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Information About Uganda Information about Uganda Landscape Uganda has a very diverse landscape and lies on a plateau where the average height above sea level is 1,000 meters. The country’s main landscapes comprise the plateaus in the north-west, the semi-deserts in the north-east, the vast rainforests and swampland in the south and the mountainous regions in the east. The highest point is Mount Margherita, which measures 5,109 meters and is located in the Ruwenzori Mountains in the south-west of the country. Climate Uganda‘s climate is temperate due to its altitude. At the hottest time of the year, from December to February, the temperatures reach 29°C. The rainy season in the south spans from April to May and from October to November, with the most precipitation falling in April. In the north, the rainy season prevails continuously from April to October. Fauna/Flora The national parks and game reserves are in an excellent state and provide outstanding living conditions for 992 species of bird and 338 types of mammal. Kibale National Park is home to the largest number of primates in the world and Bwindi National Park is one of the last remaining sanctuaries for mountain gorillas. The plains serve as habitat to rhinoceroses, elephants, lions and leopards. About 25% of Uganda is fertile land with diverse flora comprising iroko trees, dry thorn bushes, papyrus plants, climbing plants and parasitic plant species. Politics/History Uganda‘s present territory was a British protectorate for many years. Uganda did not gain political independence until 1962. To this day, many associate Uganda with Idi Amin and his reign of terror. The dictator Idi Amin was responsible for the assassination of more than 300,000 dissidents from 1971 to 1979. Members of other races were killed and Asian immigrants, in particular Indians, who were assertive in trade were expelled from the country. In April 1979, the capital city Kampala was liberated by Ugandan rebels, under the leadership of Tanzanian troops, among whom was the current head of state, Yoweri Museveni. Nevertheless, vote rigging brought Milton Obote to power in the September 1980 elections. Museveni took up arms against him with a rebel army and the guerrilla warfare that followed under Obote (1980-1985) cost many more people their lives. In January 1986, Museveni‘s National Resistance Army (NRA) seized Kampala and Museveni was sworn in as President of Uganda without an election being called. For the time being, the country is still governed by President Museveni, whose government combines authoritarian and democratic elements. So as not to expose Uganda to further ethnic fragmentation after both reigns of terror, Museveni established a so-called non- party democracy (movement) which slowly transformed into a multi-party system. In the 20 years since Museveni came to power, Uganda‘s political and economic situation has significantly improved. A particularly positive aspect is, for example, the extensive freedom of the press by African standards and the associated exceptional diversity of the printed media, which is supplemented by private radio and television stations and a positive attitude towards human rights. However, deficiencies and massive problems remain, such as widespread poverty, ubiquitous corruption, difficulties with advancing the democratization process and the continuing existence of a misanthropic rebel movement in the north of the country. Economy Uganda has access to extensive raw material reserves, for example copper and cobalt, as well as substantial areas of fertile agricultural land. Agriculture, which employs more than 80% of the country‘s active population, constitutes the most significant commercial sector. The main article for export and primary source of revenue is coffee. Sugar, cotton, tea, textiles and tobacco are also major export goods. Mining and industry are of lesser importance. When it comes to industry, the processing of agricultural products plays a significant role. In 2003, the average rate of inflation was 6.1%..
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