Atlas of Uganda
Uganda · Unknown · 1962
Related Reviews & Articles
A National Atlas of Uganda
Banage, W. B. · 1963
This paper offers a critical review of two significant geographical works on Uganda published in 1962: the *Atlas of Uganda* and D.N. McMaster’s monograph *A Subsistence Crop Geography of Uganda*. The *Atlas*, compiled in only nine months to coincide with national independence, is assessed for its cartographic design, thematic content, and accompanying texts. Strengths include well-designed maps, instructive cartograms of tribal composition and freight traffic, an effective layer-coloured relief map, and a comprehensive climatic section. However, the review identifies several shortcomings: the misplacement of certain thematic maps (e.g., soils in the flora section), inconsistencies in colonial-era place names, spelling errors in scientific and local names, poor colour choices (green for roads proves indistinct under artificial light), and a lack of correspondence between some maps and their explanatory texts. Omissions of historical sites and incomplete correlation with recent administrative changes are also noted. Despite these flaws, largely attributable to the rushed production, the *Atlas* is regarded as a useful, well-rounded reference work that surpasses earlier regional atlases. McMaster’s monograph, based on a statistical analysis of official crop acreage data, examines the physical and social environment of subsistence agriculture, quantifies cultivated area, and maps food-crop distributions. The review commends the study’s methodological rigour and the author’s frank acknowledgment of data limitations. Together, both works fill a critical gap in East African geographical literature and serve as valuable resources for educators, students, and researchers interested in Uganda’s physical and human landscapes.
History and Potential of National and Regional Atlas Issues in East Africa
Siriba, David N.; Nyangweso, Daniel O. · 2022
National atlases provide synthesised spatial knowledge of a particular country in the form of maps and textual descriptions. The three East African Countries gained independence at around the same time and most of their topographic mapping programmes were supported by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS). Similarly, the first editions of their national atlases were created and published around the same time. However, for various reasons, the national atlases have not been updated for quite some time. The same reasons advanced for the delayed revisions of the topographical are also applicable to the national atlases. The development of web mapping technology, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and the Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) paradigms have changed how national atlases are prepared and used. SDI and VGI provide a great opportunity for the East African Countries to revive the National Atlas - although the SDI development in East African Countries remains low.
Cartographical Progress: Atlas of Uganda
Bridges, R. C. · 1963
This article presents a critical review of recent cartographic publications, evaluated within the framework of "Cartographical Progress." Three contributions are examined. First, a Swiss atlas is assessed for its innovative relief representation method developed by Prof. Ed. Imhof, which combines brown contours, layered tints from olive green to white, and bluish grey shading to achieve a plastic, model-like effect while retaining clarity of labels and detail. The atlas is praised for its educational design, progressing from national to world maps with decreasing scale, though minor errors in British maps and the absence of an index are noted. Second, the newly released Atlas of Uganda is reviewed. Compiled locally by the Department of Lands and Surveys, it features 38 sheets with accompanying notes and photographs. The review highlights its well-judged thematic selection, successful choropleth and ethnic mapping techniques, and inclusion of historical maps showing exploration routes and boundary evolution. It is regarded as the best East African national atlas, affordable and valuable for both geographers and development specialists. Third, two sea‑ice atlases—covering the Soviet Arctic and Arctic Canada—are compared. Both employ a frequency‑chart methodology originating from the Scott Polar Research Institute, using sector diagrams to summarize observations of ice concentration and navigability, alongside tabular summaries. The system enables users to assess data reliability visually, despite requiring initial familiarization. Overall, the article underscores significant advances in atlas design, thematic mapping, and the presentation of environmental data.
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