Uganda, formally Known as the Republic of Uganda, is a nation which is surrounded by land on all four sides, is located in the eastern part of Africa. The other name for Uganda is “Pearl of Africa”. The neighboring nations of Uganda are Kenya in the east, South Sudan in the north, Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west, Rwanda in the southwest, and Tanzania in the south. Uganda’s southern portion comprises of considerable part of Lake Victoria.

Uganda derives its name from the kingdom of Buganda, which covers a large part of nation’s southern portions, as well as the capital city, Kampala.

Up to some 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, the Uganda people were basically hunters & gatherers. The Bantu speaking groups drifted to the Uganda’s southern portions. On October 9th, 1962, Uganda got independence from Britain. Even though Swahili and English are formal languages, several other languages are also spoken in Uganda.

Capital: Kampala

Language: English, Swahili (official language)

Independence: gained Independence from Britain on 9 October 1962.

Religion: Christians (84%), Muslims (12%), conventional religion (1%), non-christian religions (0.7%), Baha’i (0.1%), and non-religious affiliation (0.9%).

Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3)

History

The Bantu speaking inhabitants infiltrated into the southern areas of Uganda, and they developed the skill of iron working and innovative ideas of politician and social associations. The Kitara Empire encompassed a major portion of the great lake region right from the Alberta Lake, Victoria Lake, Tanganakya Lake to the Kyoga Lake.

In the 1830s, the merchants from Arabia migrated interior from East Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. The Arabs were followed by the British discoverers, who came in search of River Nile’s source in the 1860s. In 1877 the protestant missionaries came to Uganda, and they were followed on close heels by the Catholic missionaries in the year 1879. In 1888, the area of present day Uganda came under the influence of British East Africa Company and from 1894; it was administered as a protectorate.

A number of chiefdoms and provinces were incorporated, and the final protectorate known as the Uganda took form in the year 1914. In between 1900 to 1920, a sleeping sickness plague took a heavy toll on Uganda’s populton. More than 250,000 citizens were killed.

In 1962, Uganda got independence from Britain, and it upholds its membership of commonwealth. Elections were held in the same year, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) & the kebab Yakka (KY) alliance swept the poll and setup the primary post independence administration with Milton Obote selected as the foremost executive Prime Minister, the traditional Presidential post was held by Edward Muteesa, the Bugunda Kabakka (king), and the paramount (Kyabazinga) Busoga leader, William Wilberforce Nadiope, became the Vice President.

A power struggle took place in 1966, between king Muteesa and the Obote’s government. The parliament dominated by the UPC, eradicated the conventional post of President and vice presietn. Without conducting any elections, Obote proclaimed himself as executive President.

In 1971 a coup took place, the Obote government was toppled and Dictator Idi Amin took the reins of power in his hands. Amin ruled Uganda with an iron hand for 8 years. The country underwent several hardships during his dictatorship; an estimated number of more than 300,000 people were killed during his ruthless rule.

The Uganda Tanzania war of 1979 put an end to Amin’s rule. The Ugandan exiles assisted by Tanzanian army invaded Uganda. Amin was ousted, he fled the country took asylum in Saudi Arabia, where he spend the rest of his life. Obote was reinstated as President, but was deposed in 1985, Gen.Tito Okello. Okello ruled the country for 6 months. He was deposed in the bush war by the National Resistance Army under the leadership of the present President, Yoweri Museveni.