Destination Guides
Uganda

 
etting There
 
Getting There by Air

Airlines serving Uganda include British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com), Emirates (website: www.emirates.com) and Kenya Airways (website: www.kenya-airways.com).

 
Departure Tax

None.

 
Main Airports

Entebbe (EBB) is 40km (22 miles) southwest of Kampala (journey time – 30 minutes). To/from the airport: There are bus services to Kampala. Most hotels in Kampala and Entebbe will arrange airport transfers. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, restaurants, banks/bureaux de change, car hire and hotel reservations.

 
Getting There by Water

Between Kampala in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania, it is possible to catch a boat on Lake Victoria.

 
Getting There by Rail

Uganda Railways does not operate passenger services at present.

 
Getting There by Road

There are connections with all neighbouring countries, although borders are not always open. However, travellers should take local advice before crossing the border with Rwanda, and should not attempt to cross the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bus:
There is a daily bus service between Kampala and Nairobi, Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam.

 
 
 
etting Around
 
Getting Around By Air

Eagle Air and United Airlines offer flights from Entebbe to most major towns. Charter flights are also available.

 
Getting Around by Water

Local boat services link Entebbe to the Ssese Islands.

 
Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the left. The roads are of variable quality and radiate from Kampala, although the network is sparse in the north. There are still some army and police check points on roads and railways. Always keep vehicle doors locked.

Bus: Services run between most parts of Uganda but are unreliable and often very crowded. Scheduled services operate between Entebbe and Kampala (journey time – 1 hour) and to and from the airport. An extensive network of minibuses, known as Matatus, runs to most parts of the country and they are a quick and convenient form of transport, but very overcrowded. However, there is a law against overloading on buses and if this occurs, the driver and passengers are liable to pay a fine. Post-bus services operate Monday to Saturday from Kampala to main towns.

There are also special taxis, identifiable by their black and white stripes, which take passengers to wherever they want to go but are more expensive than Matatas.

Regulations: The speed limit is 80kph (50mph) or 100kph (62mph) on highways.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit and adequate third-party insurance is required. UK driving licences are accepted. Drivers must carry their vehicle log books and must pay for a temporary road licence.

Note: There have been a number of serious accidents involving long distance buses services between Kampala, Nairobi, Kigali and Dar es Salam. There have also been incidents on overnight buses between Nairobi and Kampala when bandits posing as passengers have forced buses to stop and have robbed the passengers. Visitors are advised not to travel on these overnight long distance buses.