National Flag
From the top, there is a total of six horizontal stripes of black, yellow, red, black, yellow, red. Black symbolizes their African heritage and Uganda's fertile soil. Yellow is for the glorious sunny days, so characteristic of Uganda. Red symbolizes the red blood that runs in their veins, forming a common bond to all mankind. The majestic crested crane, the national bird of Uganda, adorns the center of the flag and stands on one leg facing the flag pole. The raised leg symbolizes that Uganda is not stationary but moving forward.
Facts
President and Commander in Chief: His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (since Jan '86)
Vice President: Edward Ssekandi
Area: 241,040 sq. km. (93,070 sq. mi.), roughly the size of the state of Oregon.
Terrain: 18% inland water and swamp; 12% national parks, forest, and game reserves; 70% forest, woodland, grassland
Climate: In the semi-arid northeast, rainfall is less than 50 cm/year (20 in); in the southwest, rainfall is 130 cm/year (50 in) or more. Two dry seasons: December-February and June-July.
Population (2014 census): 34,856,813 (Oregon has only 4 million people!)
Religions (2007): Catholic/Protestant 85%, Muslim 12%, other 2%
Languages: English (official); Luganda and numerous other local languages (estimated 50 different languages). Swahili is generally spoken among the Ugandan military.
Education: Attendance (2008, primary school completion rate) - 54%. Literacy (2003) - 70%
Health (2008 est): Infant mortality rate: 78/1,000. Life expectancy: 51 years.
Government: Republic
Agriculture: Cash crops: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, cut flowers, vanilla. Food crops: bananas, corn, cassava, potatoes, millet, pulses. Livestock and fisheries: beef, goat meat, milk, Nile Perch, Tilapia.
Trade: Exports (2008 est): $1.72 billion from coffee, fish and fish products, tea, electricity, horticultural products, vanilla, cut flowers, remittances from abroad. Major markets: EU, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, United Kingdom. Imports: (2008 est): $4.5 billion in capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies, metals, cereals. Major suppliers: U.A.E., Kenya, EU, India, South Africa, China, United States
Currency: Uganda Shilling (3,500/= equal to $1 <November 2015>)
Time: GMT+3
National Bird
The Crested Crane is the official bird of Uganda. The three colors of Uganda, black, yellow,and red,are contained in it's plumage. It is a friendly, gentle and peace loving bird, characteristics which are certainly true of the Ugandan people. It is a crime punishable by imprisonment to kill a Crested Crane.
National Anthem
"Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty" is the Uganda national anthem and is a result of a contest. Its words and music are composed by George Wilberforce Kakoma and was adopted in 1962. With only nine "bars" or "measures", it is one of the shortest national anthems in the world. It is sometimes played twice in a row in order to lengthen it.
Oh Uganda! may God uphold thee,
We lay our future in thy hand.
United, free,
For liberty
Together we'll always stand.
Oh Uganda! the land of freedom.
Our love and labour we give,
And with neighbors all
At our country's call
In peace and friendship we'll live.
Oh Uganda! the land that feeds us
By sun and fertile soil grown
For our own dear land,
We'll always stand,
The Pearl of Africa's Crown.
Coat of Arms
The green symbolizes Uganda's lush, green vegetation. Supporting the shield are the Uganda Kob, symbolizing abundance of wildlife, and the Crested Crane, Uganda's national bird. Standing on a green mound is a shield and two crossed spears. The shield and spears symbolize Uganda's readiness to defend their motherland against all enemies. Across the top of the shield are the waves of Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake on Earth. In the center of the shield is the sun, representing Uganda's glorious sunny days. At the bottom of the shield is the traditional African drum used for dancing, ceremonial rituals, and for summoning the people to rally. Coffee and cotton, Uganda's main crops, are displayed on the green mound together with the River Nile, the world's longest river which starts its 8,000 km (5,000 mile) journey in Uganda. The Uganda motto is "For God and My Country."
