Facts About Uganda – Facts of Uganda Africa

All interesting facts about Uganda are discussed in this Uganda safari travel blog! Destination Uganda is a beautiful landlocked country situated in East Africa; bordered by Kenya in the east, Rwanda in the southwest, Tanzania in the south, DR Congo in the west, and South Sudan in the north.

There are various facts of Uganda Africa but, when it comes to travelers on African safaris, they mostly know this beautiful country as the best place for gorilla trekking tours & chimpanzee tracking. Not only is Uganda a paradise for gorilla safaris, but it’s also a great place for bird watching, spotting the African safari Big Five, mountain hiking, and even going for water sports adventures including white water rafting.

Traveling to Uganda is easy and this state is open to visitors year round. It can be accessed both by air or land. Visitors in other East African safari destinations like Kenya, Tanzania as well as Rwanda can easily add up Uganda for cross boundary safaris.

The Pearl of Africa Uganda is safe for holidays and all its destinations, for instance, game parks are monitored by armed rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Visiting Uganda in the dry months offers the best game viewing adventure. Expect to find one of the friendliest and happiest people group of people in Africa on your vacation.

For a Memorable Safari Experience in Uganda, Explore the Top Uganda Safari Packages

Quick Interesting Facts About Uganda Africa to Know By Tourists Coming for Uganda Safari Tour

1. There are 1063 mountain gorillas in the world, and Uganda is home to almost half of them. One of the facts about Uganda is, therefore, the best place to track Mountain gorillas in Africa. Most of the Uganda gorilla trekking safaris are conducted in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
2. Uganda holds the highest number of chimpanzees in Africa. Uganda’s Kibale Forest alone boasts over 1,500 chimpanzees. Many species of monkeys can be encountered in Kibale as well including big troops of baboons.
3. Uganda is a great place for birdwatchers in Africa with over 1,090 kinds of birds, including the rare Shoebill stock and the Great blue turaco plus Albertine endemic bird species.
4. The source of the longest river in the world- the Nile River is in Uganda. From Lake Victoria- (Africa’s largest freshwater lake) to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, the Nile flows for about 6,650km journey.
5. Uganda is a wildlife paradise with many kinds of animals, such as the great “Big Five” of Africa (Lion, Elephant, Rhinoceroses, Leopard, and Buffalo).
6. Compared to other African countries, Uganda is among the cheapest places to go on an African tour.
7. This country holds one of the largest lake in Africa- Lake Victoria.  The source of the River Nile, Lake Victoria- (the largest lake in Africa) covers over 68,800km2.
8. This country is the best place to spot the rare tree-climbing lions among all the African countries. These lions are spotted in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth Park.
9. In addition, Uganda has the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, which are a difficult place for experienced hikers to go mountaineering but worth hiking.
10. Uganda has the world’s most powerful waterfalls. These falls are found in Murchison Falls National Park, on the famous River Nile.
11. It also has the best grade 5 rapids in Africa, which are great for world-class white water games.

Facts About Uganda Animals

The Big Five safari animals of Africa can be found in Uganda, along with many antelopes, canids, monkeys, apes, and other animals. There are also apes in Uganda- (gorillas & chimpanzees).

These are some facts about the animals in Uganda Africa;

• The Big Five- (Lion, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Elephant & Leopard), the endangered primates, and other animals can be spotted by tourists on Uganda wildlife safaris.
• Half of the Mountain gorilla population in the world resides in Uganda.
• Out of the 172,000 and 300,000 chimpanzees in the whole world, 5000 chimpanzees dwell in this country. Chimps in the wild can only be found in 21 African countries.
• More than 20 species of primates live in Uganda. Of these, 13 species, including chimpanzees, are easy to see in Kibale Forest Park.
• The Grey crowned crane is the national bird of Uganda and it’s on the national flag of this state. Among the best birding destinations to spot the Grey crowned crane is Murchison Park
• Uganda’s national animal is the Uganda kob.
• Uganda is home to more than 1,090 species of birds, including 24 species that are only found in the Albertine Rift and many migrant birds as well as some bird species that live in the Guinea-Congo biome.
• The best way to spot game animals in Uganda is to go on a Uganda wildlife safari tour in national parks like Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Falls National Park, as well as Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Interesting Facts of Uganda

Before travelers come for African safaris in Uganda, it’s better for them to know some amazing and fun facts about Uganda.

Here are some;

• In 2017, BBC Travel said that the people of Uganda are the nicest in the world.
• In Uganda, people like to have big families, and most women have a high fertility rate- more than 1.4 million babies are born every year.
• The country is one of the few countries which are crossed by the Equator line.
• Among countries in East Africa, Uganda has a long-term serving president- President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has ruled since 1986.
• The short-term president for Uganda (Yusuf Lule) ruled for 3 days, from July 27th to July 29th.
• After Ethiopia, this country is the second biggest landlocked country.
• Just like in other many African countries, Christmas Day in Uganda is celebrated on 25th December each year.
• The name Uganda is derived from Buganda- one of the kingdoms in the country. In the past days, Buganda was a British colony and just expanded to cover the whole state.

Historical Facts About Uganda Africa

All to know about Uganda’s history has been discussed below;

1. In the 1840s, Arab traders were the first people from outside of Africa to come to Uganda through the Indian ocean coast. They wanted to trade mirrors, beads, clothes, jewels, and guns, for slaves and even animal skins.
2. Among the British explorers, John Hanning Speke was the first explorer to reach Uganda in 1862. He was looking for the source of the Nile River.
3. After his tour in Africa in 1907, Winston Churchill called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” in his book My African Journey, which came out in 1908.
4. In 1894, Uganda became a British protectorate.
5. The Pearl of Africa Uganda gained independence from British colonial rule in 1962.
6. After Uganda gained her independence from British rule in 1962, Milton Obote was the first prime minister of this country.
7. Every year on October 9th, Uganda celebrates its Independence Day. It’s a public holiday and most government offices don’t work on this day.
8. On July 7, 1972, President Amin kicked out of Uganda more than 60,000 Indians back to their country.
9. From 1980 to 1986, there was a Ugandan bush war (civil war) that let to a military coup that brought President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhabura into power.

Interesting Facts About Uganda Geography

The interesting facts about Uganda Africa’s geography are discussed below:

1. Uganda is a landlocked country in the region of East Africa.
2. Destination Uganda is bordered in the north by South Sudan, Kenya in the east, Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the southwest and the Democratic Republic of Congo is to the west.
3. Uganda has a land area of about 241,038km², which is almost the same size as Great Britain, which is over 242,495 km2.
4. Water bodies like rivers, lakes, and marshes cover about 18% of Uganda’s land area.
5. Lake Albert is the lowest point in Uganda, at 621 meters below sea level. Uganda’s highest point is in the Rwenzori Mountains, at 5109 meters above sea level.
6. This country in the East Central African region experiences an Equatorial climate. Its climate is warm and wet throughout the year.
7. The biggest water body in Uganda is Lake Victoria in the central region of the country. This is the second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Superior of North America.
8. Along the south western part and western part of Uganda is the Albertine Rift Valley region.
9. Uganda’s climate is generally tropical however, the northeastern part of the country experiences arid conditions and the central and southern parts experience an equatorial kind of climate.
10. There are many rivers in Uganda and among these include Victoria Nile, Albert Nile, River Semliki, River Sezibwa as well as River Katonga.

Facts About Uganda Population

1. The UN estimates for 2024 reveal that there are about 50 million people living in Uganda.
2. Most of the people in Uganda are women.
3. More than 78% of people in Uganda are younger than 30 years old, and 52% are younger than 15 years old. This makes Uganda the youngest country in the world.
4. Uganda has had one of the fastest rates of population growth in the world, at 3% per decade over the last three decades.
5. In Uganda, about 75% of the people live in rural places.
6. ·More than 85% of the people in Uganda are Christians and only 14% are Muslims.
7. After Idi Amin expelled Ugandan Asians (mainly Indians) in 1972, the population dropped to 7,000 from 80,000. Many Indians returned to Uganda after Amin’s 1979 overthrow. Most Ugandan Indians live in Kampala. Today around 10,000 white Africans and 3,000 Arabs live in the country.
8. The UNHCR reports around 1.4 million refugees in Uganda as of August 2021. Many arrive from its neighboring countries including South Sudan (68.0%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Facts About Uganda Religions

1. The main religion in Uganda is Christianity. Over 84% of the population (8 out of 10 people) identified as Christian, according to the 2024 census. About 14% of the population identified as Muslim, making it the largest minority group. The two largest Christian groups in the country are Anglicanism and Catholicism.
2. Most of the people in the northern and west Nile regions are Roman Catholic. The most Muslims live in the Iganga District in the east of Uganda.
3. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas are all official national holidays.
4. The Uganda Constitution protects religious freedom, but churches must register with the government and get a five-year license. Once they are registered, religious groups are not directly taxed.

Languages Spoken in Uganda Africa

In 2005, Swahili, a widely spoken language in the African Great Lakes region, became the second national language of Uganda. English was the only official language until 2005’s constitution amendment.

Swahili is an important lingua franca in the north, but Bantu-speaking people in the south and south-west dislike it. It is also commonly used in the police and military, possibly due to the colonial recruitment of northerners into security forces. Thus, Swahili’s status has changed with the ruling party.

Note that, Uganda is a multilingual state with many languages classified into Bantu languages and Nilotic hermits for example. Hover, among these languages, the Luganda language is mainly used in the central region of the country- Kampala city center.

Facts About Uganda Education System

Though there are still some problems with the educational system of Uganda, a lot has changed since the late 1990s. The school system is set up so that kids go to elementary school for 7 years, secondary for six years, and high school for three to five years.

The government said in 1997 that all kids would be able to go to elementary school for free. This change has made a big difference. In 1986, there were only 2 million kids in elementary school. There were 6 million kids in elementary school by 1999, and that number has continued to rise.

Since 1997, when universal primary education (UPE) started, access to primary education has improved a lot. In 2007, Uganda was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to start Universal Secondary Education (USE). Between 2007 and 2012, the number of lower secondary school students rose by almost 25% thanks to this brave move by the Government of Uganda.

Uganda had a 66.8 percent literacy rate in 2002, with 76.8 percent of men and 57.7 percent of women being able to read and write. From 2002 to 2005, 5.2% of the GDP went to education spending by the government.

As of 2020, the NCHE website mentioned 46 private universities that were recognized as schools of higher education. These included Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University, and Kampala International University.

Economic Facts About Uganda Africa

1. Most of Uganda’s jobs are in the agricultural sector, which makes up 23.7% of the country’s GDP and employs over 70% of the people.
2. The World Bank says that Uganda’s economy is “growing at a slower pace recently,” which means that it is having less of an effect on poverty. It grew by 7% each year between the 1990s and early 2000s.
3. According to the 2022 World Bank study, Uganda is still one of the least developed countries in the world, with a GDP per person of US$850.
4. A study from the World Bank in 2022 says that Uganda’s economic growth is growing less quickly than those of its neighbors; Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania over the past ten years.
5. Even though Uganda is poor, it is the biggest country in Africa that takes in refugees. The UN says that over a million people have fled to Uganda from places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, and Southern Sudan.
6. The official currency for Uganda is the Uganda shilling. Within this country, it’s possible to use other foreign currencies like US dollars, but, they can be limited in villages.
7. Agricultural sector is Uganda’s backbone. The industrial sector, mining, and tourism sector are also growing steadily in present day Uganda.
8. Road transport is the main means of travel within the country. Air and railway line are still limited in most regions of the country. The Uganda railway line is only available in the city center.
9. Uganda’s president is widely accredited for restoring relative stability politically & economic development of this country however, his facing great pressure to leave office from the opposition.

What Are the Best Places to Visit in Uganda for Safaris?

Visitors on Uganda tours have various options of places to visit! Each Uganda safari destination is blessed with unique amazing activities from each other, therefore, you need advice from a knowledgeable tour operator on sites to explore.

Due to great conservation efforts, always make sure that follow the sustainable tourism principles in any place you visit in Uganda.

The following are the top safari destinations in Uganda to visit;

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Greatly known for mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is a must-not-miss site for tourists on holiday tours in Uganda.

Situated in south western Uganda, Bwindi Forest Park- (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is home to half the population of mountain gorillas on planet Earth. Within this beautiful misty biodiverse forest, there are over 144 recorded mammal species and about 350 species of birds including around 90% of the Albertine endemic species.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is the main activity and it’s open to visitors on a vacation in Uganda any time of the year. The gorilla tracking permit in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest costs US$800.

Apart from gorilla trekking, visitors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can also do; bird watching, forest walks, community visits, and even mountain biking expeditions.

2. Murchison Falls National Park

For travelers on short Uganda safari tours with an interest in game viewing adventures, Murchison Park (Uganda’s biggest park) is the best alternative.

During the game viewing expeditions in Murchison Park, you’ll look out for Lion herds, cape buffalos, towering giraffes, leopards, elephants, topis, hippos, hartebeests, giant nile crocodiles, and some of the 450 bird species in the park.

The above-mentioned wildlife species are best spotted while on a game drive within the Buligi game area and even on a boat ride to the bottom of the falls.

Around Murchison Park, tourists can go for a chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest.

In most cases, travelers going for Murchison falls safari tours visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route to enjoy on foot rhino trekking on foot.

3. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Found on the western side of Kampala, Queen Elizabeth Park is also a great destination for wildlife enthusiasts on Uganda holiday safaris. This stunning park is renowned for its healthy population of game animals including most of the African safari Big Five as well as many primate species counting habituated chimpanzees open for chimpanzee trekking adventures.

In the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth NP- (the Ishasha region), travelers will search for the tree-climbing lions.

Within this Queen, there are numerous tourist activities but, the most popular are; safari game drives, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, lion tracking, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, and guided nature walks, etc.

4. Kibale National Park

Though it’s most famous for Uganda chimpanzee tours, Kibale Forest Park is also a paradise for forest birding safaris in Uganda with around 370 birds.

Kibale Forest is about 30 30-minute drive from Fort Portal City.

5. Rwenzori Mountain National Park

Rwenzori Mountain NP holds Mount Rwenzori- the highest mountain in Uganda. This snow-peaked mountain on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo rises 5,109m above sea level at its Margherita peak.

Rwenzori Mountain offers the most challenging hiking experience in the East African region. If you have ever climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, come for the challenge!

It’s easy to add Rwenzori hiking safaris with other safari activities in Uganda for instance gorilla trekking in Bwindi or chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest.

6. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo Park is the finest stop over to all Uganda wildlife safaris in south western part when you use the Kampala- Mbarara route. The park holds many grazers such as; cape buffalos, zebras, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, giraffes, impalas, hippos, bushbucks, elands, and crocodiles as well as birds.

Leopards and Hyenas are the notable predators in Lake Mburo Park. Lions & elephants have not been sighted in Mburo for good years.

Other sites to explore by tourists on Uganda tours;

• The source of the Nile in Jinja
• Ngamba Chimpanzee Island
• Kidepo Park in northern Uganda
• Mabira Forest- the biggest forest in central Uganda
• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Kampala capital city center- a beautiful city holding over seven hills. During, the Kampala capital city tour, among the seven hills normally visited include; Mengo Hill, Nakasero, Old Kampala, and even the city center, etc.

Best Tourist Activities in Uganda Africa for Tourists

There are various amazing things to do in Uganda Africa and the best expeditions include the following;

1. Undertaking game drives
2. Chimpanzee trekking
3. Undertake a boat cruise on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
4. Mountain gorilla trekking
5. Bird watching
6. Enjoy water adventure sports in Jinja
7. Golden monkey trekking
8. Enjoy Kampala capital city tour
9. Climb Mount Rwenzori
10. Cultural encounters
11. Guided game walks in Lake Mburo Park

More interesting tourist activities in Uganda by tourists on Uganda safari tours;

• Zip lining in Mabira Forest
• Visiting Lake Bunyonyi
• Undertake Bigodi swamp walk
• Horseback riding in Lake Mburo Park
• Do a guided walk in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth Park

When Is the Best Time to Visit Uganda Africa?

The fact that Uganda experiences a tropical climate, it’s an all-year-round travel destination for visitors coming for African safari tours. For the best wildlife viewing experience, visit Uganda in the dry season- (June to September and December to February).

Around the dry months, this country receives little rainfall thus, creating a conducive environment for gorilla trekking, game drives, game walks, bird watching, and even mountain hiking adventures. Usually, the dry season is the peak season.

Game tracks and trails in some parks get slippery and rainfall can interfere with most of your safari activities for instance mountain gorilla tracking. The advantage of visiting Uganda in the wet months is that parks are not crowded as well as lodges. A number of safari lodges give out discounts in this season.

FAQs on Facts About Uganda

1. What Is Uganda Best Known for? : What Is Uganda Famous for?

Basing on the fun facts about Uganda, this country is known for its great natural beauty and wildlife. The Pearl of Africa is home to the African safari Big 5, numerous safari grazers, primates, snowcapped mountains, classy lakes and rivers, etc. Most travelers who come for African safaris in Uganda are mainly interested in Mountain gorilla trekking & chimp tracking.

2. What Is a Fun Fact About Uganda for Kids? : What Is a Fact About Uganda For Kids? 

The beauty and unique wildlife of Uganda is incomparable to any country on the African continent. Regardless of the destination you will explore on your vacation, you’ll be amazed by the beauty of Uganda- one of the most densely populated countries in Africa.

There are numerous fun activities for kids on Uganda safari tours and among these include; exploring Entebbe Zoo, game drives, boat rides, game walks, and primate tracking, to mention but a few. Kids on safari holidays in Uganda will not feel bored!

3. What Is Unique in Uganda?

The rewarding wildlife viewing experience in Uganda makes it a unique safari destination to explore. Visitors on a trip in Uganda can opt to track Mountain gorillas in Bwindi or go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. Game viewing looking out for big game animals such as cape buffalos, leopards, lions, elephants, and rhinos, to mention but a few is also rewarding in this country.

4. Is Uganda a Poor or Rich Country? : Are People in Uganda Rich or Poor?

Generally, Uganda is still a poor country. According to the World Bank report of 2024, 4 out of 10 Ugandans are still living below the international poverty line. They don’t earn $2.15 per day.

Uganda’s government is doing its best to uplift the revenue of people by generating numerous poverty alleviation projects and educating people on commercial farming practices. There is hope that by 2040, the economy of Uganda is going to in middle class.

5. What Is Uganda Rich for?

The Republic of Uganda is endowed with various natural resources including Gold, Limestone, Salt, Cobalt, and even untouched reserves of crude oil in the Great Rift Valley region within the Albertine region.

Likewise, Uganda is an agricultural country and ranks among the best exporters of coffee in Africa. Other cash crops grown in this country include tea, tobacco, and even cocoa grown mainly in western Uganda- Bundibugyo and Kasese districts.

6. What Are Ugandans Known for? 

Among countries in Africa, Ugandans are known as the friendliest and happiest people on the continent. Within this country, there are numerous ethnic groups but, most of them hold values that encourage them to welcome visitors. Among the notable ethnic groups in Uganda include Baganda, Basoka, and even Banyankole.

7. Why Is Uganda Called the Pearl of Africa? 

Uganda was nicknamed the Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill in his book published in 1908 named “My African Journey” after his African safari tour in 1907. This name explains the breathtaking beauty, wildlife, climate, and loving people of Uganda which is incomparable to any country within Africa.

8. What Is the Summary of Uganda? 

Uganda is situated in east central Africa. It’s bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west, Rwanda in southwest, Tanzania in the south, Kenya in the east, and South Sudan in the northern region. Lake Victoria- (the largest tropical lake in Africa) sits in southern Uganda also.

There are many tourist activities in Uganda but, gorilla tracking is most favorite adventure. In this stunning country led by President Museveni, English is among the official languages.

9. What Are the Big Five in Uganda?

Visitors on safari holidays have a chance to spot the African safari big 5. These include the Lion, Cape buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, & Leopard. The Big Five game animals are the most deadly wild animals to hunt on foot.

10. Why Visit Uganda for Safari Holiday? : Why Do People Love Uganda?

A number of people on African safari vacations visit Uganda to undertake tourist activities that can’t be done in either Kenya or Tanzania. Among these include mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, and even world-class white water sports including water rafting and kayaking on the Nile River.

Also, people visit Uganda due to its being a safe safari destination. The Ugandan government through the Uganda army- (National Resistance Movement Army) has ensured peace in the country. For example, it ended the political instability in Gulu district caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army.

11. What Is the Nickname of Uganda?

Uganda’s nickname is called the Pearl of Africa. It was named so in Church Winston’s book- (My African Journey) of 1908 after his visit in Africa in 1907. This name explains the incredible beauty of this country.

12. What Is the Most Popular Food in Uganda? 

In Uganda, there are numerous foods but among the commonly used include; posho, rice, matooke, sweet potatoes, Irish, and cassava. Meat, beans, peas, ground nut sauce, pork, and chicken are the popular sauces. Most of the lodges and hotels prepare continental dishes and restaurants prepare local foods.

13. What Makes Uganda Beautiful?

Various features explain the unmatched beauty of Uganda. Among these include lush tropical rainforests, snowcapped peaks, vast rolling hills in southwestern Uganda, and even classy lakes such as Lake Albert and Lake Victoria- Africa’s largest fresh water lake. Also, the wildlife found in the ten national parks of Uganda makes it a wonderful destination to visit.

14. Are Ugandans Friendly?

Yes, Ugandans are friendly people! In every region you explore on your vacation in this country, you’ll find hospitable people, therefore you will never miss home while on your safari holiday in this country.

15. Is Uganda Safe to Visit? : Is Uganda Safe for White Tourists?

In Sub-Sahara African region, Uganda is one of the safest countries to travel to.

For many years for instance, after the fall of President Obote and Amini, this country has been politically safe and open for tourists. We advise our clients to take caution while in crowded areas like Kampala capital city center as petty crimes occur sometimes. Visitors should note that there are some cases of human rights abuses in Uganda but, mostly these don’t target tourists.

Facts about Uganda are quite many but, if you have some inquiries our team is open 24/7. Go through this travel blog to find out key things you should know as you can for your African safari trip in Uganda.