Pomegranate is native to India, Persia. A subtropical fruit tree or shrub, cultivated throughout East Africa . In Kampala, this tree can be found within Makerere II zone C, Makerere university, along Kyadondo road among other places.

A multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with upright stems or a small tree to 5 m. Branches 4-sided, sometimes spiny.

BARK: grey-brown.

LEAVES: opposite, or arising in clusters, shiny and narrow oval on a short pink stalk. Leaves often grow off short side shoots.

FLOWERS: one or two, beside leaves, funnel-shaped, brilliant orange-red, about 3 cm across, with 5-7 fleshy red calyx lobes, deep blood-red petals which are thin and creased and many central stamens.

FRUIT: orange-brown, tinged red, about the size of an orange with a leathery skin and topped by the remains of the calyx. Numerous seeds inside are separated by membranes into cells. Each seed is enclosed by crimson acid-sweet edible pulp, rather jelly-like.

Edible: fruit is eaten raw, fruit juice can be used in soups, sauces, jellies, ice cream, cakes etc., fresh seed can be eaten raw, dried seed can be used as a seasoning (anaedana) where it is used in dhal, fried samosa, stuffings and chutneys, boiled leaves are said to be eaten. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Punica+granatum

Medicine: the bark, flowers, seeds, fruit, dried rind of the fruit, stem bark, root bark, and dried pericarp. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Punica+granatum

Agroforestry: soil erosion control, and is planted along rivers to stabilize banks, suitable for arid and semi-arid zone reforestation, leaf litter decomposes slowly and is suitable for mulching, used in water purification schemes, can be grown as hedges, makes them a good wind break, used for fencing, mark out land boundaries.

A red dye is obtained from the flowers and also from the rind of unripened fruits and it is also used as an ink. A fast yellow dye is also obtained from the dried rind.

The dried peel of the fruit, bark and root bark are source tannin, and a jet-black ink can be made from it.

The wood can be used for making agricultural implements, domestic wodware, handles, small implements etc.

The wood is often used for fuel.

An ornamental tree.