Uganda is a landlocked country found in east Africa. It is bordered by Kenya to the West, Tanzania to the south, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the East, Rwanda in southwest and South Sudan to the north. Uganda is often referred to as the “pearl of Africa” and it was Winston Churchill who came up with that description after he visited in the early 1900’s. He was deeply impressed by the beautiful physical features like Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, amazing landscapes, mountains, the wildlife in the jungles and plains of Uganda.
Uganda’s total land area is 93,263 square kilometers with a total population of about 49.6 million people as of 2023. Uganda’s capital city is Kampala. Kampala consists of 7 beautiful hills each with a history and holding either religious or political monuments since the colonial times. The old Kampala hill houses the Uganda national mosque (the Gaddafi mosque) while the Rubaga hill is home to the largest Roman 
catholic church in Uganda. The Kololo hill was the administration headquarters of the colonial government and is still home to some of the country’s affluent class. Namirembe hill was occupied by the Anglican missionaries and as such has the most important Anglican Church. Makerere hill is famous for hosting the prestigious Makerere University. Kibuli hill was occupied by the first Moslem in the country while Mulago hill is home to the largest national referral hospital. You can read more about these hills and the top attractions in Kampala.
The official languages used in Uganda is English and Kiswahili. Kiswahili is being adopted as a uniting language with the other East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania. English and Swahili aside, 
Uganda is also a multi-lingual country with some 56 other local languages spoken. Luganda is the most widely spoken local language among the population. What is the main currency used in Uganda? The currency used in the country is the Uganda shillings but one can also use US dollar especially in tourist resorts and camps. Before we discuss the key facts about Uganda, you might want to read a comprehensive article about the things to do in Uganda. There is also an article about the interesting facts about Rwanda and student tours in Uganda. If you are planning to visit Africa soon, you might want to know about the price of a safari in Uganda or how to plan a trip to Uganda. Let us discuss Uganda for now: –
Interesting Facts About Uganda
Landlocked Country: As earlier mentioned, Uganda is a landlocked country. It has no direct route to the ocean or a sea port. Nevertheless, 26% of Uganda’s total land area is covered by water bodies including lakes and Rivers. The main lakes in Uganda are Victoria, Albert, Bunyonyi and Kyoga among others. The main river is the Nile but Uganda has countless streams and swamps too.
A young Population: Uganda has one of the youngest population in the world with about 48% being children below 15 years of age. The country also has high fertility rates and a woman will bear an average of 5 children in her lifetime. That said, both infant and maternal mortality rates are high.
Source of the Great River Nile: Uganda is the source of the world’s longest river. The River Nile starts it journey to Egypt from a small city in Eastern Uganda known as Jinja. Jinja is also known as East Africa’s adrenaline capital because many thrilling and extreme water sport activities are arranged there. Many tourists take a road trip in Uganda to see the source of the Nile and also take part in activities like bungee jumping or whitewater rafting. The Nile river gets much of its water from Lake Victoria. The source of the Nile is therefore found at the point where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest fresh water lake in the world. The government has constructed a structure or monument to show the exact point where river Nile leaves Lake Victoria.
One of the best Tourism Destinations in the world: Uganda has been ranked by many leading publications as one of the best destinations to visit in Africa. In 2012, lonely planet listed Uganda as the 
best tourism destination because of its political stability, friendly/welcoming people and variety of unique tourism sites. CNN considers Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda as one of the best national parks to visit for those who love pristine and raw African wilderness. These glowing reviews among many has encouraged travelers from all parts of the world to visit Uganda. When they visit, they can expect to encounter fascinating wildlife, amazing physical features and visit cultural sites among other things. Travelers on a Uganda safari can visit any of the 10 national parks or the smaller game reserves. The top national parks in Uganda are Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Murchison falls.
A country with several UNESCO World Heritage sites: Uganda boasts of 3 UNESCO world heritage sites. These include the Kasubi tombs, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains national Park. These sites attract Travelers from all over the world. The Kasubi tombs where burial grounds for departed kings of the Buganda kingdom and were officially declared world heritage sites in 2001 by UNESCO. Bwindi impenetrable national park is home to about half of the remaining mountain gorillas and was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994 along with The Rwenzori mountains national park.
Home to half of the remaining Population of Mountain Gorillas: Uganda is one of the only 3 countries in the world that still have mountain gorillas. These rare primates are also found in Rwanda 
and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is blessed to have half of the total population of mountain gorillas left in the world. Uganda is special because these amazing primates can be seen in two national parks – Bwindi and Mgahinga. Uganda is the only country where one can take part in the mountain gorilla habituation experience. Uganda has 19 habituated mountain gorilla families compared to the 10 in Rwanda and 8 in Congo. Gorilla tourism is very popular in Uganda and is what brings people into the country.
Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy but oil is coming: The majority of the 
population is employed by the agricultural sector. In fact, 70% of the land in the country is used for agricultural activities. Uganda produces crops like bananas, coffee, flowers, tea, tobacco, cotton and vanilla among others. Uganda exports agricultural products to mainly the neighboring countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Congo. Exports are also sent to countries like India, UAE, European Union and the United States. Uganda will start to export its oil and petroleum products soon due to the recent discovery of oil deposits in the Albertine region of the country.
Ugandans are famous for eating Rolex, grasshoppers and bamboo shoots (kamalewa). The Rolex isn’t the luxury watch from Switzerland but rather the people’s favorite street food. Uganda’s 
Rolex is made up of omelet and salads wrapped in what is called chapatti. The Rolex is very popular with the locals and even tourists who come into the country. It is so popular that it inspired an annual Rolex festival where people come together to enjoy it amidst celebrations. The seasonal edible grasshoppers are thought to be even more delicious than the Rolex. The grasshoppers are caught in the night, wings removed and pan fried until they turn golden brown. Kamalewa are delicious smoked bamboo shoots cooked in peanut paste and popular in the eastern part of the country.
Uganda has about 56 tribal groups: Though a small country, Uganda is home to about 56 tribal groups. The majority of the population belong to the Bantu speaking tribes such as the Baganda, Basoga, Banyankole and Bakiga. The bantu speaking people are found in the central, southern, western and some parts of eastern Uganda. Apart from the Bantu group of tribes, there are also the Nilotics, Hamites and Nilo-hamite tribes. Under these groups are the Acholi, Langi, Alur, Lugbara, Iteso, Jopadhola and the Karamojong just to mention a few. These non-bantu speaking tribes are found in the northern, northeast, northwestern and eastern parts of the country. The Batwa pygmies who live near the forested areas of South western Uganda are also one of the many tribes of Uganda.
Uganda hosts more refugees than any other country in Africa: Although Uganda is ranked among the least developed countries in Africa with very high unemployment rates, the country hosts the biggest number of refugees in the whole of Africa. This is a clear testament to the welcoming nature of Ugandans. Ugandans, are friendly and welcoming to foreigners. Many people who visit or come to Uganda as expatriates eventually settle in the country. They are drawn by the warmth and humor of Ugandans apart from the amazing natural beauty.
Most Ugandans are Christians: Uganda’s population is dominated by Christians who make up about 85% of the total population. Christians in Uganda identify themselves as Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Seventh day Adventists or Orthodox. About 14% of Ugandans identify with Islam while 1% have stuck to the indigenous religions. Religion has been a great uniting factor among the people of Uganda. That said, a significant number of Uganda are thought to be secretly practicing their indigenous religions.
The Equator Line Crosses Uganda: Uganda is one of the few countries crossed by the equator line. Travelers often stop to take photos at the equator crossing in Kayabwe which is located along the 
Kampala-Mbarara highway (about just 70km away from the capital Kampala). Apart from taking photos at the equator monument, there are also many souvenir shops and restaurants in the area. One can also observe the cool equator water experiments to show that the line actually passes there. Uganda has other equator crossing monuments close to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
To conclude, Uganda is a very beautiful country to visit and live in. The people are welcoming and vibrant. The climate is just right with two rain and two dry seasons. Uganda is considered to be one of the best places to see birds in the world. Birds are attracted to the beautiful nature and climate. The only drawback to Uganda’s tourism is a lack of an aggressive marketing strategy. Uganda can borrow a leaf from her neighbor Rwanda. Though a small country with less to offer, Rwanda promotes her tourism sites and resources aggressively. Many actually believe Rwanda is a better tourism destination just because of their efforts in global marketing.
