flag of Uganda
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Uganda
| Article =
| Image = Flag of Uganda.svg
| Use = 111111
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111111}} {{FIAV|Normal}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{start date and age|1962|10|9|df=y}}
| Design = Six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red (bottom); a white disc is superimposed at the centre and depicts the national symbol, a grey crowned crane, facing the hoist side.
| Designer = Grace Ibingira
| Type = National
}}
File:Malaysia and Uganda Flags, Trafalgar Square.jpg, over Uganda House – the High Commission to the United Kingdom at Trafalgar Square in London.]]
The national flag of Uganda ({{lang|sw|bendera ya Uganda}}) was adopted on 9 October 1962, the day that the nation became independent from the British Empire. It consists of six equal horizontal bands of black, yellow, and red from top to bottom. A white disc is superimposed at the centre and depicts the national symbol, a grey crowned crane, facing the hoist's side.
During the colonial era, the British used a Blue Ensign that was defaced with the colonial badge, as prescribed in 1865 regulations. Buganda, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in the colony of Uganda, had its own flag.{{cite web|title=Buganda (Uganda)|url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ug-bugan.html#61|website=FOTW Flags Of The World website|access-date=31 August 2015}} However, in order to avoid appearing to give preference to one region of the colony over any other, the British colonial authorities selected the crane emblem for use on the Blue Ensign and other official banners.{{cite web|title=flag of Uganda|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1355560/flag-of-Uganda|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=14 September 2014}}
History
File:Flag of Uganda People's Congress (former).svg
When the Democratic Party ruled the country, it proposed a flag design with vertical stripes of green-blue-green, separated by narrower yellow stripes, and in the centre the silhouette of a yellow crane. After the party lost the national elections on 25 April 1962, the newly elected Uganda People's Congress (UPC) rejected the former design and instead proposed the current design. It was based on the UPC flag, a tricolour having horizontal strips of red, yellow and black. The British administration gave its approval to the new flag before the country's independence. The flag was designed by C. Todd, Professor of Fine Art at Makerere University. He also designed the Uganda Coat of Arms and various ceremonial items, which he registered with the College of Arms, in London.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Features on the Uganda flag
The three colours are representative of native ethnic groups of Africa (black), Africa's sunshine (yellow), and African brotherhood (red being the colour of blood, through which all Africans are connected).{{FOTW|id=ug|title=Uganda}} The grey crowned crane is fabled for its gentle nature and was also the military badge of Ugandan soldiers during British rule. The raised leg of the crane symbolises the forward movement of the country.{{cite web|title=Uganda National Symbols|url=http://www.ugandamission.net/aboutug/symbols.html|website=Uganda Mission|access-date=14 September 2014}}
Gallery of flags
= Historical flags =
File:Flag of the Imperial British East Africa Company.svg|Flag of the Imperial British East Africa Company (1888 - 1894)
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the Uganda Protectorate (1894 – 1914)
File:Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of the Uganda Protectorate (1914 – March 1962)
File:Standard of the Governor of the Uganda Protectorate.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} Standard of the governor of Uganda (1914 – March 1962)
File:Flag of Uganda 1962.svg|{{FIAV|historical}} {{FIAV|defacto}} Unofficial flag (March – October 9, 1962)
= Other flags =
File:Flag of the President of Uganda.svg|{{FIAV|normal}} Presidential standard of Uganda
File:Flag of the Uganda People's Defence Force.svg|{{FIAV|001000}} Flag of the Uganda People's Defence Force
File:Flag of the Ugandan Land Forces.svg|{{FIAV|001000}} Flag of the Ugandan Land Forces
File:Flag of the Uganda People's Defence Air Force.svg|{{FIAV|001000}} Flag of the Uganda People's Defence Force Air Force
References
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{{Uganda topics}}
{{Africa topic|Flag of|title=Flags of Africa}}
{{nationalflags}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uganda, Flag of}}