Geography of Uganda
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{{coord|1|00|N|32|00|E|display= title}}
File:Koppen-Geiger Map UGA present.svg
Uganda is located in Eastern Africa, West of Kenya, South of South Sudan, East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and North of Rwanda and Tanzania. While much of its border is on lakeshores, Uganda is landlocked with no access to the sea port but it is a fertile and well-watered country that consists of many lakes and rivers including the largest, Lake Victoria. The country sits in the heart of the Great Lakes region, with Lake Edward, Lake George and Lake Albert on its Western border, Lake Kyoga in the Eastern part of Uganda. It is found in Central Saharan Africa and receives reliable rainfall throughout the year. Rivers are River Nile the longest river in Africa, River Kagera, River Katonga, River Semiliki and River Sezibwa.
The climate is tropical and equatorial as well with two dry spells (December to February, June to August).{{cite web |title=Uganda |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/uganda/ |access-date=2018-10-12 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=CIA |language=en}} While the Northeast of the country is semiarid and Districts falling prey include Moroto, Kabong, Nakapiripiriti, Karenga. The terrain of Uganda mostly consist of plateaus surrounded by a rim of mountains including the Rwenzori mountain range. Notable national parks include Bwindi, Rwenzori Mountains which has snow on its peak, Margherita, Kibale, Mgahinga National Park, Mount Elgon National game Park, Kidepo National game Park and Queen Elizabeth National game Park, with thick forests to modify climate and to mention; Uganda's plant cover is Savannah.However, Forests also act as a source of Herbal Medicine.
Some geographical places like Jinja and Kapchorwa have water Springs like Muchsion falls, Bujagali falls, karuma falls and Sipii falls that aids Hydro Electric Power Generation and to cite out; Bujagali falls generates 5 MW that is exported to our physically disadvantaged neighbourhood in the names Rwanda and Burundi.
Inselbergs are common features in the geography of Uganda. The inselbergs are commonly made of granite, sometimes of gneiss and never of amphibolite or volcanic rock.{{Cite journal|title=The Inselbergs of Uganda |journal=Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie|last=Ollier|first=C.D.|volume=4|pages=43–52|issue=1|year=1960|author-link=Cliff Ollier}} Protruding quartzite hills tend to form ridges rather than "true inselbergs".
Statistics
{{Prose|section|date=September 2023}}
total: {{convert|241551|km2|mi2}}
land: {{convert|200523|km2|mi2}}
water: {{convert|41028|km2|mi2}}
; Area comparative
:* Australia comparative: slightly larger than Victoria
:* Canada comparative: slightly less than half the size of the Yukon
:* United States comparative: slightly smaller than Wyoming
:* EU comparative: slightly larger than Romania
total: {{convert|2,729|km|mi}}
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo {{convert|877|km|mi}}, Kenya {{convert|814|km|mi}}, South Sudan {{convert|475|km|mi}}, Tanzania {{convert|391|km|mi}}, Rwanda {{convert|172|km|mi}}
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: {{convert|614|m|ft}} Albert Nile at border with South Sudan
highest point: {{convert|5111|m|ft}} Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley
Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
arable land: {{convert|6900000|ha|km2|disp=out|abbr=off}} ({{convert|6900000|ha|mi2|disp=out|abbr=off}}) 34.41%
permanent crops: {{convert|2250000|ha|km2|disp=out|abbr=off}} ({{convert|2250000|ha|mi2|disp=out|abbr=off}}) 11.22%
forest cover: {{convert|2810000|ha|km2|disp=out|abbr=off}} ({{convert|2810000|ha|mi2|disp=out|abbr=off}}) 14.01%
other: {{convert|80,931|km2|mi2}} 40.36%
{{convert|14000|ha|km2|disp=out|abbr=off}} ({{convert|14000|ha|mi2|disp=out|abbr=off}})
Total renewable water resources:
{{convert|66|km3|mi3}} (2011)[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2201.html TOTAL RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES, "The World Factbook", United States Central Intelligence Agency, 2011, accessed 16 July 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612123716/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2201.html |date=12 June 2015 }} or {{convert|60|km3|mi3}} (2012)[http://knoema.com/atlas/Uganda/topics/Water/Total-Renewable-Water-Resources/Water-resources-total-renewable-natural "Uganda — Total Renewable Water Resources — Water resources: total renewable (natural)", World Data Atlas, knoema, based on FAO Aquastat, 2014, accessed 16 July 2015]
{{anchor|Environmental issues}}Environment — current issues:
draining of wetlands for agricultural use, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria, widespread poaching
Environment — international agreements:
party to:
- Convention on the International Maritime Organization
- Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
- Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
- Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
- International Plant Protection Convention
- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat
signed, but not ratified:
Geography — note: Uganda is one of six African states that lies on the equator. Most of Uganda lies north of the equator.
Climate
Uganda has a warm tropical climate with temperatures falling in the {{convert|25|to|29|°C|°F|1}} range on an average. The months from December to February are the hottest, but even during this season the evenings can be pleasant with temperatures in the {{convert|17|to|18|°C|°F|1}} range.{{Cite web|title=What is the weather, climate and geography like in Uganda|url=https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/uganda/|access-date=2021-05-08|website=World Travel Guide|language=en-US}}
Most of Uganda receives an annual rainfall of {{convert|1,000|to|1,500|mm|in|-1|disp=or}}. The rainy seasons are from March to May and from September to November. During these months, heavy rains can make roads and terrains hard to traverse. The period from January to February and again from June to August are dry. In the north, there is only one rainy season from March to November, and a dry season from December to February.
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|collapsed = Yes
|location = Kampala
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 33
|Feb record high C = 36
|Mar record high C = 33
|Apr record high C = 33
|May record high C = 29
|Jun record high C = 29
|Jul record high C = 29
|Aug record high C = 29
|Sep record high C = 31
|Oct record high C = 32
|Nov record high C = 32
|Dec record high C = 32
|Jan high C = 28.6
|Feb high C = 29.3
|Mar high C = 28.7
|Apr high C = 27.7
|May high C = 27.3
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 26.9
|Aug high C = 27.2
|Sep high C = 27.9
|Oct high C = 27.7
|Nov high C = 27.4
|Dec high C = 27.9
|year high C = 27.8
|Jan mean C=23.2
|Feb mean C=23.7
|Mar mean C=23.4
|Apr mean C=22.9
|May mean C=22.6
|Jun mean C=22.4
|Jul mean C=22.0
|Aug mean C=22.2
|Sep mean C=22.6
|Oct mean C=22.6
|Nov mean C=22.5
|Dec mean C=22.7
|Jan low C = 17.7
|Feb low C = 18.0
|Mar low C = 18.1
|Apr low C = 18.0
|May low C = 17.9
|Jun low C = 17.6
|Jul low C = 17.1
|Aug low C = 17.1
|Sep low C = 17.2
|Oct low C = 17.4
|Nov low C = 17.5
|Dec low C = 17.5
|year low C = 17.6
|Jan record low C = 12
|Feb record low C = 14
|Mar record low C = 13
|Apr record low C = 14
|May record low C = 15
|Jun record low C = 12
|Jul record low C = 12
|Aug record low C = 12
|Sep record low C = 13
|Oct record low C = 13
|Nov record low C = 14
|Dec record low C = 12
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 68.4
|Feb rain mm = 63.0
|Mar rain mm = 131.5
|Apr rain mm = 169.3
|May rain mm = 117.5
|Jun rain mm = 69.2
|Jul rain mm = 63.1
|Aug rain mm = 95.7
|Sep rain mm = 108.4
|Oct rain mm = 138.0
|Nov rain mm = 148.7
|Dec rain mm = 91.5
|year rain mm =
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 4.8
|Feb rain days = 5.1
|Mar rain days = 9.5
|Apr rain days = 12.2
|May rain days = 10.9
|Jun rain days = 6.3
|Jul rain days = 4.7
|Aug rain days = 6.7
|Sep rain days = 8.6
|Oct rain days = 9.1
|Nov rain days = 8.4
|Dec rain days = 7.4
|year rain days =
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 68.5
|Mar humidity = 73
|Apr humidity = 78.5
|May humidity = 80.5
|Jun humidity = 78.5
|Jul humidity = 77.5
|Aug humidity = 77.5
|Sep humidity = 75.5
|Oct humidity = 73.5
|Nov humidity = 73
|Dec humidity = 71.5
|year humidity = 74.5
|Jan sun = 155
|Feb sun = 170
|Mar sun = 155
|Apr sun = 120
|May sun = 124
|Jun sun = 180
|Jul sun = 186
|Aug sun = 155
|Sep sun = 150
|Oct sun = 155
|Nov sun = 150
|Dec sun = 124
|year sun = 1824
|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization,{{cite web | title=World Weather Information Service: Kampala | website=World Meteorological Organization | url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1328 | access-date=2019-08-27}} Climate-Data.org for mean temperatures
|source 2 = BBC Weather{{cite web | title=Kampala | website=BBC Weather | url=https://www.bbc.com/weather/232422 | access-date=2019-08-27}}
|date=August 2010
}}
{{Weather box
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Gulu
|width = auto
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan high C=32.1
|Feb high C=32.3
|Mar high C=31.2
|Apr high C=29.3
|May high C=28.2
|Jun high C=27.7
|Jul high C=26.7
|Aug high C=26.9
|Sep high C=28.1
|Oct high C=28.7
|Nov high C=29.7
|Dec high C=30.4
|Jan mean C=24.2
|Feb mean C=24.6
|Mar mean C=24.3
|Apr mean C=23.4
|May mean C=22.8
|Jun mean C=22.3
|Jul mean C=21.6
|Aug mean C=21.7
|Sep mean C=22.3
|Oct mean C=22.5
|Nov mean C=23
|Dec mean C=23.2
|Jan low C=16.4
|Feb low C=17
|Mar low C=17.5
|Apr low C=17.6
|May low C=17.4
|Jun low C=16.9
|Jul low C=16.5
|Aug low C=16.5
|Sep low C=16.5
|Oct low C=16.4
|Nov low C=16.4
|Dec low C=16.1
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm=17
|Feb rain mm=32
|Mar rain mm=88
|Apr rain mm=164
|May rain mm=182
|Jun rain mm=146
|Jul rain mm=159
|Aug rain mm=217
|Sep rain mm=179
|Oct rain mm=185
|Nov rain mm=102
|Dec rain mm=36
|source 1= Climate-Data.org, altitude: 1116m{{Cite web | url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/3763/ | title=Climate: Gulu - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table | publisher=Climate-Data.org | access-date=4 November 2013}}
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Entebbe, Uganda (1961–1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 31.3
|Feb record high C = 31.7
|Mar record high C = 30.6
|Apr record high C = 30.0
|May record high C = 28.9
|Jun record high C = 27.8
|Jul record high C = 28.1
|Aug record high C = 28.9
|Sep record high C = 29.8
|Oct record high C = 29.6
|Nov record high C = 31.7
|Dec record high C = 29.5
|year record high C = 31.7
|Jan high C = 26.3
|Feb high C = 27.3
|Mar high C = 26.7
|Apr high C = 26.0
|May high C = 25.4
|Jun high C = 25.2
|Jul high C = 25.3
|Aug high C = 25.9
|Sep high C = 26.5
|Oct high C = 26.5
|Nov high C = 26.0
|Dec high C = 26.5
|year high C = 26.1
|Jan low C = 18.0
|Feb low C = 18.3
|Mar low C = 18.5
|Apr low C = 18.4
|May low C = 18.0
|Jun low C = 17.8
|Jul low C = 17.2
|Aug low C = 17.4
|Sep low C = 17.4
|Oct low C = 17.7
|Nov low C = 17.9
|Dec low C = 17.8
|year low C = 17.9
|Jan record low C = 13.0
|Feb record low C = 10.7
|Mar record low C = 14.4
|Apr record low C = 12.2
|May record low C = 14.3
|Jun record low C = 14.0
|Jul record low C = 10.0
|Aug record low C = 12.0
|Sep record low C = 13.2
|Oct record low C = 13.9
|Nov record low C = 14.3
|Dec record low C = 13.8
|year record low C = 10.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 86.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 84.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 184.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 264.4
|May precipitation mm = 253.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 116.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 72.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 77.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 79.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 127.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 171.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 120.6
|year precipitation mm = 1638.8
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 7.3
|Feb precipitation days = 7.3
|Mar precipitation days = 13.1
|Apr precipitation days = 16.8
|May precipitation days = 16.2
|Jun precipitation days = 9.4
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 6.3
|Sep precipitation days = 7.1
|Oct precipitation days = 10.7
|Nov precipitation days = 13.6
|Dec precipitation days = 10.2
|year precipitation days = 124.9
|Jan humidity = 76
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 77
|Apr humidity = 79
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 78
|Jul humidity = 77
|Aug humidity = 78
|Sep humidity = 76
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 76
|year humidity = 77
|Jan sun = 234
|Feb sun = 204
|Mar sun = 205
|Apr sun = 181
|May sun = 191
|Jun sun = 187
|Jul sun = 197
|Aug sun = 194
|Sep sun = 194
|Oct sun = 205
|Nov sun = 202
|Dec sun = 214
|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization
{{cite web
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1329
| title = World Weather Information Service – Entebbe
| publisher= World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 1 September 2016}}
| source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity),
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_637050_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Entebbe (Flugh.) / Uganda
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = 14 June 2016}} Danish Meteorological Institute (sun, 1931–1960)
{{cite web|url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |title=STATIONSNUMMER 63705 |publisher=Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate |access-date=14 June 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2013 }}
}}
= Climate change =
{{Excerpt|Climate change in Uganda}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Uganda topics}}
{{Geography of Africa}}
{{Africa topic|Climate of}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Uganda}}