The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of 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.
Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala (which gets its name from the Impala). Fifty-one percent of the population of the country lives slightly below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day. Fifty percent of the population is under the age of 18. The average life expectancy is around 50. It is currently subject to a severe food crisis. To be blunt, it is one of the poorest countries in the world and the human population is exploding causing a situation where children are raising children and adherence to family and cultural values is breaking down.
However, Uganda is recovering quickly after terrible governance during the 70’s and 80’s. The wildlife and wild places are slowly recovering, but the pressure on natural resources, in a country with the world’s third highest population growth, is considerable.
Perhaps the most challenging issue Uganda has over the next several years is how to balance a fast growing population, a diminishing wildlife habitat; and a recovering wildlife population.
Uganda has a way of enchanting people that come to visit her first hand. With her beautiful combination of ecosystems, animals, bird life, plants, and a fun loving people, its no wonder that people who visit come away moved.