The Pearl of Africa

In Winston Churchill’s book My African Journey (1908) he described Uganda as “the pearl of Africa” after visiting the country the previous year.  The nickname stuck.  One hundred years later, tourist agencies, nonprofit organizations, and guidebooks still use the moniker.  According to author Thomas Ofcansky, the lustrous Ugandan pearl has tarnished during the past century as a result of brutal dictatorships, ongoing civil wars, and multiple military coups d’etat.  However, since the mid-1980s the nation has experienced relative stability and economic prosperity and now serves as a successful example to other African countries facing adversity.

Map of Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country in eastern Africa that is approximately the size of Great Britain or the state of Oregon.  It is bordered by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Although the country lies on the equator, it is relatively cool because of its high elevation (most of the country is at an altitude of about 3300 feet), with the daily temperature high between 68 and 81˚F and a low between 54 and 64˚ F.  Although it is landlocked, about 25% of Uganda’s surface area is water, primarily that of Lake Victoria.  Despite its fairly small size, the country is surprisingly physically and biologically diverse.  Besides Lake Victoria, Uganda is characterized by numerous physical features including semi-arid planes, volcanic mountains, glaciers, forests, fertile farmlands, and the source of the Nile River (historically, the most important).  The country holds impressive bird and primate populations; it is home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

Uganda’s 32 million people are as comparatively diverse as its flora and fauna.  Of that population, almost 90% live in small towns or villages, with the remainder living in the country’s cities, primarily the capital, Kampala (1.2 million).  The majority of people are concentrated in the southwest region.  Culturally, Uganda is composed of a complex and diverse range of tribes; this complexity has led to many of the political problems of the past and present after Britain’s political boundaries forced the peoples of those tribes into one entity, the country Uganda.  Over 33 native languages are spoken, Luganda being the most widely used.  Interestingly, Karimojong, one of these indigenous languages from the northeast region, has a vocabulary of only 180 words!  English is spoken as a second language among many Ugandans (particularly the well-educated) followed by Swahili.  Approximately 85% of the population is Christian, half belonging to the Protestant Church of Uganda and half to the Roman Catholic Church.

Uganda's flag

The Ugandan flag provides insight into the country’s history and people.  The flag is made up of 6 horizontal stripes, alternating colors of black, yellow, and red.  A white circle is superimposed in the middle with the national symbol, a Grey Crowned Crane, inside.  The colors for the flag were derived from the Uganda’s People Congress, a political party who came to power at independence in 1962 under the leadership of past Prime Minister, Milton Obote.  Yellow represents the African sunshine, black signifies the Ugandan people, and red stands for the blood of brotherhood.

It’s easy to describe Uganda based on facts and figures, but I am most excited to experience the true country, beyond what can be read in any book.