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ABOUT UGANDA

DEMOGRAPHICS
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as
the “Pearl of Africa”. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by
South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on
the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part
of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also
bordered by Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda
kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country includ-
ing the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until
1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the
southern parts of the country. Uganda gained independence from Britain on
9 October 1962.
FLAG
The flag of Uganda was adopted on 9 October 1962, the date that Ugan-
da became independent from the United Kingdom. It consists of six equal
horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red (bottom);
a white disc is superimposed at the centre and depicts the national symbol,
a grey crowned crane, facing the hoist side. The three colours are repre-
sentative of African peoples (black), Africa’s sunshine (yellow), and African
brotherhood (red being the colour of blood, through which all Africans are
connected). The grey crowned crane is fabled for its gentle nature and was
also the military badge of Ugandan soldiers during British rule.
FACTS
Official Name: Republic of Uganda
Capital: Kampala
Area: 236,580 sq km, 93,065 sq mi
POPULATION
Population: 39,234,256 million (2014)
Population Growth Rate 3.2% annual change (2013)
Life Expectancy: 59 years (2011)

GOVERNMENT
The President of Uganda, currently H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is both head
of state and head of government. The President appoints a Vice President,
currently H.E. Edward Ssekandi, and a prime minister, currently Rt Hon. Ru-
hakana Rugunda, who aid him in governing. The National Assembly, which
has 375 members, forms the parliament. Interest groups including women
and the army nominated 104 of these members while the remaining mem-
bers are elected for five-year terms during general elections.
Form of government: Republic
Head of state: President
Head of government: President
Legislature: Unicameral legislature
Voting qualifications Universal at age 18
Constitution: 8 October 1995
Highest court: Supreme Court
GEOGRAPHY
The country is located on the East African plateau, lying mostly between lat-
itudes 4°N and 2°S (a small area is north of 4°), and longitudes 29° and 35°E.
It averages about 1,100 meters (3,609 ft) above sea level, and this slopes very
steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the north. However, much of the

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