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Key Facts about Uganda

02-12-2024

07:31 AM

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1 min read
Key Facts about Uganda Blog Image

Overview:

At least 15 people were killed and over 100 others went missing after heavy rains led to landslides in eastern Uganda in Africa.

About Uganda:

  • It is a landlocked country in east-central Africa
  • Bordering Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania
  • Equator passes through Uganda. 
  • Capital: Kampala
  • Uganda gained independence from Britain in 1962.
  • Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups. The official languages are English and Swahili, which facilitate communication among its diverse population.
  • Form of Government: Democracy, with the President as the head of government.
  • Geography:
    • It mostly sits on a central plateau covered by rainforest. It has high volcanic mountains to the eastern and western borders.
    • The Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains and the Western Rift Valley form the western boundaries of the country. The country's highest peak, the 5,109 m Margherita Peak, is part of the Ruwenzori Range.
    • Inselbergs are a common geographical feature across Uganda. Meaning "rock island" in German, these strange yet stunning rock structures tower above the savannahs and plateaus throughout the nation. 
    • Lake Victoria (Africa’s largest lake and the world's second-largest freshwater lake) forms the southern boundary of the country with Tanzania and Kenya.
    • Uganda has eight major rivers: the Victoria Nile, Achwa, Okok, Pager, Albert Nile, Kafu, Mpongo, and Katonga. 
  • Wildlife:
    • Uganda has 11% of the world’s birds.
    • 8% of the world’s mammals can be found here.
    • It has the highest concentration of primates than any other country in the world.
    • It has the world’s half population of endangered mountain gorillas.

Q1: What are Inselbergs?

Inselbergs are isolated hills or mountains that rise abruptly from the surrounding plain, typically formed through the process of erosion. They are often remnants of more extensive mountain ranges, where softer materials have eroded away, leaving behind these harder rock formations.

News: Uganda: More Than 15 Dead, 100 Missing After Devastating Landslides