EUTM Somalia - Europa

8
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
UGANDA – A Country Overview
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by
South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda,
and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of
Lake Victoria, which is also shared by Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda
kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
Population Structure
The Ugandan people can be classified into a number
of broad categories. The Bantu people, the earliest
arrivers in Uganda, constitute more than 50% of the
total population, occupying east, central, western and
southern parts of the country. They comprise several
ethnic sub-groups like the Baganda, Banyoro, and
Basoga. The Atekerin group, sometimes known as the
Nilo-Hamites, Para Nilotes or the Lango live in the north,
east and northeast.
The Luo, originally from southern Sudan, are another
nilotic group. They live in West Nile area, the northern
and eastern parts of the country. The Sudanic speakers
of West Nile, including Lugbara, Madi and Okebu people,
form another group. The Pygmoid people are the closest
surviving relatives of the Stone Age man. They constitute
the Batwa and the Bambuti who live in western Uganda,
bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Religions
Roman Catholic 41.9%, Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal
4.6%, Seventh-day Adventist 1.5%, Muslim 12.1%,
Other 3.1%, None 0.9%.
Of the Christian population, the Roman Catholic Church
The Grey Crowned Crane – A national
symbol of Uganda
has the largest number of followers, followed by the Anglican Church, while Evangelical and Pentecostal
churches claim the rest. The Muslim population is primarily Sunni. Traditional indigenous beliefs are
practiced in some rural areas and are sometimes blended with or practiced alongside Christianity or
Islam. Indian nationals, the most significant immigrant population, are primarily Ismaili or Hindu.
The northern and west Nile regions of the country are predominantly Catholic, while Iganga district in
eastern Uganda has the highest percentage of Muslims. The rest of the country experiences a mix of
religious affiliations.