Geography
Background
 Uganda is a landlocked country, bordered by Sudan to the North, DRC to the west, Rwanda and Tanzania to the South, and Kenya to the East. Lying astride the equator between latitudes 4deg.0' North and 1deg.30' South of the equator, and longitudes 30deg.0' East and 35deg.0' East of Greenwich, covering an area of 242,554 km2.
Topographically much of Uganda can be classified as a plateau, with numerous small hills and valleys and extensive savanna plains. The entire country lies above 900m above sea level generally sloping from South to North. The country lies in a cradle of Mountains on its East Border with Kenya, Mount Elgon, and Mount. Moroto in the North East, and the South-Western Rwenzori Ranges rising to altitudes over 2000m. Uganda is a well watered country with close to 17% or 51,000 sq.km. of its area dedicated to swamp or open water. Much of the country lies in the 'Interlacustrine Region' (Between the lakes) of Africa. This region receives abundant rainfall, and is rich in tillable land, a major determining factor in settlement of the area.
Vegetation in Uganda is extremely diverse a result of the different micro-climates of the country. Vegetation zones can be roughly classified according to the rainfall zones and are generally; Lake region, Northern Region, and the Highlands of the South-East. These are defined according to the climate of the particular areas.
Location
Uganda is a landlocked country in Eastern Africa, west of Kenya, with Geographic coordinates 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Surface Area
Uganda with a total surface area of 236,040 sq km is covered with 36,330 sq km water and 199,710 sq km land.
Land boundaries
With a total border measure of 2,698 km with the following border countries; Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km.
Climate
Uganda's climate is tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
The climate of Uganda cannot be categorised into any single climatic zone, although it has been generally categorised as a 'Modified Tropical' climate. Its central location on the East African Plateau is a major determining factor in the local climate. In reality Uganda has three sub-climatic zones differentiated mainly by altitude and rainfall. Weather data from the following towns are representative of the three regions:
Entebbe - Latitude 00deg.03'N; Longitude 32deg.27'E. Elevation 1,146m (Lake Region):
Gulu - Latitude 02deg.45'N; Longitude 32deg.20' E (Northern Savanna). Elevation 1,109m;
Kabale - Latitude 01deg.15'S; Longitude 29deg.59' E (Southern Highlands). Elevation 1,871m.
Climate of Kampala
Kampala, (0deg.20' N, 32deg.30' E ) is the largest urban centre in Uganda, accounting for 800,000 (1993 estimate) persons or 47% of the urban population. Kampala is located on the Northern shores of Lake Victoria- N'yanza at an altitude of 1,310 meters above sea level. (Map 2) The climate of Kampala is typical of an inland tropical city, modified by altitude, and distance from the sea. The mean temperature of the city is 22deg.C, with a mean maximum of 27deg.C and a mean minimum of 17deg.C, a diurnal range of 10deg.C. The temperature however does vary quite significantly, and temperatures up to 35deg.C and down to 12deg.C are not uncommon. The average humidity over the year is 75% typically high in the morning and low in the afternoon. Daily sunshine hours ranges form a low of 5.7 hours a day during the month of July, to 7.7 hours a day during January (a mean of 6.5 hours per day). Four winds are recognised;
South-East Monsoons
Northerly dry current (Across Egypt and Sudan)
North-Easterly Moist Current
Westerly (Varies from North-West to South-West)
Rain fall maxima are associate with the onset of the South-East Monsoons and the North-Easterly Moist Current, both associated with the annual movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Average rainfall for the city is about 1174mm, most falling during the two wet seasons of March to May, and October to November. Dry seasons are December to February and June to July.
Terrain
The terrain is mostly plateau with rim of mountains. The lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use
About 25.34% of the land surface is used for arable farming, permanent crops occupying 8.77% and others 65.89% Irrigated land covering 90 sq km
Environment
There are currently several environmental issues the country is dealing with among which are; draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread.
its worth noting the various environmental agreements Uganda is a p arty to i.e Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
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