Uganda Geography

Uganda Geography

According to Pharmacylib.com, the vegetation is luxuriant, except in the region of Lake Rudolf where there is a steppe vegetation similar to that of Somalia. In the western provinces the flora has some analogy with that of western Africa.

To the west of Lake Victoria, 80% of some forests are mainly made up of Maesopsis Emini, Ramnacea over 30 m high, mixed with Piptadenia africana.

Here and there in the territory, where the soil is not too dry, rubber lianas are widespread, especially Clitandra orientalis, Carpodinus landolphioides ; the elastic Kichxia abounds in Budonga forest, where it is also frequent Pseudocedrela utilis and Khaya anthothera. In the region of Lake Victoria, among the large trees are remarkable: Ficus Schimperi whose bark is used to make clothes and Pachylobus edulis, Burseracea with edible fruits which on the Atlantic side of Africa is found from Cameroon to Angola.

In the higher areas of the plateau, pastures prevail, where fruit and shrubs belonging to Leguminosae and Compote grow among the Graminaceous plants.

The watercourses are covered on the shores of papyrus, which in some large inlets form together with Cladium mariscus vast associations and constitute species of floating islands on which Myrica Kandtiana and hemispherical bushes of Ficus praeruptorum var develop. Ruandensis ; the Aeschynomene elaphroxylon is encountered there, but rarely.

The large forests have the characteristics of the rainforests and are dense with trees, but most of them bear leaves only at the ends of the last branches while the main branches do not have them.

On the high mountains, where the tropical forest stops, the slopes are covered with high mountain steppe where among the dominant Andropogonee grow the Amarillidacea Anoiganthus gracilis, Wahlenbergia arguta, Blaeria breviflora, Conyza subscaposa, Helichrysum Mildbraedii.

The fauna of Uganda is distinctly African in character, rich in species. There are numerous Monkeys among which we will mention various species of Papio, the vervet and the guereza. There are numerous Chiroptera that include, among other things, the reddish characteristics. The group of Insectivores is rich in species, many of which are interesting, such as the macroscelids with a long snout and equally long hind legs; the chrysochlorides, blind and devoid of auricles with fur with metallic reflections. Among the Carnivores to note the leopard, the lion, the mongooses, the protheles, the virerre, etc. Numerous forms of mice, dormice, squirrels represent the order of the Gnawers. The Ungulates occupy, both as a number of individuals for each species and as a variety of forms, a notable place in the whole fauna. Among the many species of this order we will mention the hippopotamus, the potamochero, the African warthog, the cow antelope, the giraffe, the wildebeest, the oreotraghi, the gazelles, the two-horned rhinoceros, the zebras, the African elephant, etc. Among the Toothless the pangolin and the anteater. Rich in number of species, variety of shapes and colors is the avifauna. Numerous species of reptiles and amphibians and a very rich entomological fauna.

The population of Uganda is estimated to rise (1935) to 3,661,099 residents, of which 14,860 are Asian and 1994 European. As for the Christian religion, there are 350,000 Catholics and 250,000 Protestants in the protectorate. Currently there are for Catholics the four apostolic vicariates of Uganda (1915; formerly of Victoria Nyanza, 1894), of Ruvenzori (1934), of the equatorial Nile (1934, formerly apostolic prefecture, 1923), of the upper Nile (1894). Also two Anglican bishoprics.

Due to its physical and climatic conditions, Uganda lends itself very favorably to tropical crops. Cotton mainly thrives here, sugar cane and, in the higher areas, coffee and tobacco. The breeding of livestock, especially cattle, is widely practiced. On the other hand, the resources of the subsoil are of little importance, for now limited to tin ore. Of the total export, which in 1934 reported the value of 3.8 million pounds, 78% is represented by cotton, 8% by coffee, 7% by sugar and the rest by cotton seed, ivory, from tin ore. Imports, which amounted to 1.7 million, are mainly represented by fabrics and industrial products. Important for its effects on the economic and commercial life of Uganda is the customs union with Kenya and Sudan carried out in 1922. The external communications of Uganda are ensured by the railway that starting from Mombasa reaches the banks of the Vittoria Nyanza in Kisuma (formerly Port Florence) and from which a trunk departs reports to Jinia. Regular navigation services are established on Vittoria Nyanza, as well as on Lake Albert, Lake Kioga, the Nile at Nimule. An extensive network of automobile roads complements these services. as well as on Lake Alberto, on Lake Kioga, on the Nile in Nimule. An extensive network of automobile roads complements these services. as well as on Lake Alberto, on Lake Kioga, on the Nile in Nimule. An extensive network of automobile roads complements these services.

The protectorate is divided into four large administrative districts of which one is Buganda corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Uganda, which therefore includes the coastal part of Vittoria Nyanza west of the Victoria Nile and has Kampala as its capital; it retains its autonomy under the government of the king assisted by an indigenous ministry and legislative council. Its capital is Kampala, a city of modern origin and development, built near Mengo, the ancient capital of the kingdom, and which has a stopover on the Porto Bell lake which is 10 km away. It is the main commercial center of the protectorate where foreign representations also reside. The other provinces take their name from their orientation and are: the Western Prov. west of Buganda, with Fort Portal as its capital, at the foot of Ruvenzori; the Northern Prov. with the capital Masindi; the Estern Prov. with capital Jinia on Lake Victoria, joined as we saw to the railway that comes from Mombasa and from which a trunk that ends at Lake Kyoga starts. The capital of the protectorate is Entebbe (7230 residents), A city built in 1893 on the peninsular overhang that juts out from the northern shores of Lake Victoria, 30 km away. from Kampala, at the mouth of Murchison Bay, in a healthy and picturesque location.

Uganda Geography

About the author