Uganda is a land locked country in East Africa whose land area of 241,139 sq. km shares borders with Sudan to its north, Kenya to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south.

40 ethnic groups make up the 21 million people of Uganda, 90% of which live in the rural areas, undertaking subsistence agricultural activities.

Lake Victoria the second largest fresh water body in the world provides for the small-scale fish industry in the south and south-eastern region. In the drier northern region of the country, millet and sorghum are the staple foods, whereas the south and the western region feed mainly on plantain (matooke) and cassava.

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world, with per capita income at US$ 276 and a life expectancy of 47 years for men and 50 years for women which expectancy is expected to worsen as a consequence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

There are 9.1 million children under 18 years of age of which 1.9 million are orphans. The under five mortality rate is 156 children per 1,000 live births and 38.3% of every new born gets stunted due to malnutrition.

For more information I suggest you purchase the Lonely Planet's guide to East Africa .