Where is Uganda Found?
Uganda is located on the African continent, specifically in East-Central Africa. It is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west, Tanzania to the south, and Rwanda to the south-west.
On the East African Plateau
Uganda lies on the East African Plateau, mostly between latitudes 4°N and 2°S and longitudes 29° and 35°E. The country stands at approximately 3,609 feet above sea level, sloping towards the Sudanese Plain in the north. Geographically, Uganda is predominantly plateau, surrounded by mountain ranges.
In the Great Lakes region
Uganda is situated within the African Great Lakes region, which comprises countries that either surround or border these lakes. Notably, Uganda’s southern region contains a significant portion of Lake Victoria, which is shared with Tanzania and Kenya.
Furthermore, the African Great Lakes include several prominent bodies of water. For example, Lake Victoria is the world’s third-largest freshwater lake by area, while Lake Tanganyika is recognized as the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by depth and volume. Moreover, Lake Malawi ranks as the world’s eighth-largest freshwater lake by area. Additionally, other countries in this region include Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and the DRC.
The Horn of Africa
Strictly speaking, the Horn of Africa refers to Djibouti, Eritrea, Somaliland, Somalia, and Ethiopia. However, the “Greater Horn of Africa” encompasses Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, and South Sudan.
In the Nile Basin
Uganda is one of the Nile riparian states and is part of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), a coalition of countries that share the Nile River. Other riparian states include Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, the DRC, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Uganda experiences a tropical climate, with average temperatures ranging from 25°C to 29°C. Rainfall averages between 1,000mm and 1,500mm annually, with two rainy seasons: March-May and September-November. Dry spells occur from January-February and June-August.
In the Equatorial Region
Uganda is one of the few countries on Earth that the Equator traverses. The Equator, an imaginary line, divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It spans about 40,075 kilometers, with 78.7% of it passing through water.
In addition to Uganda, several other countries are crossed by the Equator, including Kenya, Somalia, the DRC, Brazil, Indonesia, Ecuador, and others. Furthermore, the Equator also passes through significant water bodies, such as Lake Victoria, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. As a result, Uganda enjoys unique geographical advantages due to its position along the Equator.
Uganda is Landlocked
Although Uganda has many large lakes, including 45% of Lake Victoria, it is landlocked, with no access to the sea. Other major lakes in Uganda include Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake George.
Geographical Size
Uganda covers a total surface area of 241,551 square kilometers, with 200,523 square kilometers of land and 41,028 square kilometers of water. Uganda’s highest point is 5,111 meters (16,768 feet) at Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, while its lowest point is 614 meters (2,014 feet) at the Albert Nile on the border with South Sudan.
About 34.41% of the land is arable, while 14.01% is forested, and 11.22% is used for permanent crops. The remaining land is dedicated to other uses. Irrigated land amounts to 140 square kilometers, with total renewable water resources of about 60 cubic kilometers. Uganda also has natural resources such as hydropower, gold, copper, limestone, cobalt, and salt.
Population Size
According to the latest United Nations data, Uganda’s population stands at 45,387,978. By mid-2020, it is expected to reach 45,741,007. Uganda ranks 31st in population size globally, with a population density of 229 per square kilometer. Uganda accounts for 0.59% of the world’s total population.