Uganda

THE COUNTRY

Uganda is a country in East Africa and it shares borders with South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Uganda is divided into 4 regions – Central, Western, Eastern, Northern.

POPULATION

The Ugandan population was 44 million as of 2019.

LANGUAGES

Generally Ugandans use English which is taught in school and used as official language

Ganda and Luganda are commonly used. Other languages include Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili and Arabic.

This is KAMPALA, Uganda’s capital and also the country’s largest city. It’s quite hilly and located at the shores of Lake Victoria.

DID YOU KNOW?

LAKE VICTORIA is the largest lake on the African continent , the world’s second largest fresh water lake (after LAKE SUPERIOR in North America) and the world’s third largest lake !

Can you correctly identify the Great Lakes of Uganda?

HISTORY

Small groups of farmers and herders moved into the region of present-day Uganda hundreds of years ago.

Towards the end of the 14th century, there was the powerful Bunyoro Kingdom west of Lake Victoria.

Around 1800, the Buganda Kingdom became the greatest power in the region.

Uganda is named after the Buganda Kingdom. There were also other kingdoms such as Kitara and Karagwe.

In 1894, Great Britain claimed the territory of the Buganda Kingdom as well as surrounding regions. Like many other African states, Uganda became a British protectorate.

In 1962, Uganda gained independence from Great Britain.

In 1971, Idi Amin took control of the country and ruled it under dictatorship.

300,000 people died under Idi Amin’s rule.

In 1979 Amin was forced to leave the country.

Uganda elected a president in 1980, but the military took control again in 1985.

In 1986 the leader of a rebel army Yoweri Museveni became president and is the president to date .

THE FLAG

The Ugandan flag has bands of black, yellow and red, a white circle in the middle with an image of a grey crowned Crane bird, which is also a national symbol.

Meaning of the colors and symbols on the flag;

BLACK – Native people of Uganda

YELLOW – Sunshine and African brotherhood

RED – Blood connection of Africans

Crane (bird) – It symbolizes gentleness. Its raised leg symbolizes forward movement

COLOURING THE FLAG OF UGANDA

UGANDAN CUISINE

Popular staple food is matoke made from bananas (which are plenty in Uganda)

UGANDAN MUSIC

OUR ADVISOR

My name is Chrisphine Omondi. I am a communications expert from Kenya, and currently contact person for Global New Generation (Our Network) in Kenya.

I have a long career working with vulnerable groups;

In Kenya worked as communications specialist for Kenya Youth Business Trust – a member of Youth Business International, a network of non-profit organizations that support young people to start and grow their business across the globe.

Between 2008 and part of 2009 I volunteered with Caritas Switzerland/Luxembourg in South Sudan as a focal person in the construction of Volley Ball/Basketball Court under a UNDP/Government of South Sudan funded project dubbed, Rapid Impact Emergency Project – Labour Intensive Public Works.

I also volunteered with Saferworld GB in 2009 to conduct community security assessment in Torit County, to establish what the community considered as threat besides Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).