A virtual guide to Uganda, a landlocked country across the equator in Eastern Africa bordering Lake Victoria in the southeast. It is bordered by South Sudan in the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west, Kenya in the east, and Rwanda and Tanzania in the south.

The country occupies an area of 241,551 km², compared to Uganda is slightly smaller than the UK or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon. The country's highest point is Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley (5,110 m), a mountain located in the Rwenzori range within Rwenzori National Park.

Uganda has a population of 34.8 million people, making it the world's second-most populous landlocked country after Ethiopia. The largest city and capital are Kampala. Spoken languages are English (official), Luganda (a major language of Uganda), Swahili, and other native languages.

Background:
Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures.

The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 people. Guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed another 100,000 lives.

The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.
A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics and lifted presidential term limits.