Happy New Month. I pray that November will be good to you. Last month I got into deep with Visit Uganda stories as we were influencing Juliet Namukasa’s Poem about Uganda Africaz Pearl. If you have not yet watched or listened to it. Please go on her youtube channel and do so. I will share the Links at the end of this blog.
Mountains
The landscapes of Uganda were significantly formed by intense volcanic activity. In the West the Central African rift valley intersects country’s territory. Deep incised valleys and the steep Virunga Volcano determine the landscape here. Also the highest mountains of Uganda, the six peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains (5,109 m) located in the west of the country, while Mount Elgon rises with 4,321 m in the east.
This rather interesting country is surrounded by both block and volcanic mountains in almost every corner; in the East there is Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountain in the west and mountain Moroto in the north east. Other major mountains in Uganda include; Mt. Muhabura, Mountain Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Morungule, Mount Kadam and other minor mountains
The tallest peak of the ranges is known as Margherita peak which is also the 3rd highest in Africa; the other highest peaks of mountain Rwenzori are mount Speke and Mount Baker. This mountain really is a unique destination it shelters verdant biodiversity, including Rwenzori mountain national park, waterfalls, glaciers, snowfields and the unique mountainous vegetation
Animals
The destination Uganda is rich in bio-diversity due to her varying habitats that range from savannah to forested, waterlogged, and highland environments. Talking of Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga where Uganda Gorilla Safaris are undertaken. Mountain gorillas only live in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest Park, the dormant volcanic Virunga mountain range that stretches across Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park. Chimpanzees along with other primate species in the verdant forests of Kibale, Kalinzu and Budongo, extensive wild game in the open savannah landscapes of Kidepo, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo National Parks, the Nile crocodiles and Hippos in the major water bodies including Lake Victoria and River Nile, one can admit that Uganda is indeed gifted by nature.
Uganda’s Big five animals thrive in the savannah rangelands and though some members of this group are scattered in various parks including Kidepo, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks. Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks are home to four of the Big five namely; Lions, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephants. Lake Mburo National Park is home to three of the Big five namely; Buffalo, Leopard and Lion (rarely seen).
Waterfalls
Waterfalls in Uganda are some of the world’s most amazing, with beautiful, breath taking sceneries. This confirms that this country is gifted by nature and so, the pearl of Africa. Uganda is surrounded by water bodies and most of them are characterized by waterfalls
Murchison Falls is famous not for its height which is just 40m but for its power. The Nile explodes violently through a narrow 6m gorge and upstream, the Victoria Nile hurtles through the rift’s hinterland down an explosive 80km of rapids that rafters consider one of the world’s scariest sections of white water, but provide a unique exhilarating experience.
Named one of once in a lifetime destinations in the whole world by CNN Travel. Bwindi water falls has two major water falls in Buhoma sector and Rushaga sector.
The water falls are the epitome of Uganda’s wild adventures; sights and sounds of the pearl of Africa tropics are all summarized just around these falls like Sipi falls, Ssezibwa falls, Mpanga falls, Kisizi waterfalls to mention but a few.
Crater lakes
The volcanic craters of Queen Elizabeth National Parker are pristine features of the earlier volcanic activities; about 8000 years ago. They are true results of violent volcanic activities on an extinct volcano or through a volcanic fissure. There are mainly three major crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth national park; Lake Katwe Crater Lake where salt is excavated, Bunyaruguru rater fields on the Kichwamba escarpment, and Ndali-Kasenda crater fields nearer to Kibale National park. The Katwe craters or Katwe-Kikorongo explosion craters are a group of volcanic craters within Queen Elizabeth National Park in Toro, Uganda. The volcanic field is roughly 210 km2 (81 sq mi) in size. The individual craters vary widely in size, but the largest are up to 3 km (1.9 mi) in diameter and 100 m (330 ft) deep.
The 72 huge basins scattered across the Equator are real life evidenced the Albertine area, was once a bubbling volcanic active area many years ago. The craters will bring all the studied, heart and any information you have ever heard about this kind of geographical history to life that is #UgandaAfricazPearl.
Lakes
Approximately 18% of Uganda’s land surface of 236,040 km2 is covered by water. The country has 165 lakes with internal surface water resources estimated at 39 km3 yr-1, while groundwater is believed to be around 29 km3 y-1.
It is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world at 68,800 sq km of area and 1100m above sea level it is shared by Uganda and Kenya. Arguably, Lake Victoria’s appeal is the cruises and fishing trips.
The Uganda lakes provide not only tourist attractions but also living for many of those in Uganda who live on their shores for fishing and other pursuits. Lake Albert is located between the Uganda and DRC in Western Uganda and is the most northern of the lakes in the in the Albertine Rift which straddles parts of Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Lake Albert is the only lake in Uganda with Oil. #UgandaAfricazPearl
Rivers
Uganda is gifted by nature as the country is characterized by beautiful relief and wonderful drainage. The country is endowed with amazing rift valleys, cliffs, hills and Mountains, plateaus, lakes and rivers among others.
The Nile River is the longest river in Africa and the second longest river in the whole world flowing from the south to the north of Africa pouring into the Mediterranean Sea. The mighty River Nile takes top spot as a masterpiece of Mother Nature that stands out as a tourist attraction you must see.
Kagera River which is the largest of all rivers in Uganda also shared among other three countries namely: Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
Uganda is gifted with multitudes of stunning rivers which include: River Kafu River Semliki (close to the Semuliki National park), River Mpologoma, River Okere, River Nkusi, river Muzizi, Zoka, Albert Nile, River Aswa, River Pager, the Dopeth-Okok River and River Ora among others
People
There are over 56 tribes in Uganda, some of them were migrated from other country and some of them are originated from them. The Bantu were the earliest group to come to Uganda and constitute over 50 percent of Uganda’s total population. They Comprise; Baganda, Banyankole, Banyoro, Bakonjo, Basoga, Bakiga, Bafumbira, Batooro, Bamba, Batwa, Banyule, Basamia- Bagwe and Baggwere. They generally occupy the east, central, west, and southern Uganda.
The second category is the Atekerin people, also referred to as the Para-Nilotics or the Nilo- Hamites. The group is found mainly in the north, the east and north-eastern Uganda. The group constitutes the Langi, the Karamajong, the Iteso, the Kakwa, and the Kumam. They trace their origins to Ethiopia and are said to have been one people. The Langi are unique in that they lost their Ateker language and culture and spoke Luo.
The third group is the Luos, an extensive family that spread all over East Africa. These tribes in uganda include the Alur, the Acholi, and the Japadhola. The Alur are settled in Westin Nile, Acholi in Northern Uganda and Japadhola in Eastern Uganda.
Fish and Birds
Different types of fish flourish in different water sources. The waters of Uganda contain an impressive array of fish species—over 90 in all. The Nile perch is locally known as “Empuuta”, especially in the central region. It is a native species to Lake Albert where it is locally known as Gur, the River Nile below Murchison Falls, Lake Victoria, and Kyoga. The Nile perch is from fresh water and it generally grows between 85 and 100 centimeters and weighs between 2 and 4 kilograms. However, this predator has been captured and seen at a size of 195 centimeters and is able to reach a weight of 200 kilograms. Silverfish is small in nature and commonly known as mukene in Uganda. These are between 25 and 50 millimeters long. Mukene has polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6, which aid in the treatment of cardiac (heart-related) diseases and reduces risks of clotting and high blood pressure.
The list of the bird species recorded in Uganda included a total of 1066 confirmed species as of May 2020. Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa, and the largest living species of bird. They are distinctive in appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at high speeds. Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or “dances”
Kingdoms
Contemporary Uganda is Republic in East Africa, in the area of African Great Lakes. Uganda are several traditional constituent Monarchies, with status regulated in Constitution of this Republic. The kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro-Kitara, Busoga and Toro are ancient traditional kingdoms of Africa that long enjoyed local and international recognition, even by the British colonial powers.
Buganda is the largest of the subnational kingdoms of Uganda and the namesake of the country and covers about 17% of the population of the country. The traditional title of the King of Buganda is “Kabaka” and the current Kabaka is Muwenda Mutebi II.
Bunyoro-Kitara is the second largest of the Ugandan kingdoms and the only one that was once an empire controlling a large swath of the land that is Uganda today. The traditional title of the King of Bunyoro-Kitara is “Omukama” and the current Omukama is Solomon Iguru I.
Busoga is another ancient Ugandan kingdom that is smaller than those above. The traditional title of the King “Kyabazinga” and the last one to hold the title was Henry Wako Muloki. Unfortunately, there has been strife among the leaders of the Kingdom.
Toro was once part of the Bunyoro Empire and was created in 1830 when the eldest son of the Omukama rebelled and founded his own kingdom. The Kingdom of Toro also names its King “Omukama” and the current holder of the title is Rukidi IV.
Food types
Matoke is traditionally enjoyed across Uganda and is a staple food to most of the Bantu tribes. In Western Uganda, you will see miles and miles of fields with this green plantain. It is from such farms that matooke is then harvested and sent to towns for urban dwellers.
Rolex, not the luxury watch. Basically, a rolex is fried eggs wrapped [rolled] in a chapati. A rolex a delicacy that can be eaten at any time of day. The rolex is deliciously unique that almost every Ugandan has their own favourite ‘rolex guy’ – and that comes with some sort of loyalty.
Luwombo, royalty in a dish. One of Uganda’s best dishes that is estimated to have originated from the Buganda Kingdom in the late 19th century by Kabaka Mwanga’s personal chef. Kudos to that chef for creating a masterpiece that has brought joy to so many people and generations from everywhere.
Uganda has more than 50 subcultures that are closely related, but with significant norms – which includes food. Covering all that is something worthy of several books and some are highlighted in the poem.
