Uganda

Official Name: Republic of Uganda

Form of Government: Presidential republic

Capital: Kampala

Population: 45,711,874

Official Languages: English, Ganda or Luganda, Swahili

Currency: Ugandan shilling

Area: 93,065 square miles (241,038 square kilometers)

Art

Ugandans produce woven textiles, pottery, sculpture, oral poetry, ritual dance and drama.

Music

Ugandan music includes traditional and cultural dance and singing, drums and African instruments.

Language

Luganda: Olyotya? (How are you?), Gyendi. (I am well.), Nze bampita ... (My name is …), Webale. (Thank you.)

Runyankole/Rukiga: Agandi? (How are you?), Nimarungyi. (I am well.), Nibanyeta ... (My name is …), Webare. (Thank you.)

Sports & Games

Ugandans enjoy soccer, boxing, basketball, golf and cricket. Recreational activities within the country include mountain hiking/climbing, watching gorillas, fishing, whitewater rafting, sailing and bird watching.

Typical Foods

Ugandans eat many foods, including bananas, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, cassava, beans and indigenous vegetables.

The constitution provides for freedom of religion. In many areas, particularly in rural settings, some religions tend to be syncretistic. Deeply held traditional indigenous beliefs commonly are blended into or observed alongside the rites of recognized religions, particularly in areas that are predominantly Christian.

Missionary groups of several denominations are present and active in the country, including the Pentecostal Church, the Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church/Church of Uganda, the Church of God and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Private Koranic and Christian schools are common. In public schools, religious instruction is optional and the curriculum covers world religions rather than instruction in one particular religion. There are also many private schools sponsored by religious groups that offer religious instruction according to the school's affiliation. These private schools are open to students of other faiths, but they usually do not offer minority religious instruction.

Source: International Religious Freedom Report, released in 2012 by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.