Destination Guides
Uganda

 
ravel - International
 
Air

Uganda’s main airline, Uganda Airlines (QU), is no longer in operation. Several airlines are now vying to replace the defunct carrier. Other airlines serving Uganda include British Airways (website: www.britishairways.com ) which flies three times a week from London, Emirates (website: www.emirates.com) and Kenya Airways (website: www.kenya-airways.com) which flies from London, Nairobi and Amsterdam.

 
Approximate flight times

From Kampala to London is eight hours.

 
Main airports

Entebbe (EBB) is 40km (22 miles) southwest of Kampala (travel 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.

 
Departure tax

No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarking at the airport (service charge is included in the ticket).

 
Note

All airline tickets purchased in Uganda must be paid for in hard currency.

 
Lake

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

 
Rail

Uganda Railways do not operate passenger services at present.

 
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.

 
 
 
ravel - Internal
 
Air

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

 
Lake

Local boat services link Entebbe to the Ssese Islands.

 
Road

Traffic drives on the left. The road network extends over 28,332km (17,605 miles). 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. The speed limit is 50 mph (80 kph) or 62 mph (100 kmh) on highways. 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 (travel time – one 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. 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.