Uganda is the Pearl of Africa, a country with fantastic natural scenery and a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures. Travelling through Uganda you will be captivated by its beauty, overwhelmed by the friendliness of its people and intrigued by all that Uganda has to offer. -

Location

Uganda lies astride the Equator in Eastern Africa between longitudes 29 ½° East and 35° East and between latitudes 4 ½° North and ½° South, at an average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea- level. The total area is 236,580sq.Km.

We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South.

Overview

Ecologically, Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Where else but in this uniquely lush destination can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to visit the majestic mountain gorillas? Uganda is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as impressive as its selection of plain antelopes. Besides the wide biodiversity, Uganda is also blessed with a vast bird population of more than 1,000 species.

Uganda is among the top 20 global tourism destinations according to the National Geographic.

Awards and accolades in summary:

1. Kidepo Valley National Park Listed as Number 3 in "Africa's 10 Best National Parks 2013" by CNN Travel

2. Uganda was listed among the top 10 destinations to visit in 2013 by National Geographic

3. River Nile was on 11th February 2013 officially announced as one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.

4. Uganda was voted as number one tourist destination for 2012 by Lonely Planet (the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world).

5. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was voted Africa's number one birding site (2012) by the African Bird club.

6. The New York Times Travel section ranked Uganda among top 33 places in the world to visit in 2012

7. Uganda - The 3rd Best Exhibitor Award winner, ITB Berlin - 2012

All visitors are once again welcome to experience this pristine destination where nature and people's calmness meet with the gushing falls along the Nile.The Pearl of Africa.

Best Destination 2012 by Lonely Planet

Uganda was ranked by Lonely Planet as the world’s most preferred tourism destination for the year 2012. Lonely Planet is the world’s largest Travel Guide Book and Digital Media Publisher. Uganda emerged number one out of 10 other countries surveyed, followed by Myanmar (Burma), Ukraine, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland.

Considering the country’s variance in the tourism products, it is little wonder that it was ranked the world’s most preferred. The ranking comes at a time when Uganda is focused on intensifying marketing and promotion of the country both domestically and internationally.

Lonely Planet singles out Uganda as the place where Savannah meets the vast East African lakes and where snow-capped mountains bear down on sprawling jungles, but there is more to this Pearl of Africa. Apart from being home to half to the world’s surviving mountain gorillas, Uganda is also blessed with half of Africa’s bird species, waterfalls, hot springs, forests, national parks and unique climate among others.

Uganda’s history is very rich with UNESCO world heritage sites including Nyero rock paintings, Kasubi tombs (currently being reconstructed after the 2010 inferno), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the newly discovered home of early man in Karamoja.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Situated at the geographical heart of the African continent, Uganda has long been a cultural melting pot, as evidenced by the existence of 30-plus different indigenous languages belonging to five distinct linguistic groups, and an equally diverse cultural mosaic of music, art and handicrafts. The country’s most ancient inhabitants, confined to the hilly southwest, are the Batwa and Bambuti Pygmies, relics of the hunter-gatherer cultures that once occupied much of East Africa to leave behind a rich legacy of rock paintings, such as at the Nyero Rock Shelter near Kumi.

Central

The central region is dominated by the Bantu group specifically the Baganda.

The Buganda monarchy presents one of the best documentations of kingship in Uganda. The head of state is the King locally known as Kabaka. The current king of Buganda, His Highness Ronald Mutebi II was crowned the 36th Kabaka of Buganda in 1993 after his father Sir Edward Mutesa II died in exile.

The kingdom also constitutes a Parliament (Lukiiko), comprising mainly of elderly heads of its 52 clans. Other people, who occupy important positions in the kingdom, include the Queen (Nabagereka), the Prime Minister (Katikiiro), the royal sister (Nalinya) and the Queen Mother (Namasole).

Livelihood

Traditionally, a man could marry five wives or more provided he could cater for them. It was easier to become polygamous in Buganda than in other parts of Uganda because the bride wealth obligations we're not prohibitive unlike formerly when marriage used to be conducted by parents, for instance where the father of the girl could choose for her a husband without availing her any alternatives.

Traditional Dances

Buganda is renowned for her distinct ceremonial occassions organized for observance, commemoration, inauguration, remembrance or fullfilment of cultural rituals and norms.Some of the common (highly recognized) ceremonies in Buganda include;the initiation of twins (okwalula abalongo), the introduction (okwanjula) and last funeral rite (okwabya olumbe).

Dining

Matooke (bananas of the plantain type) is a popular local dish among the Baganda. It’s peeled, tied in banana leaves and put in a cooking pan with enough water to steam the leaves. Later on, the bundle is removed and squeezed to get a smooth soft and golden yellow mash. The Banana leaves are used to keep it hot and steamy.

Eastern

The eastern region is another diverse area comprised of a number of different tribal groups including; Bagisu, Basamia/Bagwe, Basoga, Bagwere, Iteso, Japadhola, and the Sebei among others.

Apart from other groups, the Basoga present a distinctive kingship in eastern Uganda with their King locally known as Kyabazinga.

Marrige and Family Life

In this region as well as the rest of the country, dowries are highly valued and are usually in form of cattle, sheep and goats. The amount paid is negotiated among the parents of the new couple to be. The higher the dowry, the more valued is the bride, although this does not necessary guarantee the success of the marriage.

Ceremonies

Tamenhaibunga; This kind of dance is practiced by the Basoga tribe. Tamenhaibunga literally means “good friends drink together but they do not fight each other lest they break the guard (eibuga) that contains the drink." The guard is symbolically used to express the value and fragility of love and friendship. Other dances in Busoga include Nalufuka, a much faster and youthful version of of Tamenhaibuga; Eirongo, a slower dance performance to cerebrate the birth of twins; Amayebe, which builds physical stamina, especially for men; Enswezi, used to communicate to super naturals and Ekigwo for wrestlers.

Dining

Kamaleewa: These are tender bamboo shoots which are a delicacy among the Bagisu. Usually, after harvest, these shoots are first boiled and later on sundried before cooking.

Others include; Atapa, Akaro and Sundried fish.

Northern

The northern region is also a melting pot of quite a number of tribes including; Acholi, Langi, Alur, Kakwa, and Lugbara among others.

This region comprises of the Acholi and Langi in the north, Alur, Lugbara and Madi in west Nile region. Like most of the regions, Langi and Acholi regions predominantly depend on agriculture as their economic activity, with millet and sorghum serving as staple foods.

Marriage and Family life

Traditionally, a young man depends upon his lineage head and elders both for permission to marry and for the material goods required for bride wealth; elders of the bride’s lineage were also much involved in the discussions and negotiations surrounding the marriage.

Ceremonies

Naleyo dance is performed by the Karimajongs where women line up and men strike their breasts using fingers as they dance. The Karimajongs are a pastor community in the north eastern part of Uganda.

Dining

Akaro: This is made from a combination of sorghum, millet and cassava flourmingled in a proportionate quantity of water.

Malakwang: A sour vegetable usually prepared with groundnut paste to form a typical northern food. Malakwang is best served with sweet potatoes.

Others include; Smoked fish and Ugali.

Western

The western region is also rich in tribal culture, it consists of; Bakonjo/Bamba, Batooro, Banyoro, Banyankore, Bakiga, Bafumbira and Bachwezi among others.

Kingship

The Batooro and Banyoro have a centralized system of government headed by the Omukama. Initially, Toro was part of Bunyoro, but later broke away. The first King was Kaboyo Kasusunkwazi the actual founder of the kingdom and currently the kingdom is headed by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Livelihood

Marriage and Family Life

Ankole in the west is the most popular tribe in terms of prestige and population. The King owned all the cattle and theoretically owned all women. Hima fathers were anxious to call attention to their daughters because the King gave generous wedding gifts. Slim girls were unfit for royalty so those girls whom the king found to be of interest to marry one of his sons were force-fed on milk.

Traditional dances

Entogoro: Entogoro is danced by Banyoro and Batooro of western Uganda. The dance takes its name from the pod rattles (locally known as ebinyege) that the boys tie on their legs to make different rhythms as they dance.

Ekitagururo: This is characterized by energetic stamping and tangling rhythms using the feet and aerial arm movements; it is performed by both Banyankole and Bakiga in the south western region.

Dining

Eshabwe: A traditional Banyankole dish comprising of ghee, skimmed from milk. This is usually eaten with Akaro. It's a meal one would certainly get acquainted with on a visit to the western parts of Uganda.

Set at the equator, Uganda is made up of four regions(Central, Eastern, Northern and Western) on an area of 236, 580 sq km, with its capital at Kampala.

The country is fortunate to harbour Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world forming the source of the Nile, the second largest river in the world.

Population

Approximately 31,367, 972 (2008 est) with a 3.6 percent population growth.

People and culture

Uganda has long been a cultural melting pot, as evidenced by the existence of more than 30 different indigenous languages belonging to five distinct linguistic groups, and an equally diverse cultural mosaic of music, art and handicrafts.

THE ATTRACTIONS;

Uganda is immensely endowed with over 1,000 bird species; some of which are endemic to the country; mainly in the Albertine region. These constitute 67% of Africa’s and 11.1% of the world’s total population which makes the country a must visit for birding lovers. Some of the most interesting birds include; the crested crane, shoe bill, wattled plorer, Africa Fish Eagel, African Jacana, Saddle Billed Stock, Pelican, African Pigmy Geese and Narina’s Trogon.

raditional dress code (Backcloth)

CULTURE

One of the finest materials from which Ugandan artists produce their handcraft is barkcloth. Barkcloth has its origin in Uganda and is purely a vegetable fibre with a huge selection of the most diverse natural.

THE PRIMATES AND GORRILLAS

The most profound attraction in Uganda are the Mountain Gorillas, these include silverback and blackback. Other primates inlclude chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys of Mgahinga among others.

All these can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable forests, Mgahinga National Park and on Ngamba Island

HILLS AND MOUNTAINS.

Uganda is well endowed with several mountains, which are regarded as huge extinct volcanoes straddling in different parts of the country. They are major tourist attractions, most of them are mainly for hiking activities. They are classified into volcanic and non-volcanic mountains.

Some of the different mountains in Uganda include; Mt.Elgon which is about 4,321 meters in altitude is found in eastern Uganda. While the snow capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” is located in western Uganda, the Moroto and Muhavura Mountains are located in the north eastern and south western parts of the country respectively.

VEGETATION

The Pearl of Africa is every now and again referred to as a country "Gifted by Nature". This is just the evidence of climate that favours growth that vegetation you wouldn't like to miss being near to.

WATER BODIES;

Uganda has been called a land of lakes because almost a third of the country is covered by water. Lake Victoria, the largest in Africa, dominates the southern border of the country while Lakes Edward and Albert lie to the west Other lakes include; Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Kyoga among others.

Activities

These fresh water lakes offer opportunities for water activities and sports. An example is white water rafting, pioneered by Adrift, which has caught on as a popular tourist activity, especially on the River Nile. The country now attracts 500 rafters every month. Lake Victoria is now also being increasingly used for lake cruises. Other popular activities include sport fishing and sailing.

WATER FALLS;

The Gushing water falls along River Nile are one attraction a visitor to Uganda wouldn't like to miss. Enjoy white water rafting, boat rides, game viewing and spot fishing in fresh waters not found else where.