Geography
Uganda, the pearl of Africa, is a landlocked country, bordered by Sudan to the North, Congo to the west, Rwanda and Tanzania to the South, and Kenya to the East. Lying astride the equator it covers an area of 242,554 square km. Topographically, much of Uganda can be classified as a plateau, with numerous small hills and valleys and extensive savanna plains. The entire country lies 900m above sea level, generally sloping from South to North.

The country lies in a cradle of mountains on its eastern border with Kenya, Mount Elgon, and Mount Moroto in the northeast, and the Southwestern Rwenzori Ranges rising to altitudes over 2000m. Uganda is a well-watered country, with close to 17% of its area dedicated to swamp or open water. Much of the country lies in the 'Interlacustrine Region' (between the lakes) of Africa. This region receives abundant rainfall, and is rich in tillable land, a major determining factor in settlement of the area.

Climate
The climate of Uganda is not any single climatic zone, although it has been generally categorized as a 'Modified Tropical' climate. Its central location on the East African Plateau is a major determining factor in the local climate.

Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, is spread over ten hills and derives its name from a kiganda expression "kasozi k'empala", "the hill of antelopes". The origins of Kampala go back to 1891, when Kabaka of Buganda had his court on the Rubaga and Mengo hills.

The town that grew up achieved municipal status in 1950 and became a city in 1962. Today, as you stand on the hills, the city view provides magnificent evergreen trees, gently disrupted by red-tiled villas, green iron-roofed bungalows. There are also taller modern city profiles that give way to attractive views of the surrounding country side and nearby Lake Victoria.

The city has retained its traditional charm, and remains the greenest in Africa. Still, Kampala is the heart of Uganda, the center of commercial life and the seat of government. It is a vibrant modern metropolis adorned with gardens and parks providing colorful oases for its citizens and visitors alike. The broad range of cultures in Uganda is also reflected in the wide choice of restaurants, all featuring wonderful produce from the fertile countryside and fish-filled lakes.

Attractions
Archeology tells us that prehistoric man walked the earth in what is now Uganda, and many sites have been excavated that show habitation over the centuries. One of the more recent excavations is at Kiboro near Lake Albert, where there are traces of village life going back a thousand years.

Recorded history has a much shorter tradition, and documentary evidence of Uganda's past goes only 150 years. The 19th century was a period of great change and great strife in Uganda, and many of the most famous historical sites are associated to this period.

A new Africa-wide project identifies ancient slave routes that traversed the Continent, and indicates some important sites within Uganda, revealing both the historical as well as social legacies of this era. A Slave Route map can be obtained from the National Museum.

Accommodation
Uganda has a wide range of accommodation standards—from five star hotels and first class luxury lodges, to rustic bush camps, guesthouses and campsites. Foreigners must pay in hard currency, except for smaller guesthouses. Not all of the small town hotels are equipped to take travelers cheques or credit cards. Be aware of the extras added onto your bill; they include a 10% service charge and 20% VAT (1995).

Arrival by Air
Uganda's main international gateway is the Entebbe International Airport. It is located some 40km south of Kampala, in the lakeside town of Entebbe. Its setting makes a spectacular entry to the country with an approach over Lake Victoria. A number of International carriers operate regular flights to and from Entebbe. These include: Uganda Airlines (The Flag Carrier), Alliance Airways (International Carrier), Air Burundi, Air France, Air India, Air Tanzania, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Gulf Air, Inter Air, Kenya Airways, Sabena and Tropical Airways.

There are international and standard hotels in both Entebbe and Kampala. Taxis are available at the airport if you are not being met by a hotel shuttle.

Arrival by Road
The main road border crossings are open at Malaba, Busia, Mutukula, Kisoro, Arua and Lwakhakha. Drivers require a valid international driving license, and must carry their vehicle logbooks. Drivers will be expected to show adequate third party insurance, and pay a temporary road license.

Arrival by Water
Weekly services to Port Bell from Mwanza in Tanzania are provided by Tanzania Railways Corporation in conjunction with Uganda Railways Corporation.

The MV Victoria operates on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday between Mwanza, Bukoba and Port Bell. It leaves Mwanza on Sunday at 14.00hrs and arrives at Port Bell at 07.00hrs, then departs at 16.00hrs same day.

Banks
Kampala is well serviced with banks. The two largest banks in the country are the Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) and The Co-operative Bank, which have an extensive branch network throughout the country. Other larger indigenous banks are the Nile Bank and Orient Bank. International Banks include Stanbic, Allied Bank, Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Tropical Africa Bank.

Banking hours are generally 9:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday, and 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays. Some banks open later. Forex bureaus are normally open till 17:00 and are able to do electronic transfers to and from overseas. The Uganda Commercial Bank also has a branch at the Entebbe International Airport to serve incoming and outgoing passengers.

Car Hire
There are many car hire companies offering a small range of vehicles. Some offer a flat weekly rate, but most charge a daily rate plus mileage, insurance and petrol. Most cars come with a chauffeur but arrangement for self-drive cars are becoming more popular, especially with destination management companies.

Clothes
Uganda has mild winters, and summer days can get quite hot. Lightweight casual clothes can be worn all year round, with a jacket or jersey for early winter mornings and evenings. On safari, keep clothes to a minimum, with neutral coloring—khakis, browns and greens. A sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant are a must.

Currency
The unit of currency in Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (Ush). There are coins in the following denominations: 50, 100, 200, 500 in circulation concurrently in with notes of similar denominations. When changing travelers’ cheques a valid passport is required. Some agencies may ask for your Sales Advice Slip. It is also important to note that small denomination bills of US$1, 5, 10, and 20 are changed at a substantially reduced rate, as are torn and soiled notes. This can be as much as a 5% difference.

Communications
Postal services are fairly well organized in Uganda and you should have no problem sending or receiving letters. International call facilities as well as fax facilities exist at the main Post Office. Otherwise phone cards can be bought and used in public pay phones.

There are Email and Internet access services in Kampala. Outlying towns with good telephone lines can access email by phoning the server in Kampala.

Health Requirements
Visitors from or passing through a yellow fever and cholera zone (most of tropical Africa and South America) must be able to produce a valid International Certificate of Vaccination. Air travelers who only pass through the airports of such a zone are exempt from the requirement.

It is also advised that all travelers be vaccinated against Meningitis, Typhoid and Hepatitis. As Uganda is in a malaria zone, visitors should also take prophylactics against malaria although the best way to avoid catching malaria is to avoid bites by using mosquito repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net. It is advisable to drink only boiled or bottled water and avoid swimming in ponds and still water pools.

Language
There are over 56 dialects spoken in Uganda, which is a reflection of Uganda's multi-tribal society. English is the official language and most Ugandan's are able to communicate fluently in English. All media and business is in English and most Ugandans speak it fairly well. Swahili is the next most commonly understood language, followed by Luganda.

Security
Petty theft is rife in the major towns where unemployment is high. Be very aware when walking around carrying anything of value; there are master pickpockets everywhere. If possible, never leave your vehicle unattended and never change money on the streets. This is less of a problem in the rural areas. For the most part, however, Ugandans are very friendly and helpful. As far as personal safety is concerned, one could easily hitchhike alone throughout the country without a problem. Carry minimum amounts of cash and keep it hidden or in a money belt, if possible.

Visa and Immigration Requirements
Many people are required to obtain visas from Uganda's Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad. Visas can also be obtained on arrival at Entebbe Airport as long as one satisfies the entry requirements. You are however advised to ensure that you get your visas before you embark on the trip to Uganda to avoid unnecessary paper work at point of entry.

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt

Geography—note: landlocked

Population: 22,804,973 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan

Ethnic groups: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%, Batobo 3%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 23%

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%

Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda

Government type: republic

Capital: Kampala

National Holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Constitution: 8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995

Legal system: in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Flag description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side

Economy—overview: 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. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government—with the support of foreign countries and international agencies—has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-98, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Continuation of this performance, while possible, appears difficult because of Ugandan involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, growing corruption within the government, and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms.

Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement

Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Currency: 1 Ugandan shilling (Ush) = 100 cents

Telephones 61,600 (1990 est.)
system: fair system but in serious need of expansion and better maintenance; a cellular system has been introduced as a stopgap but the communications problems will not be solved without substantial investment in the conventional telephone infrastructure; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communications stations, cellular system for short range traffic
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 1,241 km
narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge
note: a program to rehabilitate the railroad is underway (1995)

Highways:
total: 27,000 km
paved: 1,800 km
unpaved: 25,200 km (of which about 4,800 km are all-weather roads) (1990 est.)

Waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward, Victoria Nile, and Albert Nile

Ports and harbors: Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Wing