Uganda
Pictures
Waterfall at Sipi, Uganda ©
Fast Facts
- 236,040 square kilometres, slightly smaller than the UK
- 28 million people, with an average life expectancy of 52 years
- Official languages are English and Swahili, but Luganda is the most widely spoken
- 4.1% of the adult population is HIV-positive
- 35% of the population lives below the local poverty line
- 1.7% are internet users, and 5.4% own a mobile phone
- 70,746km of roads, 23% of them paved
Lay of the land
The landscape varies from semi-desert in the north to snow-capped mountains in the west. Uganda is a fertile country, irrigated by the vast Lake Victoria. Overall, it is relatively flat, but petrol is twice the price of what it is in Kenya, so Charley and Ewan are advised to fill up before they arrive.
And on the way...
The source of the Nile - this is sometimes considered to be Lake Victoria, although the lake has many feeder rivers. The Nile leaves the lake at Ripon Falls, near Jinja in south-eastern Uganda. Running for over 4,000 miles, the Nile is one of the most important and historic rivers on the planet. It is a life source for millions of people and animals throughout Uganda, Sudan and Egypt.
Other highlights
A Unicef rehabilitation project for child soldiers in Gulu - the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group in northern Uganda, has been abducting children who are then forced to fight or used as sex workers. Unicef is supporting shelters which help 14,000 children seeking safety from the LRA, as well as projects which try to reintegrate the child soldiers back into family and community life.
Semliki National Park - a mainly tropical lowland forest in the south-west of Uganda, the park's hot springs appear primeval.
Ruwenzori Mountains - known as the 'Mountains of the Moon' - are located on the Uganda/Democratic Republic of the Congo border. They include several peaks that are permanently covered in snow - rare in Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - one of the most biologically diverse areas of the planet and home to half of the world's mountain gorillas.
Kibale Forest National Park - home to hundreds of chimpanzees, and a rich variety of other primates.
Murchison Falls - the Nile is squeezed through a small gap, making the falls one of the most powerful surges of water in the natural world.
Lake Edward - on the Uganda/DRC border - was named after the Prince of Wales in 1888, renamed Lake Idi Amin in honour of the Ugandan dictator, and more recently given back its old name.
Nile Mansions Hotel in Kampala - infamous as a centre for interrogation and torture under dictator Idi Amin, who ruled for most of the 1970s and was responsible for the death of at least 300,000 people.
The people
Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups, none of which form a majority. Around 40 languages are in regular use.
Uganda has made the most effective national response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Africa. Along with Botswana, it is leading the way in rolling out anti-retroviral treatment.
Did you know...
The recent book and film The Last King of Scotland (1998 and 2006) was set in Uganda in the time of Idi Amin. Mixing fact and fiction, it told the story of a Scottish doctor who becomes personal physician and confidant to Adi Amin.
Comments
Comments 1 - 8 of 8
-
At 09:36:16 AM on 31/05/2007, Mark Cornell (Faversham) wrote:
Staying in Soroti
If you are heading through Soroti and need to stop off then there's a lovely little place called the garden guest house, just off the main high street. Ugandans are increadibly friendly and welcoming - you will be well looked after. Murchisan falls is awesome, as is sipi falls, worth the mountain trek!
-
At 11:27:37 PM on 05/06/2007, joey (ilkley) wrote:
Matugga
Just been to a meeting about supporting the Revival Centre in Matugga just north of Kampala in Uganda. It has had links to Ilkley since 2000 when just a plot of land was bought and the centre has grown to include a primary and secondary school 600 children, a church, an orphanage and a medical clinic just completed this April. Looks like you go right by it. You might find it uplifting. Love what you are doing. Take care.
-
At 05:46:52 PM on 07/06/2007, Jason Brogden (Tewkesbury) wrote:
Keyna 2 Cape Town
Did this route by overland last year - fantastic journey, cannot wait to see your programme. Will be back in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC in middle of July so will buy you guys a beer if you are passing nearby!
-
At 11:11:19 AM on 12/06/2007, Alastair Tams (Selkirk) wrote:
Bungokho
If you pass anywhere near you should try to drop in on my Bob and Rosalind Arnold (my uncle and aunt) and see the work they do at the Bungokho Rural Development Centre.
-
At 10:35:50 AM on 27/06/2007, Garth Martin (Dubai) wrote:
Advice for UGANDA
Hi guys, I am a biker myself (offroad) & used to ride with the guy Shaun who took Charlie out in Dubai (from BMW). Did the Desert Challenge so know what its like to be in the saddle for those long hours each day. Anyhow, my uncle & aunt run a game reserve in west Uganda off the beaten track –Lake Albert. The roads are very interesting and rural - just the route you are looking for as you wont encounter traffic. They have been in Uganda for a few years so will be able to help with best advice on routes to follow and help with anything you may need i.e. fuel, supplies etc and even accommodation if you fancy a sleep in a bed for a night! They're lovely people (South African) and would love to help out where possible. Bruce has a offroad bike there too. I’ll probably see you guys at the finish in Cape Town. Good luck and ride safe
-
At 01:49:48 PM on 05/07/2007, Sheila McCormick (Belfast) wrote:
ENJOY!!
Hi Guys Ive spent a year in total in Uganda. Its one of the most friendly places on earth. When in Jinja do make the extra 8k trip up to Bujagali Falls... Amazing views and great people to meet. Two Friends of mine own the Quad bike business All Terrain- PK and Shirray (PK's really into his bikes - you'll find him a kindered spirit) - Youre sure of a warm welcome! Also a great charity i volunteered for called Soft Power Edcuation.. they have a pottery, medical centre and newly opened education centre at the back of the village. You'll meet amazing and inspirational people. Im so jealous... ENJOY!
-
At 12:09:51 PM on 20/07/2007, Trevor Martingell (Orpington) wrote:
jinja kampala
I am a Trustee of a UK Charity Tag Rugby Tours and we have been taking UK Volunteers to Uganda for 5 years--teaching Primary school & Orphanage children Tag Rugby & running Inter school tournaments--we employ a Ugandan Lady--Uganda is a Special Place
At 01:33:51 PM on 23/05/2007, David Corlett (Swindon) wrote:
Uganda
Having lived in Uganda from 96 to 2004 and having travelled throughout east africa you will not find more pleasant people together with stunning scenery.As you seem to only briefly be entering the country there is not much to be careful of except the traffic police. However you must try to got to see the mountain gorillas.Contact the Uganda Tourist Board in Kampala to get passes but they do cost alot.If you go through Kabale on your way to Rwanda you should stay at the White Horse Inn. Its the only reasonable place in the area, with good security and reasonalbe food etc.You can sit by the log fire(Yes most of the buildings have log fires because of the altitude it cooler). Best of luck to you all, watched the long way round as i have done a similar run through the Ukraine to where my wife comes from down in the Crimea. Was really fantastic. You guys are going to miss the Isle of Man TT. Will send you a DVD.
Complain about this post!