| "> | | | | Museveni, the country's President, holds one of the |
| World-Famous Heroes | | | | most successful anti-AIDS programs on Earth. Due to |
| Did you know- John Akii-Bua put Uganda, an obscure | | | | these programs, Uganda, backed by the United States, |
| country which had never won an Olympic award, on | | | | has one of the lowest AIDS/HIV rate on the continent |
| the world map when he, surprisingly, captured the gold | | | | of Africa. For many experts on HIV and AIDS, Uganda, |
| medal in the 400m hurdles at the Summer Olympics in | | | | a country about the size of the state of Oregon, is an |
| West Germany. In Munich'72, Mr. Akii-Bua set a historic | | | | example in the world. |
| world record which remained unbeaten until 1976. This | | | | The FIFA World Cup |
| award was a surprise in West Germany because no | | | | Did you know- The FIFA World Cup is the nation's |
| other non-European/American hurdler had ever | | | | most watched television event. Curiously, the |
| managed to capture the gold medal. Prior to the | | | | English-speaking nation has not competed in this |
| Olympics, he was not favorite to win an Olympic | | | | tournament as yet. |
| medal. Meanwhile, Uganda finished 24th in the medal | | | | Woman & Power |
| count, ahead of Canada, South Korea and Brazil. At | | | | Did you know- In the 1970s,Princess Elizabeth Baagaya |
| the 1980 Summer Games in the Soviet Union/USSR, | | | | of Toro, a former black model, was appointed Minister |
| he retired after 11 years in athletics. Since Akii-Bua's | | | | of Foreign Relations. She was one of the few female |
| win, no other Ugandan athlete has won an Olympic | | | | ministers on the African mainland. |
| title. Today Uganda's Olympic champ Akii-Bua is | | | | Coffee |
| respected around the globe as one of the most | | | | Did you know- Coffee is a key source of foreign |
| notable African athletes, alongside world-famous icons | | | | exchange. It contributes more income to Uganda's |
| like Abebe Bikila and Kipchoge Keino. | | | | economy than any other single economic activity. |
| A New Country | | | | Otherwise, the African country, traditionally a farming |
| Did you know-This English-speaking, a former | | | | nation, was one of the world's largest producers of |
| European colony between 1894 and 1962, is one the | | | | coffee during the 70s. Due to this, it boasted one of |
| region's most stable nations, along with Botswana, | | | | the Continent's fastest growing economies. |
| Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland and other black | | | | Commonwealth Games |
| republics. In the past, it underwent more than three | | | | Did you know- In addition to being one of the members |
| decades of tyranny. During that period, up to 400,000 | | | | of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Uganda |
| people were slaughtered by dictators, among them Idi | | | | is a competitor for the Commonwealth Games. In |
| Amin Dada (1971-79), and other warlords. | | | | 1974, the Ugandan Olympic team, led by world champ |
| Pope John Paul II | | | | Ayub Kalulu, participated in the Commonwealth |
| Did you know- After arriving in Uganda, in February | | | | Games, gaining more than 7 medals, ahead of Wales, |
| 1993, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass in front of | | | | Trinidad-Tobago, and Jamaica. |
| more than 50,000 people. | | | | Uganda & Washington |
| Natural Wonders | | | | Did you know- Over the last decades, the former |
| Did you know- The landlocked republic is home to | | | | British colony has been visited by two American |
| some of the world's most spectacular natural | | | | leaders. Bill Clinton came to the country in March 1998; |
| wonders: Lake Victoria, the third-largest lake on Earth, | | | | George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrived in |
| after Lake Caspian Sea and Lake Superior. Secondly, | | | | Entebbe on July 11, 2003. Since 1980s, Uganda is one |
| the African republic holds the longest river in the world: | | | | of the America's African allies. |
| the Nile (6,650 km/4,132 mi.). This river is slightly longer | | | | Uganda's Independence |
| than the Amazon, which is the second longest on | | | | Did you know- The country gained its full |
| Earth. | | | | independence from the United Kingdom on October 9, |
| Notable Women | | | | 1962. Uganda had been conquered by the Britons in |
| Did you know- This English-speaking nation holds many | | | | 1894. |
| notable women, among them: Bernadette Olowo | | | | Wildlife |
| (diplomat) and Elizabeth Baagaya of Toro (former | | | | Did you know- A number of tropical areas, among |
| Minister of Foreign Relations), as well as Dorcus | | | | them national parks, wildlife refuges, and natural |
| Inzikuru (won gold medals at the 2005 IAAF World | | | | sanctuaries, are filled with a host of animals, including |
| Championships in Finland and at the 2006 | | | | the "Big Five", reptiles, insects, exotic butterflies, wild |
| Commonwealth Games in Australia), and Specioza | | | | birds, rare plants and unique flowers. |
| Kazibwe (the first Ugandan female to be named Vice | | | | The Last King of Scotland |
| President). | | | | Did you know- Kampala, the country's capital, and |
| Winston Churchill | | | | other major places provided the setting for the 2007 |
| Did you know - In the past century, the nation's | | | | movie "The Last King of Scotland", a film which won |
| scenery impressed Britain's Prime Minister Winston | | | | an Academy Award. |
| Churchill, who later called it "The Pearl of Africa". | | | | Diplomacy |
| Without a doubt, Uganda is one of the Continent's | | | | Did you know- By 1974, Bernadette Olowo became |
| most beautiful nations. | | | | the nation's ambassador to the Holy See. Curiously, |
| Anti-AIDS policy | | | | she was one of the few female ambassadors to the |
| Did you know- Since the end of the 20th century, the | | | | State of Vatican in the latter half of the 20th century. |
| former British colony, under the leadership of Yoweri | | | | |