Uganda Travel Advice -

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Is Uganda Safe to Visit on a safari?

Yes, Uganda is generally peaceful and safe to visit and more so if you book an organized safari through a trusted tour operator like Stingers Africa Safaris. In fact, Uganda is one of the friendliest countries in Africa where much needed tourism is welcomed. You are more likely to be killed by a terrorist attack in London or New York than when in Uganda. However, like any other tourist destination around the world, we encourage all travelers to exercise reasonable caution and common sense but not to be afraid to experience the charming attractions of Uganda. Therefore, pay attention to the following.

International Travel

Land borders are open and commercial flights are operating to and from Uganda. Check with your travel company for the latest information on flights.

Visas and Border Measures

Visas

You’ll need a visa to travel to Uganda. Following an announcement by the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs on October 14 2021, you are required to have a visa before your trip. Visas will not be issued on arrival.

You should give yourself sufficient time to apply for a visa and make sure when applying that the start date and validity covers the period you wish to travel.

You can also apply for an East African community’s Tourist Visa which allows multiple entries into Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda valid for 90 days. You can apply for this visa on the e-visa website. Apply for the EAC Tourist Visa or a Ugandan visa by using Uganda’s online visa application.

Passport validity

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Uganda.

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over. Some airlines also apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

Your passport is a valuable document. It’s attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

Corona Virus Travel Health

A negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate is no longer required for fully vaccinated inbound and outbound travellers (you must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccinations). Children under the age of 6 are exempted from providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate whether vaccinated or not.

Upon arrival at Entebbe International airport, you may be subject to temperature checks and screened for infectious disease by the Port Health authorities. If your temperature is above normal or you display COVID-19 symptoms you may be required to take a COVID-19 test. If you test positive for COVID-19 and wish to be repatriated for treatment outside of Uganda, they’ll be expected to cover the costs.

When departing Uganda, you must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccinations, except for children aged 6 years and below. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll be required to present a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test taken within 72 hours of travel. Children below 6 years aren’t required to present a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test upon arrival or departure. The Ministry of Health maintains a list of approved testing facilities on their website.

If you are transiting through Uganda on your way to another country and staying in the airport (airside) you will need to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate on arrival.

If you are transiting through Uganda on your way to another country and will be passing through immigration ( sometimes known as a layover), for example to stay in a hotel for a flight the next day, you will need to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate on arrival.

COVID-19 restrictions relating to the operation of businesses, schools, and places of worship may change with little notice. Monitor the Ugandan Ministry of Health and the media for the latest developments and follow the advice of local officials.

When in public, anyone aged 6 or above must wear masks and maintain social distancing.

For information on Uganda’s COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to the Ugandan Ministry of Health. You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally.

Yellow fever

You need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Uganda. Some airlines may want to see a certificate when you leave.

Yellow fever is a potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitoes. It’s prevented by vaccination. Get vaccinated before you travel. Carry your vaccination card with you.

Malaria is common throughout the year.

To protect yourself from disease:

Make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
Use insect repellent
Wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
Consider taking medication to prevent malaria.

To protect yourself from other illnesses:

Drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids

Consume foods or drinks from sources that are hygienic to avoid cases of food poisoning or cholera.

Avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
Don’t swim in fresh water.

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

Only passengers with valid tickets and airport officials will be allowed into the terminal building.

There are no exemptions to Uganda’s entry requirements.

For more information about entry requirements, visit the Ugandan Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control website.

Be prepared for your plans to Change.

No travel is risk free during COVID-19. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your Travel Company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.

Plan ahead and make sure you:

Can access money
Understand what your insurance will cover
Can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned.

Travel in Uganda

On the 2 December 2022 new presidential directives were announced, implemented with immediate effect;

Masks are recommended in enclosed spaces and at public gatherings.
A COVID-19 vaccination certificate with evidence of an up-to-date booster vaccination is required for entry to formal meetings and public places all government buildings and all public and private offices. In the absence of a vaccination certificate, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours will be required.
Individuals with COVID19 symptoms should not go to closed or crowded place.
Handshaking and hugging are prohibited.

Accommodation

Hotels and restaurants are open with social distancing measures in place.

Healthcare

There are a number of public and private COVID-19 test centres in Uganda. For further information on the outbreak in Uganda, please see the Uganda Government COVID-19 Response website.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and wish to be repatriated for treatment outside of Uganda, you will be expected to cover the costs.

If you are running low on medication or require emergency medical treatment, you should contact your doctor or medical practitioner. They should be able to discuss your situation over the phone and advise on the best course of action. Some hospitals and pharmacies are able to deliver medication to you. All major pharmacies in Kampala and surrounding towns are able to read and understand prescriptions issued by your doctor. Prescriptions issued from your country are accepted but you should be aware that pharmacies in Uganda do not always stock the same range of medication found in pharmacies in your country. You are therefore advised to travel with adequate stocks of your medication for the duration of your stay in Uganda.

You should continue to monitor guidance issued by the Government of Uganda and local media to ensure you have the latest information.

COVID-19 remains a risk in Uganda.

Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Yellow fever and malaria are common. Other insect-borne diseases can occur. Make sure your accommodation is insect proof. Use insect repellent.

HIV/AIDS is a risk. Take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.

Consider your physical and mental health/well-being before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

have a basic health check-up
ask if your travel plans may affect your health
plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

Travel Insurance

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation.

If you’re not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.

Confirm:

what activities and care your policy covers
that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away

Further information

If you need urgent consular assistance, you can contact your nearest high commission.

Money

The local currency is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX).

You must declare all foreign currency on arrival. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash. If you don’t, you may have trouble taking it when you leave.

Only exchange money at commercial banks and exchange bureaus.

We do not recommend going to ATMs after dark and suggest travellers attend those which are guarded by security guards.

US dollars are widely accepted. You may not be able to change US banknotes printed before 2006.

Traveller’s cheques, credit cards and debit cards aren’t widely accepted in Uganda.

Bring enough cash with you.

Is there Crime in Uganda?

Like any other tourist destination, there is petty crime in Uganda like pickpockets which often work in crowded places such as markets and public transportation hubs. That said we encourage visitors to exercise caution.

Opportunistic crime like burglaries, muggings, drive-by bag snatches and thefts from vehicles sometimes occur in Uganda. There have been a few cases of individuals being drugged and robbed on public transport and in bars. Don’t accept food and drink from strangers. Foreign visitors and residents may be targeted by scam artists. Be wary of strangers approaching you or your accommodation or contacting you by phone asking for personal information or financial help. There are regular reports of criminal kidnaps; these very rarely target tourists or foreign nationals.

Don’t carry large sums of cash or wear expensive looking jewelry or watches. Take particular care of your passport. Take extra care when going out on foot and avoid walking after dark wherever possible.

Keep car doors locked and windows shut when driving in towns. There have been a number of thefts from cars and taxis while stationary in traffic. Don’t leave valuables in vehicles. If you are stopped by armed criminals, don’t resist.

Note: Violent crime against tourists is something extraordinarily rare in Uganda although there have been a few isolated incidents of armed robberies.

Political situation

Political rallies, protests and violent demonstrations can occur without warning, causing loss of life and injury, anywhere in Uganda. Incidents are more likely around elections. The police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators. You should take great care and avoid all demonstrations and rallies where possible.

You should avoid large crowds and monitor local media for updates.

If you find yourself caught up in a political demonstration, remain calm and try to move away from the area by the safest possible route. If you’re travelling in a vehicle, ensure that the doors are locked and windows are up. If you’re in your accommodation and there’s a demonstration nearby, remain inside if you judge that leaving your accommodation is threatening or unsafe. Familiarise yourself with the security procedure in place at your accommodation, and make sure appropriate precautions are deployed as necessary.

LGBT Community

Although public displays of homosexuality like holding hands and kissing in public places is unpopular and out of place in this conservative society, Uganda still remains a friendly country that welcomes everybody. Love and intimacy is a very private thing in Ugandan culture and public displays of affections are frowned upon for diverse relationships.

National Parks

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks are in the extreme southwest of Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It’s routine practice for security personnel to accompany tourists on gorilla-tracking visits in this area.

The Ugandan Government sometimes closes tourist areas if there’s a risk of rebel activity.

Road Travel

You will need to get a Ugandan license from the Uganda Revenue Authority or an International driving permit.

Travelling by road can be hazardous, particularly outside the main cities. Driving standards are poor, roads and vehicles are often poorly maintained and the accident rate is high. Other road users maybe over speeding, driving without lights and livestock roam across the roads. The Jinja-Kampala and the Kampala-Masaka roads are particular accident black spots.

Speed limits in built up areas are generally 50km/h and out of town 80km/h. The police enforce this law and breaking speed limits can result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

For reasons of road safety and security you should avoid travelling outside of the main towns (in lonely places) after dark, except on the roads between Kampala and Entebbe International Airport.

Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and stocked with items you might need in case of a breakdown or other incidents.

Only use registered taxis and limousines due to the high risk of crime. It’s best to arrange this through your tour operator. You should avoid using matatus (minibus taxis following a particular route) and boda-bodas (motorbike taxis). Though cheap, they don’t meet western safety standards, are generally in poor condition, badly driven and often don’t have proper insurance cover. If you do take a boda-boda, always wear a helmet.

Boat Travel

Use a reputable ferry company if you’re going to use one on Lakes Albert and Victoria. If you believe a ferry to be overloaded or unseaworthy, don’t get on. Familiarise yourself with emergency procedures on board and make a note of where the life jackets and emergency exits are located.

Others

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Uganda. Attacks could be indiscriminate or against foreign nationals and occur without warning.

You should be vigilant at all times, especially in crowded areas and public places like hotels, transport hubs, restaurants and bars, and during major gatherings like sporting or religious events and when in close proximity to government buildings or security installations such as police stations. Previous terrorist attacks and disrupted attacks in Uganda have targeted the security forces, places where foot ball matches were being viewed, restaurants, buses and government buildings.

The Uganda Police Force regularly issue alerts, particularly around public holidays and religious events. You should remain vigilant at all times and follow the advice of the local authorities.

The Ugandan authorities continue to work to reduce the risk of further attacks. There may be additional security checks, including baggage and car searches in public places including hotels.

Illegal Trade

It’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a license.

Uganda is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which bans trading in ivory. If you’re caught buying or trafficking these goods you’re liable to be prosecuted and receive a prison sentence or a fine.

Smoking is prohibited in all public places, workplaces, transport and other outdoor places within 50 meters of a public place. Electronic cigarettes and shisha (water-pipe tobacco) are banned. There are penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

Penalties for drug trafficking are severe.

Don’t take photos of military, official or diplomatic sites, including Owen Falls Dam at the source of the Nile near Jinja. If you are taking photographs of people, ask their permission first.

It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in military style clothing. This includes clothing with marks, insignia and accessories associated with the Ugandan military, camouflage clothing and red berets. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment when convicted.

You may be stopped and asked for ID documents by officials. Carry a copy of the personal details page of your passport (the page with your photograph) with you at all times.

On 22 May 2019 it became an offence punishable by a prison sentence and/or a fine to offer money, food or clothing to children living on the streets in Kampala.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, you should contact your:

family and friends
travel agent
insurance provider
employer
airline