Map of Uganda

Uganda

Officially known as the Republic of Uganda, Uganda is the home of a large portion of Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile River, as well as lakes Kyoga, Albert, Edward, and George. While the Burdanda and the Bantu had settled the land first, Arab traders in 1830 and British settlers in 1860 were the reason for most architecture and infrastructure. By 1888, Uganda was a charter under the British African Company and a protectorate under the country in 1889. In 1890, 32 thousand Ugandan natives, alongside British-Indians were forced to build the Ugandan Railway. During 1900-1920 250,000 people were killed by sleeping sickness, a disease practically unknown outside of Africa.
The country was granted independence in 1962. In 1971, Idi Amin seized power. He declared himself 'His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshall Al Hadj Doctor [sic] Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa General and Uganda in Particular.' Amin was known for carrying out mass killings, begged for Phantom Jets to invade Tanzania—which he did after he was refused the jets—and tried to give foreign aid his people desperately needed to Britain. The Movie 'Last King Of Scotland' erroneously portrays his right-hand-man and advisor, as well as the second-most hated man in Uganda, Bob Astles and Mbalu Mukasa, a real doctor who treated and had an affair with one of Amin's wives, as a fictional character Nicolas Garrigan. Unlike Garrigan's character, Astles remained by Amin's side until he was overthrown in the Uganda-Tanzania war of 1979, and fled the country, only to eventually face war crimes and imprisonment.
Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world; 37.7% of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day. According to a 2002 census, 84% of the population is Christian and 12% is Muslim.