My father, Bryan Stensaas, is also a missionary serving in the town of Mbarara along with my older brother Matthew and my younger sister Alisha.  My oldest brother Keith is serving in the town of Masaka.

 Uganda's Flag and its Meaning

From the top, a total of six horizontal stripes of black, yellow, red, black,
yellow, red. Black symbolises our African heritage and Uganda's fertile
soil; yellow is for the glorious sunny days, so characteristic of Uganda; red
symbolises the red blood that runs in our veins, forming a common bond to
all humankind. The majestic crested crane, the national bird of Uganda,
adorns the center of the flag and stands on one leg facing the flag pole. The
raised leg symbolizes that Uganda is not stationary but moving forward.

President and Commander in Chief:  His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Vice President:  Gilbert Bukenya

Area: 241,040 sq. km. (93,070 sq. mi.); about the size of Oregon.

Terrain: 18% inland water and swamp; 12% national parks, forest, and game reserves; 70% forest,                  woodland, grassland.

Climate: In the northeast, semi-arid, rainfall less than 50 cm. (20 in.); in southwest, rainfall 130                       cm. (50 in.) or more. Two dry seasons: December-February and June-July.

Population (2007): 30.9 million.

Religions (2007): Christian (Catholic, Protestant) 85%, Muslim 12%, other 2%.

Languages: English (official); Luganda and numerous other local languages. Swahili is generally       
               spoken only among the Ugandan military.

Education: Attendance (2008; primary school completion rate)--54%. Literacy (2003)--70%.

Health (2008 est.): Infant mortality rate:  78/1,000. Life expectancy:  51 yrs.

Government: Republic.

Agriculture: Cash crops:  coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, cut flowers, vanilla. Food                 crops:  bananas, corn, cassava, potatoes, millet, pulses. Livestock and fisheries:    
           beef, goat meat, milk, Nile perch, tilapia.

Trade: Exports (2008 est.):  $1.72 billion: coffee, fish and fish products, tea, electricity, vanilla                    horticultural products, cut flowers, remittances from abroad. Major markets:  EU, Rwanda,                     Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and the U.K.

 Imports (2008 est.):  $4.5 billion: capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies,                            metals, cereals. Major suppliers:  U.A.E., Kenya, EU, India, South Africa, China, U.S.

Currency: Uganda Shilling

Time: GMT+ 3