 240 million Africans suffer from chronic undernourishment.
• Over 1,270 large dams have been built along the continent’s many rivers.
• Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.
• Megafauna like giraffe, zebra, gorilla, hippopotamus, chimpanzee and wildebeest are unique to the continent and only found here.
• Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other freshwater system on earth.
• The Nile River is the longest river in the world with a total length of 6,650 kilometres.
• Africa has over 85% of the world’s elephants and over 99% of the remaining lions are on the African continent.
  
• Africa has over 25% of the world’s bird species.