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Uganda is based on the kingdom of Buganda, in Central Africa, which was declared a British protectorate in 1894. It
became independent in 1962, and Milton Obote became the Prime Minister. In 1971 he was ousted by Sergeant Idi Amin
who became a brutal dictator. He was finally expelled in 1980 and Milton Obote returned to power. He relied on the
military to support his government against the opposition. Obote's excesses led to the rapid development of a disciplined
guerrilla force called the National Resistance Army led by Yoweri Museveni.
MATOKE: UGANDA'S NATIONAL DISH
Matoke, Uganda's national dish, is one of the oldest dishes in the world. Legend says that matoke was brought to
earth by Kintu, the first man on earth. It is popular in many parts of Uganda and is grown in almost every homestead
in Buganda. To grow Matoke Trees, you must uproot young stems from a mature tree and plant them. It takes about a year
to develop into a fully grown tree ready for harvesting. When the Matoke Fruit is ready, the leaves are also cut off
and kept for cooking, together with the fibres which tie the leaves. The stalks are also put in the sauce pan, together
with the leaves to ease the steaming process. The stem of the tree is left to help re-fertilisation and mulching.
Oluwombo
is a delicious Kiganda dish introduced during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga in 1887 by his
chief cook, Kawunta. It is an important dish among the Baganda, and used to be served to important state visitors
to the Kabaka and other Baganda Chiefs. It can be made from chicken, goat, pork beef or even groundnuts mixed with
mushrooms.
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ENTEBBE, 1 May 2002: Captain Joe Roy launched AfricaOne, a new African airline which aims to link countries
across the continent with the rest of the world. AfricaOne is entirely owned by African entrepreneurs, with no
government involvement. The company is based in Uganda and President Museveni travelled on board the inaugural
flight on Monday. AfricaOne aims to operate throughout the continent and initially will serve Entebbe in Uganda,
Lagos, Freetown in Sierra Leone and Banjul, in The Gambia. These cities will be linked to London Gatwick and Dubai.
The airline will use DC-9s for African routes and DC10s to make bi-weekly trips from Entebbe to Lagos and then on
to Dubai, and also plans to expand to Zambia and South Africa.
BRUSSELS/BELGIUM: 14 March 2002:
New Belgian Airline flies Africa
As of April 26, 2002 SN Brussels Airlines is the newest Belgian airline, created to continue in the
steps of the two companies Sabena and DAT, who between them had an unequalled safety record. The new company
will keep Sabena's famous 'S' symbol as part of its identity, as a way of acknowledging and building on the
know-how of its predecessors. From 26 April 2002 SN Brussels Airlines will open frequent Africa connections to:
- 6 times a week: Nairobi, Kigali and Entebbe
For further information click here
KAMPALA, 11 October 2001: There has been an alarming upsurge of sleeping sickness in Uganda and several other
East and Central African countries. The infection rate has reached the devastating peak of the 1930s in Uganda, Sudan,
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola, the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and
Control said. The body, which is an organ of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), said, "The infection rate has
now reached the peak it had attained in the 1930's. "The situation has been declared 'very serious' in East and
Central African countries, namely Uganda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, while the disease
has re-emerged in Togo, Benin, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Gabon."
KAMPALA, 14 September 2001: Military sources said twenty-five people were killed in the past two days
during and after a cattle rustling raid between the Karamojong and Teso people of eastern Uganda, on Friday.
Eight people were killed when an angry mob barricaded a leading highway to the Ugandan capital on Friday, stopped a bus,
dragged out eight people and killed them. It was a retaliatory attack for a raid on Thursday at Katakwi, also in eastern
Uganda, during which the Karamojong killed 17 Tesos, injured four others and drove away an unknown number of cattle.
"The Karamojong warriors from Moroto attacked Tesos in Katakwi on Thursday, killed 17 people and injured four others,
before taking off with some cattle," an unoffial source said. "The Tesos were angered by this attack and today they
barricaded the Moroto-Soroti road, stopped a bus, pulled out the Karamojongs and lynched them."
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14 July 2001:
After four years closure, Uganda's spectacular Mount Rwenzori National Park is officially re-opened. The park was
closed in July 1997 as a result of rebel activity. Now the government has declared the area safe and has pledged to
keep 2,000 troops at 27 critical sites in the vicinity.
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Taxi vans waiting for better times
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Ferry from Port Bell to Bukoba:
This information comes from the Internet Africa Travel Newsgroup.
"I have just inquired about a ferry from Port Bell, Uganda to Bukoba, Tanzania. At Port Bell Pier, I was told
by a man from Uganda Railways (he was very well spoken, and appeared well informed, so I think he was talking
with some authority) that the ferry services between Uganda and Tanzania had been suspended since late 1996.
There is a cargo ship that travels between Port Bell and Bukoba. There is no fixed schedule of arrivals or
departures, but they will allow vehicles and passengers if you get permission form the Director of Uganda Railways.
Apparently this permission is easily obtained. Uganda Railways is situated at the one end (Jinja, Port Bell end) of
Nasser Road, Kampala.
Apparently the trip takes 14 hours.
(Source: Africa Travel Newsgroup)
Traveler Tips:
If you need a hostel recommendation, the Red Chilli.
Last update: 26 April 2008
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