Uganda Travel Guide & Information
CAPITAL CITY: Kampala
TOTAL AREA: 236,040km2
AREA UNDER WATER: 36,330km2
LAND AREA: 199,710km2
POPULATION: 26 million
MAIN LANGUAGES
The official language is English. Luganda and Kiswahili are also widely
spoken. There are over 40 local dialects from the four main linguistic groupings
- Bantu, Luo, Hamites and Nilo-Hamites.
TRANSPORT
Charter flights
Flights can be arranged between domestic attractions. Surface roads link the
capital to the major towns of Jinja, Mbale, Kabale, Kasese and Fort Portal,
from where well maintained roads lead to the game reserves and
national parks.
Water Transport
There is a regular inland ferry connecting Nakiwogo in Entebbe and the Ssese
Islands on Lake Victoria and one between Bukakata pier and Masaka town.
CLIMATE
As most of Uganda is at a fairly constant altitude, the climate is tropical
with two rainy seasons - April to May and October to November. Temperatures
are highest in December and February, when they reach about 30ºC. The islands are
considerably cooler at night.
FOOD AND DRINK
In addition to local cuisine, there is a wide range of international cuisine on offer, including Chinese, Lebanese, Indian, Ethiopian, French, Continental, Thai, Belgian and
Irish, as well as popular fast food outlets like Nandos and Steers. Local
restaurants serve Ugandan dishes which are typically plantain or posho (cooked corn
floor) eaten with stew – usually meat or fish.
CULTURAL ETIQUETTE
Whether in the market or on the street, in the office or on the phone, exchanging greetings is key to successful interaction with Ugandans. A hello, handshake, nod or smile will seal the deal.
Nudity or the wearing of bikinis in public places is frowned upon. Ugandans appreciate
decent dressing and visitors are advised to show respect to the local people, their culture and traditions.
ELECTRICITY
220-245 volts at 59Hz. British-style plugs with three chisel pins are used.
VISAS AND AIRPORT TAXES
A valid passport and visa are required for entry. Visitors from certain countries, though,
are exempt from visas. Check with the Ugandan mission in your country before
you travel. For more information, visit the foreign affairs website at
www.mofa.go.ug or www.immigration.go.ug. Visas are issued at Ugandan
missions abroad and at entry/exit points as well.
FLIGHTS & TRANSPORT
Direct flights are only available from three cities in Europe – London on British
Airways, Brussels on SN Brussels and Amsterdam on KLM. These cities are well connected with the rest of the world and hence offer connections worldwide. Emirates Airlines is the major link to the East through Dubai. Entebbe Airport also has direct connections to Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Juba, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro, amongst many other African cities.
Charter flights can be arranged on request to all national parks. All East African cities and towns are well connected by road. Buses run from Kampala to Nairobi (Kenya), Bukoba (Tanzania) , Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Juba (Sudan). The recommended ones include Regional, Akamba Bus and Scandinavian Express. We also organize road transport in 4-wheel drive vehicles to national parks and other places of interest.
HEALTH/IMMUNISATION
You are advised to carry sunscreen and/or insect repellant as well as some anti-
malarial medication as a precaution. Good medical facilities are available
in the country. However, it is recommended that you take out medical insurance before arrival.
You are advised to visit your GP for a check-up at least a month before travelling. Prophylactics against malaria are strongly advised as is mosquito repellent. Bilharzia is prevalent in some lakes. For this reason therefore, swimming outside designated areas is not recommended. Drink only bottled or boiled water.
MONEY
Currency unit is the Uganda Shilling in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000,
5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000. While all major currencies are accepted in all large towns, the US Dollar is traditionally the more common hard currency. Travellers cheques are not widely accepted outside Kampala.
Money can also be exchanged in forex bureaux in all large towns, although the rates are more favourable in the capital. Larger denominations fetch better rates. Forex bureaux also tend to offer better rates than the banks and stay open longer. Note that most financial institutions do not accept notes older than 5 years. There is no limit on the amount of cash you can bring into the country.
CREDIT CARDS
Although only the major hotels accept credit card payments, Barclays and Standard Chartered banks have ATMs that accept Visa and Euro cards. The ATMs can be found at Entebbe Airport, in Kampala and in a few big towns.
WHEN TO VISIT
You may visit any time of the year, although mountain hikes, gorilla treks
and forest walks may be more challenging during the rainy months of March to
May and September to November.
WHAT TO WEAR
Light clothing is recommended for daytime. The evenings are considerably
cooler, especially at high altitudes, so carry a couple of light sweaters.
Those intending to climb the mountains will be exposed to alpine
temperatures, so pack accordingly. Strong walking shoes are required for treks. You may also need a hat, sunglasses and a waterproof jacket.
WHERE TO STAY
The most luxurious hotels, used mostly by business travellers and upmarket tourists, set their rates in dollars. There is, however, also plenty of budget accommodation.
SHOPPING
Handicrafts can be found at the outdoor crafts village on Buganda Road in Kampala, the National Theatre crafts village, also in Kampala and the Uganda Community Tourism Association in Kansanga, a suburb of Kampala.
There are modern indoor/outdoor malls in Kampala, where you can find all manner of essentials. The supermarkets/malls in Kampala include Garden City, Game Stores, Shoprite, Capital Shoppers, Embassy Supermarket, Uchumi and Payless. For fresh tropical fruits, be sure to visit Nakasero Market, in the heart of Kampala city.
ENTERTAINMENT / NIGHTLIFE
It varies from the slow-paced to the vibrant. In Kampala and larger towns, discos
are where the action is. Popular Kampala nightclubs include Ange Mystique, Silk Lounge, Club Obligatto, Kampala Casino, Irish Pub, Steak Out and the Rouge. Don't miss the jam sessions at the National Theatre on Monday evenings. There are cinemas with blockbuster movies such Cineplex at Garden City.
SPORTS FACILITIES
In the major towns there are facilities for golf, football, cricket, tennis and rugby. Join the famous hash harriers running group for a healthy way to tour the city or bond with the die-hard soccer fans who are extremely loyal to international football.
