About Uganda, Getting A Visa, People, Language and Culture
To most visitors the attraction of Uganda is the chance to experience at first hand, the sights, sounds, scents, flora and fauna often only glimpsed on TV or travel books or magazines. Today, Uganda welcomes visitors from all over the world whom, with an adventurous spirit, come to explore our enchanting country.
Many are attracted to the beauty of our amazing country; to see the second largest lake in the world (Lake Victoria), the longest river in the world (The Nile), the gorillas, the super-abundant bird life and the best white water rafting experience in the world. Who can resist the call of the magnificent Mountains of the Moon and the simply marvelous home grown Murchison falls, the mysterious rain forests in Bwindi, Kibale and Semliki. The superlatives go on and on?
Uganda is ideal for a trip of discovery into the most enthralling continent. It presents a captivating combination of the wonders of Nature, traditional customs and modern attractions. But above all other attractions, is the welcome that comes from the heart of the Ugandan people. The people of Uganda are amongst the most hospitable in Africa. Our nation is a result of the unification of ancient kingdoms as well as many independent chieftains. Their heritage lives on in the hearts of the people, and their traditional costumes, language and practices are unmistakable in t he life of Uganda today.
Getting to Uganda is so easy. Entebbe International Airport is just 37 kilometers from Kampala. It is served by international carriers from Europe, as well as services to Nairobi, providing connections with Africa’s biggest gateway. Uganda’s equatorial climate is tempered by cooling breezes from the mountains .The lush vegetation is the result of bountiful rainfall in two rainy seasons which fall around April and November.
Uganda offers unique experiences to all that visit with us. The vibrant color of the vegetation, unparalled ormthological list of African birds, the realization of how close the gorillas and the chimps are to us as relatives. The power of the Nile, the profusion of animal, insect and reptile species, the calming effect of the vast expanse of fresh water called the Lake Victoria, the frightening intensity of African rain storms and the greeting by kneeling of the Bantu women.
The quiet comfort and service in the superb safari lodges, tented camps and guesthouses in the national parks all add up to make it the trip of a lifetime to you. When visiting Uganda, the question is not ” What will I really see?” but ” Will I really see it all?” This means that you, the visitor, enjoys Uganda’s splendid gifts at their natural best, and that you are hosted by well informed, committed, local people each with a personal investment in both your enriched experience and the preservation and enhancement of the very features that provide that enrichment.
Last and most important is that you are safe and secure in Uganda. The tragic events in March 1999 are well and truly behind us. The Government focuses on resource development of the natural treasures of Uganda’s national parks and the people who are involved in their conservation, interpretation, management and enjoyment. The people are you and we.
The People
Uganda has a population of over 17 million people made up of a complex and diverse range of tribes. The majority of Uganda’s people are concentrated in the South and West. The most populous ethnic group is the Bantu-speaking Baganda. The Baganda account for about 20% of the population and are centered in Kampala. The Basoga are the 3rd largest group with 6 % of the population. As a result of years of missionary work, Christianity is widespread. There are also several Muslim sects.
Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja are quickly becoming culturally diverse, as opportunities attract business investors from Europe, the Middle East, and other African nations. There was a large Asian population. Many of the city street names in Kampala and Jinja reflect this.
The Language
The official language is English, specifically “the Queen’s English” as spoken in Great Britain. The other major languages are Luganda and Swahili, although the latter isn’t spoken much in Kampala. More than 40 local languages are spoken throughout the country, most of them belonging to the Bantu language group.
The Geography
Uganda has an area of 235,796 square km., roughly the same area as Great Britain or Oregon. Approximately 25% of the total area is fertile land capable of providing a surplus of food. Lake Victoria and the River Nile, flowing through much of the country, create one of the best-watered areas of Africa. Kenya borders Uganda to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, Zaire to the west and Sudan to the north.
The country lies on an elevated basin between the eastern and western branches of the Great Rift Valley. The land varies from semi-desert in the northeast, to the lush and fertile shores of the lake, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the west, and the mountainous southwest. The Rwenzori Range on the Zaire border is the highest mountain range in Africa. Other mountains include the Virunga Volcanoes on the Rwanda/Zaire border, and Mt. Elgon, an extinct volcano near the Kenyan border.
Important bodies of water include Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water lake after Lake Superior, and the River Nile, the world’s longest river - second to none. Although the equator crosses through the south, the tropical heat is tempered by the altitude averaging over, 1,000 meters. In most parts of the country the temperatures are warm and mild.