Money and payments
Cards and cash
Also, there is often an extra fee (typically around 5%) on the use of credit cards.
Tipping
Tipping is not part of Ugandan culture and not expected, but that doesn't mean it will not be appreciated.
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Africa · Eastern AfricaOutline guideCountry in East Africa
Photo: M. Bellis, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Uganda was nicknamed the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill. It is home to one of the most diverse and concentrated ranges of African fauna including the highly endangered mountain gorilla and the endangered common chimpanzee.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Uganda.
Cards and cash
Also, there is often an extra fee (typically around 5%) on the use of credit cards.
Tipping
Tipping is not part of Ugandan culture and not expected, but that doesn't mean it will not be appreciated.
English, Swahili
English is widely spoken as the lingua franca, though to varying degrees of fluency. British English is used by the most educated, but Ugandan English often takes on a life of its own.
SIM cards are cheaply available everywhere in 'starter packs' but need to be registered before use.
Mobile networks
Drink bottled water, usually called mineral water in local restaurants.
The healthcare system is incredibly underdeveloped and is well below western standards.
Uganda has a fairly conservative Christian/Muslim-based society. It is generally not considered acceptable for women to wear skimpy clothing or to overtly display their sexuality.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
fairly small reserve on the east bank of the Albert Nile
with half of the world's population of mountain gorillas, this is the main place to see them
a bit off the beaten track, this park is home to the beautiful Virunga Mountains as well as to its own gorilla troop and a range of other wildlife
located in the extreme NE corner of Uganda on the South Sudan border. Incredible wildlife here that comes right up to the Apoka Lodge. Elephants, zebras, Nile buffaloes, kobs often visit the lodge.
along the river Nile, this excellent park offers great wildlife and bird watching and is home to the striking and powerful Murchison Falls.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is in Western Uganda. The park covers an area of over 774 sq mi (2,000 km2) between Lake Edward and Lake George, around the Kasinge Channel connecting the two.
Kibale Forest National Park is situated in Western Uganda, near the town of Fort Portal, and is famed for its chimpanzees. The park is famous for its chimpanzees, and many people come here for chimp tracking.
Rwenzori National Park is in Western Uganda.
The Ssese Islands are an archipelago of 84 islands in the northwest of Lake Victoria, Uganda. About 43 of the islands are inhabited.
Lake Bunyonyi is a charming lake dotted with little islands in Western Uganda. The terraced landscape and vibrant colours make it almost cartoonish.
Places in Uganda on the World Heritage List.
Kasubi Tombs
Listed 2001
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Listed 1994
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Listed 1994
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
the capital city and the shoreline of vast Lake Victoria
superb trekking close on the border with Kenya and more wildlife
this beautiful area teems with wildlife.
Gorilla trekking on the borders with Rwanda and DR Congo
Public transport and paid services in Uganda.
By bus
Uganda has a decent bus system. There are two classes of buses. The "taxis" (also called "takisi") are actually minibuses or commuter vans, which run fixed routes (see below).
By train
As of late 2021, limited rail services are available in and around the capital Kampala, mainly aimed at commuters.
By taxi
The best way to get around Kampala and the neighbouring towns is by using minibus-type taxis called "taxi".
By car
The roads in Uganda are comparable to many in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the main roads are tarmaced, although the condition of them can deteriorate in patches. Some become extremely pot holed.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Uganda.
Finding apps for Uganda…
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Entebbe · International · EBB
Loading places around the airport…
Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Kampala
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 29° | 30° | 28° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 26° | 28° |
| Avg. low | 18° | 19° | 19° | 19° | 18° | 18° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 18° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 65 | 66 | 148 | 194 | 158 | 63 | 57 | 88 | 117 | 158 | 166 | 116 |
| Humidity | 66% | 65% | 73% | 81% | 83% | 77% | 72% | 72% | 73% | 77% | 78% | 72% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$40
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$110
Per person, per day
Luxury
$290
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20 | $65 | $170 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $20 | $50 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $25 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $45 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 4 of 4Do not travel
Do not travelto Uganda due to crime, health, terrorism, and unrest. Please read the full text of the advisory. Travel restrictions for government employees The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Uganda due to the Ebola outbreak. Health On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Travel Health Notice for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease. Review the Travel Health Notice for Ebola for Uganda. Due to the Ebola outbreak, Uganda has temporarily closed border crossings with DRC. The only exceptions are for authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security under strict health screening and monitoring protocols. Any person entering Uganda from the DRC must self-quarantine for 21 days under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health issued restrictions on mass gatherings in Kampala and high-risk districts along the DRC border. Crime Violent crime is a real danger in Uganda. This includes armed robbery, home invasion, and sexual assault. Crime can happen anytime. It is more common in larger cities, the Karamoja region, and along Uganda’s western and northern borders. Both visitors and residents face these threats. Police struggle to respond to serious crime in most places due to limited resources. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other…
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Uganda.
ItinerariesThe Nile (Arabic: النيل, an-Nīl), is Africa's longest river, and by most definitions the longest in the world at 6,695 kilometers (4,132 miles) from its source White Nile in Burundi/Rwanda to its mouth at the Egyptian…
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureAfrican flora and fauna is a highlight of trips to Africa, especially on visits to the continent's national parks. Going on a safari is a common way to see it.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThis itinerary describes the overland route from Cairo, Egypt, to Nairobi, Kenya, by public transport. This is more or less the only surface route from North Africa to East Africa accessible to Westerners, and so most…
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Nature & adventureMany of these parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They can be visited for safaris, to see the African flora and fauna.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsOverland travel or overlanding refers to a journey performed without the use of flights. This may include: Travel to relatively distant or inaccessible points (such as the Australian outback) with vehicles designed to…
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe daily need for a toilet can be a frustrating challenge for travellers. While you likely know where public toilets are (or where they're missing) in your home town, this is not the case when traveling to places…
Wikivoyage
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