Uganda, twice the size of Pennsylvania, is in
East Africa. It is bordered on the west by Congo,
on the north by the Sudan, on the east by Kenya,
and on the south by Tanzania and Rwanda. The
country, which lies across the equator, is divided
into three main areas—swampy lowlands, a fertile
plateau with wooded hills, and a desert region.
Lake Victoria forms part of the southern border.
 |
| Chimpazee |
About 500 B.C.Bantu-speaking peoples migrated to
the area now called Uganda. By the 14th century,
three kingdoms dominated, Buganda (meaning "state
of the Gandas"), Bunyoro, and Ankole. Uganda was
first explored by Europeans as well as Arab
traders in 1844. An Anglo-German agreement of 1890
declared it to be in the British sphere of
influence in Africa, and the Imperial British East
Africa Company was chartered to develop the area.
The company did not prosper financially, and in
1894 a British protectorate was proclaimed. Few
Europeans permanently settled in Uganda, but it
attracted many Indians, who became important
players in Ugandan commerce.
Uganda became independent on Oct. 9, 1962. Sir
Edward Mutesa, the king of Buganda (Mutesa II),
was elected the first president, and Milton Obote
the first prime minister, of the newly independent
country. With the help of a young army officer,
Col. Idi Amin, Prime Minister Obote seized control
of the government from President Mutesa four years
later.
