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Uganda country profile

Uganda country profile

Published:
Updated: August 29, 2011, 4:55 am
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Lakhdar Boukerrou

Uganda is a landlocked nation in eastern-Africa, that straddles the equator, west of Kenya, south of Sudan, with Rwanda and Tanzania to the south. 

Map of Uganda. Source: <a href='https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html' class='external text' title='https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html' rel='nofollow'>CIA World Factbook</a> Map of Uganda. Source: CIA World Factbook
  WWF Ecorgions of Uganda. Source WWF WWF Ecorgions of Uganda. Source WWF

Uganda's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is defined by the Albertine Rift,

the western branch of the Great Rift System of Africa. This Rift valley boundary area includes two of African Great Lakes, Lake Albert and Lake Edward, the snow-capped  Ruwenzori mountains (considered by many to be the legendary "Mountains of the Moon"), as well as many imperiled species, like the Mountain gorilla. Uganda is a fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers, including a sizable part of Lake Victoria (a fifth of the country's area is water).  The country is mostly plateau declining in to the north and rimmed with highlands and mountains and volcanoes. Uganda's major environmental issues are rooted in meeting the human needs for land, firewood, and other natural resources for a rapidly growing population (3.6% per year). Issues include draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; invasive species in Lake Victoria; and widespread poaching. The country's environmental challenges have been exacerbated by regional wars and civil unrest.

  1.  Click here for a brief general overview of Uganda
       -   Major environmental issues

  2. Geography: Overview - Climate - Major rivers, lakes, mountains, and other geographical features - Districts and cities

  3. Ecology and Biodiversity:

  4. Natural Resources: Water - Energy -Fisheries - Forests - Air - Agriculture

  5. Human Society:  Demographics - Human Development Index - Health issues
    • Environmental Governance
    • Civil society organizations and programs
    • Economy and trade
    • Profiles of people shaping Uganda's environmental future
    • Urbanization
  6. Protected Areas:  List of protected areas - National Parks - World Heritage Sites - Biosphere Reserves - Significant (Ramsar) Wetlands

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Citation

Maggie Surface (Lead Author);Lakhdar Boukerrou (Topic Editor) "Uganda country profile". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth July 7, 2009; Last revised Date August 29, 2011; Retrieved May 25, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Uganda_country_profile>

The Author

Maggie SurfaceMaggie Surface, originally from Nashville, TN, graduated in May of 2007 from Allegheny College with a double B.S. in physics and environmental studies. Her senior thesis at Allegheny focused on bringing solar energy to campus. She interned with American Rivers in the summer of 2006, helping plan River Lobby Day, and with the Meadville Area Local Growers and the Meadville Redevelopment Authority in the summer of 2005. Maggie served as the Earth Portal Program Coordinator for the National Counc ... (Full Bio)

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