Luanda | Bengo | Benguela | Cabinda | Kuanza Sul | Namibe | Huíla | Zaire | Uíge | Huambo | Kuanza Norte | Kuando Kubango | Bíe | Lunda Sul | Lunda Norte | Malange | Moxico | Cunene |
 

THE PROVINCE OF UÍGE
There are 15 municipalities in this province: Zombo, Quimbele, Oamba, Mucaba, Macocola, Bembe, Songo, Buengas, Sanza Pombo, Ambuila, Uíge, Negage, Puri, Alto Cuele and Quitexe. 345 km. from Luanda, it has an area of 58.698 km2, and its population is estimated at 800.000 in habitants. The main economic activity is agriculture.

OUT OF THE WOODS

Before Africa was parcelled up and divided among European powers during the Berlin Conference in 1884, Uige was part of the Kongo Kingdom, which encompassed not only northern Angola, but also Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo and shares the mineral wealth of its southern Shaba province, especially in cobalt and copper.

However, the mineral reserves on the Angolan side of the border have yet to be exploited.

Uige was the heartland of Angola’s coffee production during the colonial era. The province was divided into vast rocas (plantations) by the Portuguese who found the soil and climate ideal for robusta coffee.
In the years leading up to independence, Angola was exporting 400,000 tons of coffee per year (1972-3 figures), and the country was the world’s main producer of robusta coffee.

But war and mismanagement led to the collapse of coffee production after independence, with exports sinking to about one tenth of their former volume.

Dense rainforest covers much of Uige and the forest is already being exploited haphazardly for tropical hardwoods. Investment opportunities in this area are significant, especially as the local government is actively seeking funding, and incentives are being offered as part of the central government’s new code of foreign investment.

During the height of the civil war, many people were driven off the land. But since the Lusaka Peace accord in 1994, the area has become far more stable. Uige is now hoping to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, and with adequate investment, coffee production could take off once more.


 
 
   
Useful Information
Police: Tel.: (033) 22862
Hospital: Tel.: (033) 21611
Chemist's: Tel.: (033) 22386
Rod Cross: Tel.: (033) 22090
Fire and Ambulance Service: Tel.: (033) 20778

Transportes
TAAG: Tel.: (033) 21053
Angola Telecom: Tel.: (033) 21961

Climate
The climate is tropical and humid.

 

How to get There
By road
From Luanda, passing through the province of Bengo. 

By air
There are two airports in this province, one in the city of Uige and the other in Negage. TAAG – SONAIR

Natural Attractions
There are elephants, buffalos, wild boar, antelopes and blue monkeys, all of these becoming rare. Beu Forest reserve in this reserve there is a dense forest with waterways at Muxito, periguineense, in alluvions, woods and savannah.

Zambeziaco guineenses: Marquesia Berlinia, Daniellia etc.

To the north, it is flanked by the frontier with the DR Congo, to the west, by the River Zadi, to the east by the River Beu, and to the south by the community of Beu. It has an area of 1.400 km2.

Rivers
The most important rivers on the province of Uige are the Zadi, Dange, Lúria, Lucala, and Luvulu, all with an important volume of water. These rivers usually offer conditions for sailing up to around 20 km. from their mouths. There are several species of fish which provide good opportunities for angling.

Cultural Tourism
Visit the S. José Church near the Pedras (Stones) do Encoje, dating from the XVIII century. The Fortress near the church and the one at Bembe were built in the XXth Century. The Figura Rupestres de Kisadi, a rock engraving, is also a must.