Facts

 

 

Two weeks from tonight we will arrive in Uganda after about 20-1/2 hours of travel. Here are some interesting facts about the country that will be our "home away from home" for four weeks.

Area: 241,038 sq. km / 93,065 sq. mi. (slightly larger than Great Britain)

Population: 35.8 million (approx. the same as Canada)

Capital City: Kampala (approx. pop.  1.2 million)

Language: Official languages are English and Swahili.  There are also many native languages.

Currency: Ugandan shilling ($1.00 Canadian = 2400 Ugandan shillings)

Time: Eastern Africa Time Zone - 7 hours ahead of Atlantic Time.  (It is already 2015 in Uganda.)

Temperature: Average daily high in Kampala is 28C in January.

History: Gained independence from Britain in 1962 but remains a member of the Commonwealth.  Has been troubled by corrupt leadership and has suffered horrific atrocities.  Currently relatively stable politically, though some conflict continues in the north. (We will be in the south.)

Geography: Landlocked. Borders Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda & Tanzania. Contains part of the northern shore of Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world. (Lake Superior being the largest.) Lake Victoria is considered to be the source of the Nile.  The equator passes through the southern part of Uganda.

Poverty: A sad statistic - one of the poorest countries in the world (in the bottom 25)

The People: Ugandans are recognized as being among the friendliest people in Africa. 

We can't wait to meet them!