Uganda: Various travel information
General remark
For safety reasons, trips should be made to the north of Uganda, especially to the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and partly also Kotido and Moroto, to the west, especially to the districts of Bundibugyo, Kasese and Kabarole, as well as to the southwest border area to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to Rwanda to be avoided.
How do you get to Uganda?
Airplane
The main gateway to Uganda is Entebbe Airport near Kampala. Daily flights to Johannesburg (South African Airways), every second day to London (British Airways), direct connections to Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), connections to Dubai and Nairobi (Emirates), Addis Ababa (Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Amsterdam (KLM), Brussels (Brussels Airlines) and three times a week to Cairo (Egypt Air).
Railway
Kenyan Railways trains run between Nairobi and Kampala. However, there is no rail traffic whatsoever in or to Uganda.
By ferry or boat
There are no passenger transport connections to or from Uganda.
Bus
Uganda is served by a number of well-known international bus companies, many of which go directly to Kampala from Bujumbura, Dar Es Salaam, Goma, Juba, Kigali and Nairobi. All of these buses let passengers get off (at least in theory) in all major cities on the route.
With (your own) car
From Uganda roads lead to all neighboring countries, but the borders are not always open. When crossing borders with your own car or motorcycle, a Carnet du Passage and a tourist visa, which should be valid for 90 days, are required. While the connecting roads to Kenya are recommended, you should urgently inform yourself about the current security situation before crossing the border to Rwanda. It is clearly not advisable to cross the border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Travel in the country
Air connections
National air connections exist between Entebbe and all major cities including Arua and Kasese. In addition, small aircraft can be chartered.
Buses and Matutas
A national bus network connects most of the regions. There are regular connections between Entebbe and Kampala. In most parts of the country there are also minibuses, the so-called matutas. The latter drive on fixed routes. Driving both types of buses is relatively cheap in Uganda. But they only drive when they are full. Therefore there is no reliable timetable.
Boda-Boda
In Kampala and other cities, so-called Boda-Bodas, motorbikes or motorized bicycles, are a practical and inexpensive way to get from place to place. The journey is adventurous and not entirely safe, because Boda-Bodas are often involved in accidents.
Taxi
These taxis are vans and mini-buses that can take up to 14 people and are ideal for Kampala and the surrounding urban areas. They also operate in more rural areas and only run when they are full. You travel a fixed route, but let the passengers get on and off at very many places. You should always be careful not to be ripped off with the fare.
Car traffic
Roads lead from Kampala to the various regions of the country. In the north, however, there are relatively few roads.
The condition of the roads varies between very good and catastrophic. Especially after heavy rainfall, some roads (for example in mountainous regions) are impassable. Streets are also quite full of pedestrians, trucks, cyclists, dogs and police roadblocks. You will hardly be able to drive a speed of more than 60 km/h.
Rental
cars Rental cars are quite expensive in Uganda, but are worthwhile because they allow the traveler a lot of freedom. A good choice is to rent a four-wheel drive vehicle with a driver, which will cost around 100 euros a day. Most of the accommodations also offer rooms specially for drivers, as this type of tourist transport is normal in the country.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, Uganda’s international license plate is:
| EAU |
Tourist office
Uganda Tourist Board
13/15 Kimathi Avenue, Impala House
PO Box 7211
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 00256 – (0) 414 – 34 21 96/-7
Email: utb@starcom.co.ug
www.visituganda.com
Formalities and visas
To enter Uganda, tourists need a passport that is still valid for at least six months, a visa, a return or onward travel ticket and sufficient funds for the stay.
Visa department of the Embassy of Uganda
Axel Springer Str. 54a
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 24 04 75 56
Email: ugembassy@lycos.de
Local currency, foreign exchange regulations
The national currency of Uganda is the
Uganda Shilling
- Import and export of the nationalcurrency There are no restrictions on the import and export of the national currency.
- Import and export of foreigncurrencies There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currencies.
Goods, customs regulations
Country-specific goods, souvenirs
– jewelry
– wood carvings
– wickerwork
– ceramics
Customs regulations (can change at short notice)
Items for personal use can be imported duty-free. These include 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco and 1 bottle of alcohol. A special permit is required for the export of hunting trophies.
Infectious diseases, vaccination recommendations
In Uganda, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria: There is a nationwide and year-round risk of becoming infected with the malaria pathogen. Between about 80% and 90% of infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana.
- HIV, AIDS
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Schistosomiasis
- Cholera – but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- dengue fever
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Ebola, outbreaks of this extremely dangerous viral infectious disease occur again and again in the north of the country, albeit mostly locally
- Filariasis
- River blindness Onchocerciasis, the disease is transmitted by the black fly
- Yellow fever
- Guinea worm infection
- Hepatitis A and B
- Kala-Azar
- Lambliasis
- leprosy
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Polio, polio
- Plague – occurs particularly in the Arua district and the Nebbi district
- Leishmaniasis
- Sleeping sickness
- rabies
- Typhoid – however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Tick bite fever
Vaccination recommendations
- Cholera – but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, especially when traveling to the areas mentioned above, it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than one year and arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory. Uganda itself is one of the yellow fever infection areas designated by the WHO. A vaccination against yellow fever is therefore strongly recommended.
Yellow fever vaccination for children
In most of the countries in which a yellow fever vaccination is required, this also applies to children over one year of age, in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow feverMay only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Uganda: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Uganda embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Uganda in Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Berlin
The Embassy of Uganda is located exactly opposite the Marriott Hotel in Axel-Springer-Strasse and only a few 100 m from the Springer high-rise. The Zambian Embassy is located in the same building. The building originally dates back to before World War II and was used by the GDR publisher Volk und Wissen until the fall of the Berlin Wall. After the fall of the Wall, the building was redesigned and got its current appearance. The embassies of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Mauritania are located in the same building – but with a separate entrance on Kommandantenstrasse.
Axel Springer Str.54a
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 24 04 75 56
Email: ugembassy@yahoo.de
Honorary Consulate in Hamburg
Friedrich-Ebert-Damm 160 B
22047 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 69 64 35 00
Email: honorarkonsulat-uganda.hamburg@gmx.com
Honorary Consulate in Munich
Neckarstr. 14
81677 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 33 15 44
Email: dr.wiedmann@uganda.de
Honorary Consulate in Katzenelnbogen
Rheinstr. 21
56368 Katzenelnbogen
Tel: 0049 – (0) 6486 – 75 35
German representations in Uganda
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kampala
15 Philip Road, Kololo
PO Box 7016
Kampala
Tel: 00256 – (0) 41 – 50 11 11
Email: info@kampala.diplo.de
www.kampala.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Uganda
Embassy
The Federal Republic of Austria does not have an embassy in Uganda, but is represented by an honorary consulate.
The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy in Kenya
2nd floor, City House, Corner Wabera Street/Standard Street
00100 Nairobi
Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 319 076/77/78
Email: nairobi-ob@bmeia.gv.at
www.aussenministerium.at/nairobi
The Austrian embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:
- Burundi
- Comoros
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Tanzania
Honorary Consulate in Kampala (without passport authorization)
Plot 6, Hill Lane, Kololo
Kampala
Tel: 00 256 – (0) 41 – 423 5796
Email: austrianconsulate@infocom.co.ug
Representations of Uganda in Austria
Embassy
The embassy in Berlin is responsible (see above).
Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Uganda
Breitenfurterstrasse 219
1230 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 863 11 40
Email: consulategeneral@uganda.at
Web: www.uganda.at
Swiss representations in Uganda
Embassy
Switzerland does not have an embassy in Uganda, but is represented by a consulate.
The embassy in Kenya is responsible.
Embassy in Kenya
International House, 7th floor, Mama Ngina Street
00100 Nairobi
POBox 30752
Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 222 8735
Email: nai.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/nairobi
The Swiss embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:
- Burundi
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
Consulate of Switzerland in Kampala
Plot 6, Archer Road
PO Box 8769
Kampala
Uganda
Tel: 00256 – (0) 414 – 233 854
Email: kampala@honorarvertretung.ch
Representations of Uganda in Switzerland
Embassy in Geneva
Rue Antoine Carteret 6bis
1202 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 339 88 10
Email: mission.uganda@ties.itu.ch
www.ugandamission.ch
