Uganda:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Uganda:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Location	Definition Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates	Definition 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 236,040 sq km land: 199,710 sq km water: 36,330 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries	Definition total: 2,698 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline	Definition 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims	Definition none (landlocked)
Climate	Definition tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain	Definition mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources	Definition copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 21.57% permanent crops: 8.92% other: 69.51% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 90 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 66 cu km (1970)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.3 cu km/yr (43%/17%/40%) per capita: 10 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards	Definition NA
Environment - current issues	Definition draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note	Definition landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers