Growing cities

Kampala has a population of 1.6 million. There are several other major conurbations in the south, with Gulu the largest centre in the north.

The number of people living in Uganda’s cities is growing, especially as the young move from the countryside to seek work.

With the improving economy, there is a growing middle class. This is reflected in the modern supermarkets and shopping malls which can be found in Kampala. However there are still many jobless and impoverished people and it is a common sight to see children begging on the streets.

The city also suffers from poor infrastructure – roads are heavily congested – and frequent power cuts. Uganda currently has two hydroelectric stations (more plants are planned) and these do not provide enough electricity for the country’s growing demands.

With electricity prices high, over 90 percent of Ugandans rely on charcoal or firewood. See Economy & Industry for more information.

A rural life for most

However, most Ugandans still lead a rural lifestyle, with 87 percent of the population living in the countryside. In the highland regions, many occupy smallholdings dotted across the middle slopes; the bottoms of valleys are swampy and hilltops are left for animal grazing.

Traditional homes are usually rectangular and made of mud, with either thatch or corrugated iron roofs. Around their houses, Ugandans grow their own foods, such as plantains/bananas, as well as keeping some livestock. Many also have small coffee plantations for earning cash.

Local favourites

Meat or chicken stews are popular in Uganda served with rice, chapatti, ugali (a stiff maize porridge) or matoke (a cooked plantain/banana mash). For a sweet dish, locals enjoy a type of doughnut called mandazi.

With Uganda’s many lakes and rivers, fish are an important food. Local fish include the Nile perch, tiger fish and the ngege tilapia. A favourite recipe serves tilapia with a peanut sauce.

The tilapia has been widely overfished and is also preyed upon by the Nile perch, a predator which can reach two metres long. The perch were introduced into Lake Victoria by fishermen and they now rule the water. However, fishing companies have started setting up commercial tilapia farms. These large enterprises may threaten local fishermen, but their involvement in the area could lead to better protection of the lake from sewage, industrial and mining waste.

Soft fizzy pops are widely drunk in Uganda for cold drinks, with lager beer the most popular alcoholic beverage. Though many Ugandans grow coffee beans for a living, chai or tea is the favoured hot drink, brewed very sweet and milky.