Uganda - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

If you want a good overview of Uganda, experiencing the cultural and natural wonders of the country a good length of stay is between 7-10 days.

Recommended length of stays in the more popular destinations are Kampala 1 night, Murchison Falls National Park 2 nights, Kibale National Park 2 nights, Queen Elizabeth National Park 3 nights and Gorilla trekking 3 to 6 nights.

Modes of transport

Road

The more popular way of tourists travelling around Uganda is with overload and 4×4 tours. Like many countries in Africa, the roads are all-weather roads, with few outside the capital paved. Some delays can be expected under poor weather conditions.

Air

The main entry point for flights into Uganda is Entebbe International Airport, located near the town Entebbe, about 46kms from the capital, Kampala. Uganda is a relatively compact country and further transportation within the country is usually done by vehicle. However, Fly Uganda and Aerolink run scheduled domestic flights to most parks.

Health Precautions

Uganda is a safe and reasonably healthy country provided you take a few common-sense precautions.

Ensure your inoculations for typhoid, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A are up to date, mainly if you are travelling out of the capital or you will stay away from the largest hotels.

Anti-malarial prophylactics should be taken. Malaria is high risk throughout the country except for high altitude mountains over 2,000m, including Mt. Elgon and the Ruwenzoris. All safari parks are high-risk zones. The highest risk of transition is during the rainy season (March to May and October to December).

Avoid drinking or brushing your teeth with tap water. Bottled water is safe and widely available.

It’s a good idea to carry a few packs of antiseptic wet wipes to wash your hands after toilet stops or before meals in more remote areas where running water may not be available.

Food

Traditionally, main dishes are usually centred on a sauce or stew of groundnuts, beans or meat. The starch traditionally comes from ugali (maize meal) or matooke (steamed and mashed green banana) in the South, or an ugali-like dish, made from millet in the North. Ugali/posho is cooked up into a thick porridge for breakfast.

However, in all lodges and hotels throughout the country and in the main cities and towns more traditional western and Indian cuisines are readily available.

Money

Most Ugandan banks and businesses do not accept traveller’s checks. The Uganda shilling is easily exchangeable for hard currencies in banks and cash exchange bureaus. The US dollar is the hard currency of preference, but also Euros and British pound sterling are also widely accepted.

Most banks and exchange bureaus will not accept U.S. currency printed before 2006 so travel with newer U.S. currency notes. Additionally, many exchange bureaus offer preferential rates for $50 bills and hotels or exchange bureaus may refuse to accept smaller bills.

Western Union, MoneyGram, and other types of money transfer facilities are available in Kampala and other cities throughout the country.

ATMs are increasingly available in every major city in Uganda. ATMs in Uganda largely accept Visa cards; MasterCard cards might only be used at Stanbic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank ATMs.

Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants, and large grocery stores in Kampala and many main cities across the country.

Time Zone

Uganda operates on GMT +3, 3 hours ahead of GMT and 7.5 hours behind AEST

Visas

Uganda is one of the countries covered by the new East Africa Tourist Visa, and for those also visiting Kenya and Rwanda on the same trip, it is a cheaper alternative. The visa costs $150 AUD, is valid for 90 days and is multiple entry

A valid passport (6 months minimum and at least 1 blank page) is mandatory and Vaccination Certificate for Yellow Fever are required.

Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Uganda

Plot 40, Kyadondo Road, Nakasero

P.O. Box 9421, Kampala

Uganda

Telephone: (+256) 31 2515 865

Fax: (+256) 41 344 149

Email: australianconsulate.ug@gmail.com

Uganda Embassy contacts in Australia

High Commission of the Republic of Uganda

GPO Box 34

Woden, ACT 2606

Ph: 02 6286 1234

Electricity

Uganda: 240 volts. 3-pin (square) sockets. It is recommended that you bring your own adapter. Most hotels, lodges or camps can make arrangements for recharging batteries.

Getting there (stopovers)

Currently, there are no direct flights between Australian cities and Entebbe. However, many International Airlines fly via Asian or Middle Eastern cities connecting Australia to Uganda. There are also many direct connections between Nairobi Kenya and Johannesburg South Africa and Entebbe.

Tipping Guideline

Like when travelling anywhere, it is helpful to be aware of tipping etiquette and culture. In Uganda, two areas were tipping considerations should be made regard transportation and restaurants, where practices are quite different.

Taxis, taxi-vans and motorbike taxis (if you are brave enough) generally don’t expect tips, and always get a quoted price up front for your trip.

At local restaurants, most servers will be happy with a 5-10% tip in cash Uganda shillings or USD. However, if you liked the server and plan on going returning to that establishment again, go ahead. This will increase the odds of you having similar or even better service when you dine at the establishment again.

Tour guides are normally tipped as per the level of service but mostly from $10-$20 per day given at the end of the tour.

Local tour guides are often tipped $5 per trip.