Uganda: Background & Geography

Introduction Uganda
Background:
 Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.
Geography Uganda
Location:
 Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates:
 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:
 Africa
Area:
 total: 236,040 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
 total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline:
 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 none (landlocked)
Climate:
 tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:
 mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources:
 copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:
 arable land: 25.34%
permanent crops: 8.77%
other: 65.89% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 NA
Environment - current issues:
 draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
 landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

See Also: